On Cheesefare Sunday March 6th, 2022 a Divine Liturgy conducted at the Parish of ‘Sts. Cyril and Methodius’ at Preston, officiated by His Grace Bishop of Kerasountas Evmenios and the parish priest Rev. Vasilios Kourtessis.
On the same day the parish celebrated the 80th birthday of the venerable parish priest, Father Vasilios Kourtessis. Father Vasilios Kourtessis thanked in his speech the Almighty God who blessed him to reach the 80th year of his life, with 57 years as a clergyman serving the Holy of the Christ Church and the Holy Archdiocese of Australia.
Father Vasilios Kourtessis thanked His Grace as well, for his presence, and asked him to convey his humble respects and devotion to His Eminence Archbishop of Australia Makarios. He also thanked his uncle and spiritual Father, the blessed Father Hierotheos Kourtessis, who was the one who led him to his steps in the priesthood. He then thanked Father Vasilio Moutafi as well as his predecessor Father Methodius Livanos. Closing his speech, he thanked all his close associates for their support and respect for his person.
His Grace Bishop of Kerasountas Evmenios instead of a sermon he read the message of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople for the Great Lent and conveyed the blessings of His Eminence Archbishop of Australia Makarios and expressed his heartfelt wishes to Father Vasilio Kourtessis for his birthday.
Source: vema.com.au