In a joyful and emotional atmosphere, in the presence of Archbishop Makarios of Australia, an official festive dinner was held in Adelaide on Sunday, November 12, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Holy Monastery of Saint Nektarios Croydon Park.
The dinner, which included a musical and dance program, was attended by Bishops Silouan of Sinope and Charioupolis, Archdiocesan Vicars of Adelaide and Canberra respectively, the Consul General of Greece in Adelaide, Georgios Psiachas, the Minister of Infrastructure, Transport and Energy of the Government of South Australia, Anastasios Koutsantonis, and the Federal MP of Adelaide, Efstathios Georganas.
Archbishop Makarios, in his warm greeting, expressed gratitude to the people who played an important role in the establishment and development of the Holy Monastery of Saint Nektarios. He first commemorated the late Archbishop of Australia, Ezekiel, under whose guidance a small plot of land had been purchased in Croydon Park, with the vision of hosting a monastic community and an nursing home there.
Subsequently, the Archbishop described the chronicle of the construction of the Holy Monastery, which functioned as a Parish of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, and made special reference to the valuable contribution of the late Archimandrite Gervasios Kambourakis. He also expressed the gratitude of the local Church to the founding members of the ecclesiastical council and its first President, late Stylianos Kontoleontas, to the first donor for the construction of the Monastery, late Konstantinos Liaskos, and to all, its donors and donors, as well as to the faithful who have contributed to the development of the Holy Monastery of Saint Nektarios into a dynamic Parish, with a rich ecclesiastical, spiritual and social work.
Archbishop Makarios also mentioned the contribution of the clergy who served in the Metropolis of Saint Nektarios, first of all late Bishop Nektarios of Madagascar, who was distinguished for his missionary spirit and was a source of inspiration for the younger generations of clergy. He then praised Bishop Silouan, who had served the Parish of Croydon Park for more than a decade, until he was ordained Bishop of Sinope. As the Archbishop recalled, the community hall of the Parish has become a place of activities not only of the local community but also of the entire Archdiocesan District of Adelaide.
Finally, the Archbishop added that the vision of his late predecessor, Archbishop Ezekiel, was fully fulfilled with the operation of the Elderly Care Unit “Vasileiada” next to the Monastery of Saint Nektarios. He also expressed his joy for the fact that Fr. Panagiotis Kouvousis, Hierarchical Head of the Monastery of Saint Nektarios, continues with great enthusiasm and dedication the great legacy he received. .
In conclusion, he stressed that “our Holy Archdiocese is proud of you” and assured that he would continue to support their struggle for the further development and progress of the Parish in the coming decades. He wished the patron saint of their Parish, Saint Nektarios, to continue to bless the works and guide them.
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
