The memory of Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the Wonderworker, was celebrated with ecclesiastical splendor in Sydney, drawing a large congregation to honor the beloved saint. The focal point of the celebrations was the Church of Saint Nicholas in Marrickville, where Archbishop Makarios of Australia presided over the Divine Liturgy, following the Orthros service.
Concelebrating with the Archbishop were Bishops Iakovos of Militoupolis and Christodoulos of Magnesia, along with the Protosyncellus of the Holy Archdiocese, Archimandrite Christoforos Krikelis of the Ecumenical Throne, and several priests from Sydney. Metropolitan Seraphim of Sebastia also prayed at the Holy Altar.
In his homily, Archbishop Makarios addressed the congregation with an inspired message, focusing first on the enduring love that Saint Nicholas cultivated as a bishop. He noted that Saint Nicholas gained the love of the people by prioritizing their spiritual salvation, even when it was challenging. “He did nothing different than what God does,” the Archbishop explained, highlighting that, like God, Saint Nicholas often acted in ways that were spiritually beneficial rather than immediately pleasing.
“Many times, we ask God for things, and He does not grant them. We may feel saddened or even complain, thinking that He is deaf to our requests,” the Archbishop said. “But God’s silence is also an answer. And every answer from God is aimed at our ultimate spiritual benefit and salvation. If what we ask for will not lead us to His Kingdom, then He will withhold it because He gives us what is best—and there is nothing greater than the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Archbishop Makarios also reflected on Saint Nicholas’s unwavering dedication to the truth. He emphasized that the life of the Church is fundamentally rooted in truth, a principle fiercely upheld by the honored saint. “The devil hates the truth and seeks to slander, distort, and deceive,” he warned. “Saint Nicholas’s entire life was a witness to and a struggle for the truth, standing firm against the devil’s constant attempts to lead people astray.”
Concluding his sermon, the Archbishop encouraged the faithful to deepen their spiritual preparation for the great feast of Christmas. He urged them to embrace fasting, prayer, almsgiving, and active participation in the Holy Services and Sacraments of the Church. “Just as we prepare and decorate our homes for Christmas, so too must we prepare our souls to receive the great event of the Nativity of our Lord,” he advised. “Let us welcome Christmas not just outwardly and superficially but with genuine spiritual experience. Let us truly feel the profound meaning of Christ’s birth—that God became man so that man might become divine.”
The celebration of Saint Nicholas in Sydney served as both a tribute to the saint’s enduring legacy and an invitation for the faithful to strengthen their spiritual lives in preparation for the Nativity of Christ.
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
