With gratitude to the Triune God, the clergy and laity of the Church in Australia have received the joyous news of the election of Their Graces, Bishop Athinagoras of Canberra and Bishop Christophoros of Kerasounta. As has already been announced, the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese of Australia, in accordance with its Constitution and following the recommendation of our Chief Shepherd, Archbishop Makarios, drew up by vote, the three-candidates list for the episcopal elections of the aforementioned Bishops. Subsequently, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, under the presidency of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, unanimously elected the two new Bishops and for whom the Service of the Great Message (formal liturgical and canonical announcement) and ordinations will take place at the Cathedral of the Annunciation of Our Lady in Sydney, as follows:
- Friday, 26 September 2025, at 7:00 a.m. – The ordination to the priesthood of Bishop-elect Athinagoras of Canberra.
- Friday, 26 September 2025, at 6:00 p.m. – The Service of the Great Message of the two Bishops-elect, Athinagoras of Canberra and Christophoros of Kerasounta, followed by the Service of Great Vespers.
- Saturday, 27 September 2025, at 7:00 a.m. – The episcopal ordination of Bishop-elect Athinagoras of Canberra.
- Saturday, 27 September 2025, at 6:00 p.m. – Great Vespers.
- Sunday, 28 September 2025, at 7:00 a.m. – The episcopal ordination of Bishop-elect Christophoros of Kerasounta, Chancellor of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia.
The Sacred Services will be presided over by Archbishop Makarios of Australia, assisted by Their Graces the Regional and Assistant Bishops of the Archdiocese.
All the devout faithful of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia are invited to take part in this great joy of our Local Church and to honour the new Hierarchs.
Furthermore, our Archbishop Makarios together with the Holy Eparchial Synod once again express their unceasing gratitude to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and to the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Mother Church, the Holy Great Church of Christ, through whose care and love the ecclesiastical matters of the Fifth Continent are being restored to their proper ecclesiological perspective, which aims at the glory of Christ and the salvation of our people.
