With the Blessings of Archbishop Makarios of Australia, Bishop Bartholomew of Charioupolis celebrated Matins and the Divine Liturgy at the church of St Euphemia Bankstown for the feast day in remembrance of the miracle that took place with St Euphemia.
Bishop Bartholomew conveyed the love, blessings, and respect of our Spiritual Father Archbishop Makarios and in his sermon, he spoke about what St Euphemia teaches us about Christianity. That Christianity is not a theory, a philosophy a utopia but a reality, a life, an experience. St Euphemia teaches us that Christianity is love and sacrifice, Christianity is humility, and Christianity is total trust in God.
In conclusion, Bishop Bartholomew on behalf of the Archbishop of Australia welcomed Martha Mavrommatis, the High Commissioner of Cyprus to the church and mentioned that the Parish of Bankstown is a blessed Parish for many reasons mainly because it hosted the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I in 1996 and secondly because we have a day college there, the students being the pride of our community.
Lunch was then served at the Parish in honor of Bishop Bartholomew and Her Excellency.
Following lunch, a tour of the school was conducted giving the opportunity for Bishop Bartholomew and Martha Mavrommatis to see the wonderful projects. The Principal of the College, Panagiotis Mavrommatis spoke about the various initiatives St Euphemia are undergoing. Her Excellency then presented some reading material on Cyprus to the school and congratulated all who were involved with St Euphemia.
Bishop Bartholomew thanked Parish Priest Panagiotis Protopsaltis and Assistant Parish Priest Panagiotis Mavrommatis for their love and generous hospitality.