“Our Lady is the most loving person who ever walked this earth,” proclaimed Archbishop Makarios of Australia, addressing hundreds of faithful gathered at the Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God in North Altona, Melbourne.
On the evening of Wednesday, August 14, Archbishop Makarios of Australia presided over the Great Vespers at the Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God in North Altona, Melbourne. He was accompanied by Bishops Kyriakos of Melbourne and Themistocles of Nikopolis from the Patriarchate of Alexandria. During his sermon, the Archbishop emphasized the profound model of affection embodied in the holy person of the Theotokos. He contrasted this with the model of justice, which, he noted, often involves a tendency toward constant scrutiny of others and the harboring of feelings of anger.
Addressing parents in particular, he urged them to surround their children with love and affection, cautioning against the use of pressure and unrealistic expectations, which often lead to outcomes contrary to what is intended.
He emphasized, “What is missing from the world, from our families, and from our children is affection,” and added, “This is the very essence that the Virgin Mary embodied and continues to demonstrate. So, make affection a part of your life. This is the message I want you to take away from today’s feast.”
The Archbishop also spoke of the profound reverence that all Orthodox Christians, particularly Greeks, have for the Theotokos. He highlighted that this deep veneration is reflected in the large number of Greek Orthodox churches dedicated to her by Greek immigrants across the fifth continent—more than to any other saint.
The Archbishop explained that this reverence is well-founded for two key reasons: first, because the Virgin Mary is the Mother of our God, and second, because she became the bridge that unites heaven and earth.
He emphasized, “Before the Virgin Mary came into the world and accepted to give birth to the Son and Word of God, the door of Paradise was closed.” He also reminded the congregation that the Greek nation, in particular, has experienced the blessings and miraculous interventions of the Theotokos countless times throughout its history.
In concluding his sermon, Archbishop Makarios acknowledged the presence of Emmanuel Kakavelakis, the Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, and expressed his gratitude to Fr. Dimitrios Katrini, the Hierarchical Head of the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos in North Altona, as well as to Christos Dimitriadis, the President of the Parish-Community, for their kind invitation. He expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the ongoing progress of the Parish-Community and extended his congratulations to Fr. Dimitrios, Christos Dimitriadis, and all their collaborators.
On his part, the Hierarchical Head extended a warm welcome to the Archbishop on behalf of all the parishioners. He expressed gratitude for the Archbishop’s presence at the Holy Feast and for his devoted care and exemplary work on the fifth continent.
He wished, “May Our Lady continually protect you and grant you strength in both body and spirit, so that you may continue to guide us towards the Kingdom of God.”
