With a solemn co-celebration, Archbishop Makarios of Australia celebrated his name day on Monday, January 19, at the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Sydney, on the day when the Church commemorates Saint Makarios the Great.
Concelebrating the Divine Liturgy were Metropolitans Seraphim of Sebastia, Myron of New Zealand, Iakovos of Ireland, and Irenaeus of Florina, as well as Bishop Prodromos of Toliara and Northern Madagascar, together with the Chorebishops, members of the Holy Eparchial Synod, and the other Assistant Bishops of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia. Present at the service were also the Ambassador of Greece to Australia, Stavros Venizelos, the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Georgios Skemberis, clergy, monks and nuns, Archons of the Great Church of Christ, presidents and representatives of parishes-communities, organizations and institutions of the Holy Archdiocese, as well as a large number of devout faithful.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Makarios expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all those who had come to convey their wishes. He also extended his paternal wishes to Archimandrite Makarios Souris, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Saint John in Perth, who likewise celebrated his name day.
The Archbishop then offered moving words of remembrance for his blessed predecessors, noting that they were hierarchs of great spiritual stature who, in times of difficulty and adversity, “offered work pleasing to God, supported the Greek Diaspora, and bore witness to Australian society through faith, hope, and love.”
In a confessional and reflective tone, he continued:
“Every time the Church celebrates the memory of Saint Makarios the Great and I celebrate my name day, it is a day when I measure myself against the example of our Saints and of my blessed predecessors. It is a moment of personal self-examination: to recognize my mistakes, to discern my weaknesses, to correct my failures, and to listen to the inner voice of my conscience. It is a time to set new goals in my humble ministry, to seek solutions to what concerns and troubles us, to listen to the voice of our people, to their struggles and difficulties, to the pulse of our youth and the sighs of our elders, to their hopes and expectations for tomorrow.”
He added:
“I confess my weakness and my smallness, and for this reason I continually resort to the intercessions of our Saints, of the Lady Theotokos, and of Saint Makarios. I seek the prayers of my brother Hierarchs and of our devoted clergy, and I ask all of you not to forget me in your prayers, but to pray for the success of my humble ministry.”
At the same time, the Archbishop conveyed a message of unity, emphasizing that “there is nothing individual in the Church.” He stressed that “without collective effort and the goodwill of all, nothing can truly move forward.”
Concluding his address, Archbishop Makarios observed that in a world changing at an unprecedented pace, where certainties collapse day by day, “our Holy Church remains a steadfast beacon of sound values, hope, consolation, support, and guidance, especially amid the many and seductive lures of the sirens.”
He underscored the pivotal role of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, describing it as “the great embrace of the Greek Diaspora, which protects all Greeks in Australia—and not only Greeks.” He noted that the Church is the guardian not only of the faith, but also of the Greek language, traditions, and the continuity of Hellenism in the Fifth Continent.
“The Church is the most precious treasure of our Nation,” he said. “That is why we must love and protect it with all our being. I call upon you all to stand steadfastly with the Church, for the sake of the Greek Diaspora, so that we may preserve our roots and not sever the umbilical cord that unites us with our homeland and with our Ecumenical Patriarchate.”
Following the Dismissal of the Divine Liturgy, the festive celebration continued at the Hall of the Theological School of the Apostle Andrew, where a reception was held in honor of the Archbishop’s name day. Clergy and faithful alike had the opportunity to personally extend their warm wishes of “Happy Name Day” to their Shepherd.
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
