This year marks fifty years of devoted and sacrificial ministry by the priestly couple Stylianos and Panayiota Skoutas at the Parish of Saint Spyridon in Kingsford, a suburb of Sydney. The most fitting occasion to express gratitude for their longstanding service was the parish’s annual feast, which culminated on Friday, 12 December, with the celebration of a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy presided over by Archbishop Makarios of Australia.
Concelebrating with the Archbishop were Bishop Elpidios of Perth, Bishop Athenagoras of Canberra, and the auxiliary bishops Iakovos of Miletoupolis, Abbot of the Monastery of Saint George at Yellow Rock, and Christoforos of Kerasous, Protosyncellus of the Holy Archdiocese. At the Archbishop’s request, the homily was delivered by Bishop Elpidios of Perth.
At the conclusion of the festive Divine Liturgy, in an emotionally charged atmosphere, Archbishop Makarios invited the parish priest, Protopresbyter Stylianos of the Ecumenical Throne, and his Presvytera Panayiota to come forward. He bestowed upon them the highest honorary distinction of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, the Order of the Philochristoi. “This is the very least we can do,” the Archbishop remarked, expressing heartfelt gratitude for their many years of faithful and invaluable contribution to the Kingsford parish and to the life of the Church in Australia more broadly.
In his address, Archbishop Makarios first commemorated the founder of the parish and predecessor of Fr Stylianos, the late Fr Elias Oikonomou, who fell asleep in the Lord in 1975. He spoke of him as a deeply blessed priest and expressed his confidence that his soul rests among the saints and the righteous.
Turning to Fr Stylianos, the Archbishop acknowledged the many labors and the complete dedication he has shown throughout his fifty years of ministry at Saint Spyridon. He also highlighted the vital contribution of Presvytera Panayiota to the parish’s spiritual growth and development. Concluding, he wished them many more blessed years, encouraging them to continue serving with love for the glory of Christ and His Church.
Responding, Fr Stylianos warmly thanked the Archbishop for the honor bestowed upon him, but above all for his sincere love and constant support. Visibly moved, he noted that Archbishop Makarios had embraced him from the very first day of his arrival in Australia, recalling in particular the Archbishop’s personal care and concern during a period of health challenges.
Fr Stylianos also spoke from the heart about the decisive support he has received from Presvytera Panayiota throughout his ministry. “Without my Presvytera, I would not have remained in this parish for long,” he remarked, expressing gratitude to God for granting him a companion endowed with virtues such as diligence, prudence, wisdom, patience, and dignity.
Following the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy, the priestly couple—who for half a century have stood as a true pillar of the Kingsford parish—received congratulations and warm wishes from the bishops, clergy, and faithful in attendance. Among them were the parish president, Mr Elias Oikonomou, as well as students of Saint Spyridon College, who joined the community in honoring this remarkable milestone of service and dedication.
