The great feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos was celebrated with ecclesiastical splendor at the Cathedral of Sydney.
On the day of the feast, a multitude of faithful congregated at the celebratory Church, where a Polyarchieratic Divine Liturgy was conducted, led by Archbishop Makarios of Australia and co-officiated by Metropolitan Seraphim of Sebastia, along with Bishops Iakovos of Militoupolis, Christodoulos of Magnesia, and Bartholomew of Charioupolis. Attending, among others, were the Alternate Minister of Interior of Greece Theodoros Livanios, the Ambassador of Greece to Australia, Stavros Venizelos, and the Consul General in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis.
During the Divine Liturgy, the Message of the Archbishop of Australia on the occasion of the Feast Day of the 25th of March was read in Greek and English.
The atmosphere was filled with emotion as the five-year Memorial of Archbishop Stylianos of Australia was observed. Archbishop Makarios expressed gratitude as he reflected on the personality and contributions of his late predecessor.
“He shepherded the local Church for 44 years with much effort and self-sacrifice, with much love for Christ and the people of God,” he said. “I consider it a great blessing from God to have succeeded him,” he emphasized, “to occupy the seat where he once sat. I am acutely aware, perhaps more than anyone else, of the challenges inherent in this position, and the daily effort required to maintain unity and strive for the salvation of our people.” “For this reason,” he added, “I can personally appreciate the efforts and struggles of the late Archbishop, as well as his significant contributions to our local Church, for which I am deeply grateful and indebted.”
Metropolitan Seraphim of Sevastia also spoke about the personality of Archbishop Stylianos, who collaborated and was spiritually associated with him for almost three decades. Metropolitan Seraphim highlighted the challenging circumstances in which the late Hierarch assumed leadership of the local Church, emphasizing the steadfastness of spirit with which he navigated through his lengthy tenure. He also underscored the fervor with which Archbishop Stylianos defended the rights of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia and upheld the authority of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Translated by Thanos Chrysanthopoulos
