On the Fifth Sunday of Lent, March 29, the day dedicated to Saint Mary of Egypt, Archbishop Makarios of Australia presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Sydney.
The Archbishop presided at Matins and subsequently led the Divine Liturgy, concelebrated by Bishop Christoforos of Kerasounta, Protosyncellus of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a Doxology was offered for the National Anniversary of the Greek Revolution of 1821, as well as a Memorial Service for the heroes of the EOKA liberation struggle (1955–59), on the occasion of the anniversary of April 1, 1955.
Before the dismissal, Archbishop Makarios spoke about the two national anniversaries of Greece and Cyprus, and referring particularly to Cyprus, he stated:
“We honor our Cypriot brothers who struggled for the liberation of their island, and we glorify God for the fact that there is a free Cyprus today.”
“At the same time,” he added, “we offer our supplication and prayer that God may bless and help so that the entire island may be liberated and united. May God grant us this great blessing, through the grace and intercessions of the Most Holy Theotokos, the ever-protectress of our Nation, to see our Cyprus free and united.”
Among those present were the Ambassador of Greece to Australia, Stavros Venizelos, with his wife Larissa Tikaidi; the High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus, Antonios Sammoutis; Members of the Hellenic Parliament Maximos Charakopoulos, Filippos Fortomas, Stavros Michailidis, and Konstantinos Barkas, part of an official delegation visiting Australia for the celebrations of the Greek War of Independence anniversary; the Secretary General of the Archdiocesan Council and Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Theodosios Penklis, with his wife Marianna; as well as presidents and representatives of Greek and Cypriot diaspora organizations.
