On the eve of Epiphany, Friday, January 5, Archbishop Makarios of Australia, amidst his pastoral tour of Victoria, led the ceremonial proceedings at the Holy Monastery of the Virgin Mary “Axion Esti” in Northcote, Melbourne.
After performing the Service of the Great Hours of Epiphany and the Festive Vespers, the Archbishop presided over the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great and conducted the “Blessing of the Waters” service, culminating in the heartfelt blessing of the faithful with the Holy Cross.
In his short homily, Archbishop Makarios extended paternal blessings to the gathered congregation, delving into the significance of the Holy Twelve Days, spanning from the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ to His Baptism. Emphasizing the dual nature of these events, he remarked, “Both the Birth and the Baptism represent God’s Epiphany in the world.”
He added, “In the early Christian days, Christmas and Epiphany were celebrated on the same day, signifying the manifestation of God. At Christmas, Christ, the second person of the Holy Trinity, became human to elevate humanity to the divine. At Baptism, the revelation of the Holy Trinity unfolds.”
Article translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas