In an atmosphere of deep emotion, Archbishop Makarios of Australia, performed on Friday, May 27, the monastic ordination of the monk Kosmas Magdalopoulos at the Holy Monastery of Panagia Pantanassa, in Mangrove Creek, New South Wales.
This was the first monastic tonsure that Archbishop Makarios performed at this particular monastery, a fact that heightened his joy and emotion, while, as he assured, it strengthened the spiritual ties that connect him with this blessed monastery of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia.
Addressing the new monk, who was renamed Maximus in honour of Saint Maximus the Confessor, with paternal words, the Archbishop urged him to live the monastic life of full love and respect for his neighbour. Moreover, while speaking of love, his speech also included a reference to the excellent work “The 400 Chapters on Love”, written by the Saint whose name the young monk bears.
In presenting and briefly analyzing the contents of the work, the Archbishop first of all distinguished that there are two seemingly deeper and more essential reasons that prompted St. Maximus to collect and compile these chapters on this particular subject. The first is “to speak and admonish himself first, on the occasion of the envy and hatred he once received from other monks,” he explained, in an attempt, as he pointed out, “to spiritually confront this great temptation of resentment.”
The second reason is “that the life according to God is dominated by exercise, fasting, prudence, but above all by love and respect for the neighbour. ” This is something that is sometimes ignored by many, who wrongly separate the love for God from that for the neighbour,” the Archbishop noted and added: “Thus, they transform love into a religious ethical obligation. Healthy love is not only directed towards God, but also extends to the neighbour […] Besides, the characteristic of Christians is love and, not just love between family and friends, but love that extends beyond human justice and reason and even reaches out to enemies”.
Further analyzing the theological content of St. Maximus’ work, Archbishop Makarios focused on the connection between reason – especially the reason of judgment – and human relationships. “St. Maximus the Confessor is against many and hollow words and denounces judgment against one’s neighbour,” he stressed, and then quoted a loving request of the saint to every person: “Do not surrender your hearing to the words of anyone who vilifies, nor surrender your own words to the hearing of a calumniator, speaking or listening with pleasure to words against your neighbour, so that you may not lose divine love and find yourself outcast from eternal life.” In this request, it is clear that the Saint’s intention is to recommend caution not only of speech but also of hearing, since, as the Archbishop discerned, “calumniation is a passion that rallies all the powers of a man in order to achieve the obliteration of the neighbour”.
Having presented the life of St. Maximus the Confessor, as well as a sufficient sample of his spirituality and monastic quality, the Archbishop urged the new monk to try to embrace and experience the theology of the Saint, and to accept to make His teaching part of his life and daily life.
Finally, he praised the monastic brotherhood of Panagia Pantanassa and its Abbot, Archimandrite Evsevios of the Ecumenical Throne, and made special reference to its founder, Fr. Stephen, who, as he acknowledged, “laid solid foundations to establish this brotherhood.” “All of us are confident that the Monastery of Pantanassi will become a great centre of monasticism for the fifth continent,” he emphasized.
