On Monday, 11 August, Archbishop Makarios of Australia visited St. John’s Greek Orthodox College in Preston, Melbourne, where he presided over a Supplicatory Canon to the Most Holy Theotokos. The service was especially moving as the students themselves chanted the Canon to the Mother of God.
At the conclusion of the service, Archbishop Makarios spoke warmly about the revered person of the Mother of God, the loving Mother of all humanity, encouraging the students to turn to her in prayer, entrusting to her their concerns and seeking her help and support. “Just as a good mother never grows tired of hearing her child say, ‘help me,’ so too our Panagia never grows weary of hearing your prayers,” he assured them. “She is never too busy. She never says, ‘Not now.’ She never forgets you.”
He went on to highlight the deep faith and devotion the Theotokos displayed from a young age, as well as her wondrous obedience to God’s will. Recalling her response to the Archangel Gabriel at the Annunciation, “Let it be to me according to your word”, he noted: “This is what makes the Panagia so special: not only that she gave birth to Christ, but that she did so with complete trust and love.”
Urging the students to follow the example of the Ever-Virgin Mary, Archbishop Makarios stressed, “You don’t have to wait until you are older to be close to God. You can pray now. You can be good now. You can make the sign of the Cross now, say your prayer before bed, light a candle, say ‘thank you,’ and forgive your friends when they upset you. This is how saints are made.”
Addressing the older students, who may face stronger pressures at school, among peers, and due to uncertainty about the future, His Eminence reassured them that they have a precious compass to keep them from losing their way. “That compass is Christ and His Church,” he said, adding, “The safest road to Christ is the one the Panagia walked. Follow her example. Say ‘yes’ in difficult choices. Say ‘no’ to temptations. Say ‘help me’ when you are weak. And always keep your heart pure, because Christ desires to dwell there. You don’t have to be perfect, just keep walking toward Christ.”
Archbishop Makarios concluded his address by extending his paternal blessings to all in anticipation of the upcoming feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos. Afterwards, he met personally with the College Principal, Mr Andrew Ponsford, members of the Board, teachers, and students, learning about the life of the St. John’s school community and offering his blessing to its initiatives and activities.
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
