On Sunday, 16 August, Archbishop Makarios of Australia visited the Parish of the Transfiguration of Our Lord in Earlwood, Sydney, which this year is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its establishment.
His Eminence presided at the Matins service and officiated at the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. At its conclusion, he delivered a paternal and spiritual address to the congregation, interpreting the Gospel reading of the day and expressing the gratitude of the local Church to all those who contributed to the establishment and advancement of the Parish throughout its half-century of life and spiritual ministry.
Presenting first the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:23–35), he emphasised the importance of gratitude and forgiveness in the life of an Orthodox Christian. He contrasted these virtues with ingratitude and the refusal to forgive, spiritual passions that bind a person to the past and undermine both their spiritual health and their relationship with their neighbour.
Archbishop Makarios then reflected upon the Parish’s 50-year journey, focusing on its historic role as one of the churches established to meet the needs arising from the large influx of Greek migrants to Australia. “It is a modest and humble church that reflects the first steps of the early Greeks,” he observed, adding: “I would like this church to remain as it is, because it demonstrates that a people came here who were poor and humble, yet honourable. As time passed, our people progressed, but this church—one of the first to meet the needs of the great wave of migration—reflects our earliest steps and constitutes a historical and spiritual landmark.”
Speaking about those who played a leading role in the establishment and consolidation of the Earlwood Parish, His Eminence made special reference to Elder Stephanos Pantanassiotis, former Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Panagia Pantanassa in Mangrove. Among other things, he acknowledged that the Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne, who served as Chancellor of the Holy Archdiocese during the 1970s, was a pioneer of spiritual ministry throughout the broader Sydney region and made a multifaceted and decisive contribution to the spiritual advancement of the local Church.
On behalf of the Parish of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, the Parish Priest, Fr Sotirios Drapaniotis, welcomed the Archbishop and expressed the gratitude of the parishioners for their Shepherd’s participation in the anniversary celebration, as well as for his spiritual guidance, pastoral care and support. Referring to the Parish’s 50-year history, he emphasised that it had served the people of God by preserving the Orthodox faith, traditions and Greek identity and, above all, had remained devoted to the Holy Archdiocese of Australia. As an expression of this enduring devotion, as well as of honour, filial love and gratitude towards their Shepherd, Fr Sotirios presented His Eminence with a pastoral staff.
The Archbishop received the Parish’s gift with emotion, warmly thanking its members for their love, respect and devotion, and especially praising the God-pleasing ministry of their Parish Priest. On this occasion, he also acknowledged the presence of Fr Angelos Drapaniotis, the father of Fr Sotirios, emphasising that, for a priest, “there is no greater honour than for his child to become a priest, because this means that his life within the family proved worthy in the eyes of his children.” In conclusion, he urged the members of the Parish to preserve their unity and prayed that God would grant abundant blessings to all.
Among those present in the congregation were the New South Wales Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Work Health and Safety, Sophie Cotsis MP, and the New South Wales Minister for Finance, Courtney Houssos MP. Following the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy, a festive luncheon was held in the parish hall with the participation of the entire congregation.
