On Holy Thursday evening, Bishop Elpidios of Kyanea presided at the Holy Friday Matins Service at the Church of the Annunciation in West Perth.
This service, known as the Service of the Holy Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, includes the reading of the twelve Gospel excerpts from the four Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) together with several liturgical hymns and the procession of the Holy Cross.
In His sermon, Bishop Elpidios outlined the meaning of Christ’s words, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
Bishop Elpidios specifically said, “These words are the first verse of Psalm 21 which is recited on Holy Friday in its entirety. Christ is the fulfillment of Psalm 21 and He wanted everyone focused on this psalm as it foreshadows His Passion, Death, and Resurrection.”
At the conclusion of the service, Bishop Elpidios conveyed all the love and blessings of Archbishop Makarios of Australia and thanked the chanters for their enormous and outstanding work done during Holy Week.