On the Sunday of Orthodoxy, March 1, 2026, Metropolitan Arsenios of Austria presided over the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the Holy Church of Saint George the Trophy-Bearer in Vienna, assisted by the Archpriest of Austria, Protopresbyter Ioannis Nikolitsis, the Cross-Bearing Ecclesiarch Aristeidis Ganosis, and Deacon Georgios Meleshko. Following the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the traditional procession of the holy Icons was observed, in accordance with the Church’s custom.
In his sermon, the Metropolitan spoke about the significance of the feast of the Restoration of the Holy Icons, which proclaims the Church’s correct teaching regarding the Incarnation of God. He explained that depicting the face of our Lord Jesus Christ bears witness to the truth of His Incarnation. The unbegotten and ineffable God, “taking the form of a servant,” assumed human nature, walked among humankind, and was revealed “in the flesh.” He then reflected on the course of the Holy and Great Lent, which aims at purifying the image of God within us from the shadows of sin. Ascetic practice, repentance, and participation in the Sacrament of Holy Confession are the fundamental means for restoring this divine image, so that we may be united with Him by grace.
After the Divine Liturgy, the customary service of the Restoration of the Holy Icons was celebrated. The Metropolitan encouraged the faithful to participate in the rich program of sacred services offered by the parishes of the Metropolis and reminded them that the clergy of the Holy Metropolis of Austria are entrusted with pastoral care, providing throughout the Holy and Great Lent the opportunity to partake in the Sacrament of Holy Confession, so that the faithful may be spiritually prepared to jointly celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Finally, the customary gathering took place in the “Rigas Feraios” hall of the Metropolis, where the faithful had the opportunity to hear another spiritual address and to converse with the Metropolitan and the priests on matters of spiritual edification.
