The feast of Nativity of Saint John the Baptist was celebrated with brilliance on Thursday, June 24, in Perth. Bishop of Elpidios of Kyanes presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Monastery of Saint John.
In his sermon, Bishop Elpidios first noted that the great feast of Pentecost is celebrated for a whole week and reminded that during Pentecost the Holy Spirit called everyone to unity. He then explained that the Orthodox Church expresses itself through its Synods and pointed out that the main reason that St. Constantine convened the First Ecumenical Synod, in Nicaea in 325 AD, was to maintain the unity of the Church.
Also, Bishop Elpidios reminded the faithful how blessed we are this year that the feast of the Nativity of St. John is celebrated in the middle of the great feast of Pentecost, while he also referred to the gospel of the day that shows the Prophet Zacharias being reprimanded by the Archangel for his disbelief in God’s plan for the salvation of men.
After the Dismissal of the Divine Liturgy, clergy and faithful all went to the dining room of the monastery, where tea was offered, while the official fundraising meal of the monastery will take place on All Saints’ Sunday, in the presence of Bishop Elpidios.
Source: vema.com.au