On Friday, January 19, the day that the Church commemorated Saint Macarius the Great, Archbishop Makarios of Australia celebrated his name day, surrounded by the auxiliary bishops, the holy clergy and the people of the local Church.
At the Holy Cathedral of the Annunciation in Sydney, on the eve of the feast, Archbishop Makarios presided over the Great Vespers and spoke about the life and virtues of his Protector, Saint Macarius. On the feast day, in the morning, a Polyarchieratic Co-liturgy was held, presided over by the Archbishop and concelebrated by Metropolitan Seraphim of Sebasteia and Bishops Iakovos of Militoupolis, Elpidios of Kyanes, Silouanos of Sinope, Kyriakos of Sozopolis, Christodoulos of Magnesia, Eumenios of Kerasounta and Bartholomew of Charioupolis. Many clergymen, monks and nuns, presidents and members of the Parishes-Communities, members of the Archdiocesan Council, school directors and student delegations, professors and students of the Theological School of Apostle Andrew, as well as many believers, including the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis, attended the service.
Representing the auxiliary bishops, Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia delivered a speech, acknowledging Archbishop’s exemplary leadership: “In your personality, we see a good shepherd who doesn’t rely on privileges but utilizes them to bear fruit. You use the example of Christ’s selflessness, rejecting complacency.” Bishop Christodoulos emphasized, “In your personality, we see a good shepherd who fortified the tree of Orthodoxy in Australia, using prosperous ingredients.”
In conclusion, Bishop Christodoulos presented the Archbishop with a gift on behalf of the attending bishops: two hierarchical encolpia, medallions with icons at the center worn around the neck, featuring the images of Saints Macarius the Great and Paisios the Athonite.
In response, Archbishop Makarios expressed gratitude to everyone for their esteemed presence. “I appreciate your kind words,” he said with emotion, acknowledging, “I don’t believe they accurately reflect my humble self or my modest ministry.” He continued, “Yet, I receive them with prayer and supplication. I assure you that I will strive to embody the ideals you’ve expressed in my life. While I may fall short of being all that you’ve described, I am committed to trying, to alleviate your burdens and move our Church forward. We owe everything to the Church, and the Church owes us nothing.”
In the concluding remarks of his brief address, the Archbishop expressed heartfelt words about his Spiritual Father, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. “This individual is the one from whom I’ve gained insights unparalleled in any human encounter, and I’ve been tutored in ways no university or school could teach. I’ve received life lessons that no other person in the world could impart,” he emphasized. “Our Ecumenical Patriarch is an extraordinary and unique figure, a charismatic personality not constantly sent into this world by God. God sends such charismatic figures when He wishes to demonstrate His mercy. I am enlightened by the presence of the Ecumenical Patriarch and the ever-burning lamp of the holy Phanar. With my meager strength, I endeavor to convey this light to all of you.”
After the end of the Divine Liturgy, a reception was held in the hall of the Theological School, where the Archbishop received wishes from the Hierarchs, the Clergy and the lay people of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia.
Article translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas