The acclamation “Axios!” echoed through the Holy Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Sydney on Saturday, September 27, during the episcopal ordination of the newly elected Bishop of Canberra, Athenagoras, who had long served as Archdeacon of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia.
The ordination was celebrated with great joy and deep emotion by the Spiritual Father of the new Bishop, Archbishop Makarios of Australia, who presided over the Synodal and Polyarchieratic Divine Liturgy.
Concelebrating with His Eminence were the visiting Hierarchs: Metropolitans Ignatios of Demetrias and Almyros, Gregorios of Cameroon, Ioustinos of Nea Krini and Kalamaria, Nathanael of Chicago, Myron of New Zealand, and Damaskinos of Aetolia and Acarnania, together with Bishop Themistocles of Nikopolis. Also serving were the Bishops of the Holy Eparchial Synod: Elpidios of Perth, Silouan of Adelaide, Kyriakos of Melbourne, Evmenios of Chora, and Bartholomew of Brisbane, as well as the Auxiliary Bishops Iakovos of Miletoupolis and Christodoulos of Magnesia.
The service was also attended by Metropolitan Apostolos of Miletus, Abbot of the Holy Patriarchal and Stavropegic Monastery of Saint Anastasia the Pharmakolytria in Chalkidiki, who is in Australia for the upcoming 2nd Pan-Australian Clergy Synaxis. Clergy from across the Holy Archdiocese of Australia participated, along with Archimandrite Ignatios Mourtzanos, Protosyncellus of the Holy Metropolis of Larissa and Tyrnavos; Hieromonk Chrysostomos, Elder of the Cell of Saint John Chrysostom of the Koutloumousian Skete on Mount Athos; and Patriarchal Deacon Fotios Poulopoulos.
Among the distinguished guests were Bishop Richard Umbers, Auxliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney; the Ambassador of Greece to Australia, Stavros Venizelos; the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Georgios Skemperis; representatives of Greek diaspora organizations; and leaders of institutions, organizations, and schools of the Holy Archdiocese.
During his address, Archbishop Makarios congratulated the newly ordained Bishop for his blessed journey in the Church, which began with his monastic tonsure at the historic Monastery of St. George Epanosifis in Crete and continued with six years of devoted service as Archdeacon and Director of Finance of the Orthodox Church in Australia.
He highlighted that, despite his distinguished academic background in Physics at the Universities of Crete and Stanford, USA—where he earned undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral degrees—the new Bishop chose to follow his calling to monasticism and his love for Christ and the Church, setting aside enticing offers of a brilliant academic career abroad.
Expressing his gratitude for Bishop Athenagoras’ ministry since 2019, Archbishop Makarios remarked: “It would not be an exaggeration to compare you with the disciples who ‘immediately left their nets and followed Christ,’ for you too left everything—family, friends, our brotherhood, and our monastery—and followed me with complete love and devotion.”
Reflecting on their six years together in Australia, he recalled the challenges, anxieties, and sorrows, as well as the joys, successes, and miracles they had experienced. “All this,” he noted, “was for you a university that provided an unforgettable ecclesiastical formation.”
Finally, as Bishop Athenagoras embarks on his episcopal ministry, Archbishop Makarios exhorted him to act with wisdom and humility, avoiding the trappings of Pharisaic religiosity. He urged him to prioritize being over appearing, to empathize with the faithful who turn to him, and concluded with the exhortation: “Love the truth if you wish to gain peace for your soul,” he advised him, “and never place yourself in the process of comparing with others, nor seek to promote yourself beyond what your episcopal office requires. Above all, let Christ be the One you project.”
Earlier, the newly ordained Bishop offered heartfelt thanks to his Archbishop and Elder “for the inexhaustible and unconditional love you have shown me from the very first moment of our acquaintance, and with which you continue to surround me unceasingly.” He pledged to dedicate all his strength to being worthy of the trust placed in him by the Mother Church, Archbishop Makarios, and the members of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese of Australia.
At the close of the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Athenagoras distributed the antidoron and warmly received the congratulations and prayers of the Hierarchs, clergy, and faithful in attendance.
