“Our passport for the transition from the present to eternal life will be stamped by our neighbor!” This was said by Archbishop Makarios of Australia to the new Presbyter of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, Fr. Dimitrios Drougas. Fr. Dimitrios, ordained as a Deacon exactly two months ago on the feast of the Presentation of the Theotokos to the Temple, once again stood before his Shepherd to receive the next level of priesthood. His ordination took place on Sunday, January 21 at the Church of St. Eustathius in Melbourne during the Divine Liturgy in memory of St. Maximus the Confessor.
In addition to conveying paternal wishes, Archbishop Makarios offered the new presbyter spiritual guidance and admonitions for his future life and priestly ministry. Commencing with an analysis of the Gospel passage of the day, which depicted the healing of the ten lepers by Jesus Christ, the Archbishop urged Fr. Dimitrios to remain steadfast in gratitude to the Lord and His Church, thus acknowledging all the gifts and benefits he has received and will continue to receive throughout his life.
He then stressed that the loving relationship of every Christian with his neighbor –philanthropy, as defined by Saint Maximus the Confessor– was a basic prerequisite to reach the path of holiness and salvation. As he explained, philanthropy, according to Saint Maximos, is not exclusively related to charity and the provision of material goods to our fellow human beings in need, as it is mistakenly perceived in our time. “A philanthropist is an individual characterized by merciful and benevolent sentiments toward their neighbor, possessing a compassionate and kind-hearted nature,” he stressed.
“It is not someone with a hardened heart,” he responded, “who constantly judges, criticizes, and scrutinizes others.” “God despises the hardened heart,” emphasized the Archbishop, invoking the wisdom of his Protector, Saint Makarios the Great, who proclaimed, “There is no other way to be saved except through our neighbor.” In conclusion, he asked the new Presbyter of the local Church to ensure that his words and works always have a positive impact on the life and progress of his fellow human beings.
Archbishop Makarios concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with Bishops Elpidios of Kyanes, Kyriakos of Sozopolis, Evmenios of Kerasous, and Themistocles of Nikopolis, from the Patriarchate of Alexandria. The Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Emmanuel Kakavelakis, the President of the Intercommunal Committee of Victoria, Antonios Tsourdalakis, and the brother of the Ecumenical Patriarch, Nikolaos Archontonis, along with this spouse, Aikaterini, attended the Divine Liturgy.
