“Hatred and malice prevent us from finding peace of soul,” Archbishop Makarios of Australia declared from the packed Church of St. Paraskevi in St Albans, a suburb of Melbourne, within the Holy Diocese of Chora.
The Archbishop, who is currently making a pastoral visit to the Holy Diocese of Chora, visited the celebrating parish on Saturday, July 25, and presided over the Great Festal Vespers for the feast of St. Paraskevi the Great Martyr. Joining him in prayer were Metropolitan Ezekiel of Derbe, Bishop Evmenios of Chora, and Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne.
Also participating in the service were the parish priest, Fr. Demosthenis Nikolaou, together with numerous clergy from the two Holy Dioceses of Victoria. A large number of faithful gathered to pay their respects to the holy icon and the sacred relic of the patron saint of the parish.
The Archbishop’s inspired sermon included references to the life of the honored saint, placing particular emphasis on the virtues of unconditional love, forgiveness, and freedom from resentment that characterized St. Paraskevi. Recounting the blinding of Emperor Antoninus during the tortures he inflicted upon the saint, Archbishop Makarios noted that through her fervent prayer to the Great Physician of souls and bodies, St. Paraskevi restored the sight of her persecutor and tormentor.
“This is where the greatness of the Saint becomes evident,” the Archbishop said, presenting her as a model of love and forgiveness for modern people, who are often trapped by hatred and bitterness, even within their own families.
“We do not forget, but instead we hold on to resentment over something someone said or did to us. But look at St. Paraskevi! She did not simply forgive her mother, her father, or her relatives; she forgave and healed the very man who tortured her and sought to put her to death.”
Elsewhere in his homily, Archbishop Makarios stressed that “it is a great blessing to have love and forgiveness in our hearts,” explaining that a person who truly loves remains calm and peaceful. Such a person neither disturbs those around them nor is easily shaken themselves. By contrast, a person consumed by hatred, malice, anger, and wrath may harm others, but above all harms themselves.
“Hatred is like poison; it poisons the one who carries it,” he remarked, adding: “Hatred and malice do not allow us to find peace in our souls.”
As the Parish of St Albans is also marking the 35th anniversary of the construction of its church, the Archbishop expressed the local Church’s gratitude to all those—living and departed—who played a pioneering role in bringing that God-pleasing undertaking to fruition.
Among other things, he said:
“We do not forget all those who stepped forward during those difficult years, when there were divisions, discord, and schisms, in order to save their children from error and falsehood. Many people labored for this church. Some gave their time, others contributed financially, others offered moral support, and still others helped simply by being present, choosing this church because it expresses the truth of the Church. We do not forget them, and we thank them for choosing to come here, into the embrace of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.”
At the conclusion of the Festal Vespers, Archbishop Makarios tonsured a young member of the parish, Michael, as a Reader, praying that he may prove worthy of the new ministry entrusted to him.
