On Saturday of Lazarus, April 27, Archbishop Makarios of Australia presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Church of St. Athanasius in Rookwood, Sydney. Upon his arrival, he was warmly welcomed by the Hierarchical Head, Fr. Ioannis Gryllis, along with the members of the Board of Directors and the faithful in attendance.
Following the Gospel reading, the Archbishop expounded upon the events surrounding the miraculous resurrection of Saint and Righteous Lazarus, as narrated by the Evangelist John. Additionally, he delved into the subsequent life and journey of the resurrected saint, who later traveled to Cyprus and dedicated himself to serving the Church of Christ as the Bishop of Kition.
In particular, the Archbishop focused on the honorary characterization of “friend” attributed to Lazarus, delving into the depth of his relationship with Christ. “Christ was a perfect God and a perfect man,” the Archbishop said, “and, like all people, He had friends.” After referring to other similar references found in the Gospel, along with examples from the lives of the Saints, he emphasized the significance of meaningful and sincere friendships among people. He emphasized, “May you not be friendless, but have friends as Christ had.”
“In following Christ’s example, we are called to cherish our friendships and love our companions unconditionally, without fear or shame, regardless of the mistakes they may make in their lives. Let us have the courage to stand by them and offer our support,” the Archbishop urged, among other insights. Concluding his address, he extended his heartfelt wishes to the faithful gathered for the forthcoming Holy and Great Week, and for the joyous celebration of our Lord’s life-giving Resurrection.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Makarios ordained two readers, Sotirios Anagnostopoulos and Nikolaos Panagopoulos. Following this, he presided over a Trisagion service at the tomb of his late predecessor, Archbishop Stylianos of Australia.
