On the 1st of May, one week following the celebration of the Sunday of Holy Pascha, the Orthodox Church observed The Sunday of Thomas. Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta from the Archdiocesan District of Northcote visited the celebrating Greek Orthodox Church of Saint George in Shepparton of regional Victoria.
Bishop Evmenios attended and conducted the Sunday Matins and the Divine Liturgy. The Bishop was assisted by the Parish Priest of Saint George in Shepparton, Reverend Father Platonos Derlis, and Reverend Father Konstantinos Apostolellis from Melbourne. At the end of the Divine Liturgy, a Litany of the Holy Icon of the Saint took place.
In his sermon, Bishop Evmenios referred to the Apostle Thomas noting that, while people call the Apostle an infidel, the Holy Fathers call him a believer. Bishop Evmenios stated that Christ warned his students many times that “false-messiahs and false-prophets” would appear and try to deceive even the people who are very close to Christ (The Gospel According to St. Matthew 24:23-27). Bishop of Kerasountos continued his sermon and he pointed out, that Apostle Thomas may have remembered the words of Christ, and he wanted to remain faithful to these words. “The best protection against falsehood and false teachers is to know the truth,” Bishop Evmenios continued. “To distinguish something fake, you must study the truth. That’s what Apostle Thomas did.”
Finally, Bishop Evmenios, on behalf of Archbishop Makarios of Australia, thanked Reverend Father Platonos Derlis who serves all the parishes of the regional Victoria, especially during Holy Week, and wished everyone a Blessing day.
Afterwards, the whole congregation had the opportunity to attend a luncheon organized by the Parish Community.
