On 19 January each year, the Orthodox Church commemorates the memory of Saint Makarios the Great, the ascetic. On this significant day, the Holy Archdiocese of Australia also marks the Name Day of its Archbishop and spiritual shepherd, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia.
On the occasion of this year’s feast, the Holy Archdiocese will honor the Name Day of Archbishop Makarios with celebrations in Melbourne and Sydney, inviting the clergy and faithful to participate prayerfully and festively.
The celebrations will commence on Saturday, 17 January, with an official dinner to be held at 6:00 pm in the Banquet Hall of the Pullman Melbourne Albert Park Hotel. The event will take place in the presence of the Hierarchs of the Archdiocese, clergy, representatives of the civil authorities, and members of the faithful from Melbourne.
On Sunday, 18 January, Archbishop Makarios will preside at the Divine Liturgy in the celebrating Church of Saint Athanasius in Springvale, offering his blessing to the faithful.
Later that same day, at 6:00 pm, on the eve of the feast, a Great Hierarchical Vespers will be celebrated in Sydney, at the Holy Cathedral Church of the Annunciation of Our Lady, with His Eminence presiding.
On Monday, 19 January, beginning at 7:30 am, Matins will be celebrated, followed by a Synodal Divine Liturgy, presided over by Archbishop Makarios.
Following the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy, a reception will be held in the main hall of St Andrew’s Theological College, adjacent to the Cathedral, where His Eminence will receive the festive greetings of the clergy and faithful of the local Church.
On the same evening, an official dinner will take place at Le Montage Reception Hall, commencing at 6:00 pm, with the participation of Hierarchs, clergy, representatives of the civil authorities, and members of the faithful of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia.
It is noted that Archbishop Makarios will not accept gifts or monetary offerings on the occasion of his Name Day. Those who wish to offer a gift are kindly invited to support St John’s College in Melbourne and the completion of the iconography of the Holy Cathedral in Sydney.
