In celebration of the great feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Archbishop Makarios of Australia visited the Holy Diocese of Chora in Victoria, particularly the parish in Thomastown, Melbourne. On the evening of Monday, August 5, the Archbishop presided over the Great Vespers service, accompanied by Bishops Evmenios of Chora, Kyriakos of Melbourne, and Themistocles of Nikopolis from the Patriarchate of Alexandria, along with numerous clergy from across Victoria. The service saw a large gathering of faithful Christians, including the Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Emmanuel Kakavelakis.
At the conclusion of the service, Archbishop Makarios conveyed the wishes and blessings of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the clergy and the congregation. He briefly mentioned recent decisions of the Holy and Sacred Synod beneficial to the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, including the establishment of a Holy Eparchial Synod, new Dioceses named after Australian cities, and the election of Chorebishops. He expressed the local Church’s gratitude to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for his support and urged the faithful to demonstrate their appreciation by actively participating in the events during the Patriarch’s upcoming Apostolic Visit to Sydney and Melbourne from October 4 to October 19, 2024. Emphasizing the importance of unity, Archbishop Makarios stated, “The Church progresses when we are all together, united. The Church proceeds with ‘we’, not with ‘I’.”
Reflecting on the significance of the Transfiguration, the Archbishop noted the presence of Prophets Moses and Elijah, demonstrating Christ’s dominion over life and death. He explained that the Transfiguration was a foreshadowing of the Resurrection, intended to reassure the disciples before the Crucifixion. He discussed the concept of transformation, contrasting good transformation with deterioration. Citing the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the controversial opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris, he highlighted the Orthodox Church’s aim for the good transformation of humanity. He warned against the distortions of reality, stating that such negative transformations lead to decay and darkness, unlike the transfiguration of Christ, which brings light and freedom.
In conclusion, Archbishop Makarios called upon everyone to bear witness to their Greek heritage and Orthodox faith. “Do not be afraid and not ashamed of who you are. And do not be afraid to criticize bad things around you,” he urged.
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
