Archbishop Makarios of Australia paid a pastoral visit to the Parish of Saint Gerasimos in Leichhardt, Sydney, on Sunday, February 18. The Archbishop officiated the Matins Service and presided over the Divine Liturgy in memory of Saint Leo, Pope of Rome, accompanied by Archbishop Damaskinos of Joppa, from the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and Bishop Elpidios of Kyanes, Archiepiscopal Vicar of Perth. Archimandrite Christoforos Krikelis of the Ecumenical Throne, Protosyncellus of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, and other clergy members from the city of Sydney participated.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Damaskinos delivered a sermon in which he analyzed the Gospel passage of the day. During his brief address, Archbishop Makarios expressed gratitude to the Archbishop of Joppa for his visit to Australia and for his blessed presence at the Eucharistic Synaxis at the Church of Saint Gerasimos. He praised the personality of the Hagiotaphite Hierarch and informed the congregation that Damaskinos has been serving in the Holy Land since the age of 14.
“He dedicated his entire life to the service of the Holy Shrines and the Holy Sepulchre,” he emphasized. The Archbishop of Australia expressed gratitude for the blessings and grace brought by his visit to Australia, uplifting the faithful of the Orthodox Church in the fifth continent. Finally, he asked the Archbishop of Joppa to convey the love and respect of himself, the bishops, the clergy, and the devout members of the local Church to Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem.
In his reply, Archsbishop Damaskinos expressed his joy for the opportunity to visit Australia, thanked Archsbishop Makarios for his cordial welcome, and acknowledged his inexhaustible paternal love for the Church and the blessed flock entrusted to him by God. He also extended to everyone the blessing of Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, as well as the personal appreciation of the Patriarch to the Archbishop of Australia.
After the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Makarios performed the Sanctification rite for the beginning of the new school year at the Sunday School of New South Wales. He blessed all the teachers and the students present, while heartily thanking the former for the ministry they perform with devotion, “to sow the word of God in the souls of our children.” He also thanked the Christian Association, which organizes and coordinates the Sunday Schools of New South Wales, recognizing that it performs this important ministry in an exemplary and apostolic manner.
Finally, Archbishop Makarios congratulated the Hierarchical Head of the Church of Saint Gerasimos, Fr. Panteleimon Toubelekis, acknowledging his commendable efforts despite the relatively short duration of his ministry in this parish. He wished him to continue with the same zeal and dedication, and expressed gratitude to the President and members of the Parish-Community’s Board of Directors for their exceptional cooperation with the Hierarchical Head and the Holy Archdiocese of Australia.
Translated by Thanos Chrysanthopoulos
