On Thursday, December 25, during the Christmas Divine Liturgy celebrated at the Church of Saint Nektarios in the suburb of Dianella, Perth, Archbishop Makarios of Australia conferred the ecclesiastical title of Protopresbyter upon Fr. Ioannis Athanasiou, on the occasion of the completion of his fruitful pastoral ministry at the parish.
At the same time, the Archbishop read an Archieratical and Synodal Letter, through which the praise and gratitude of the local Church were expressed toward the devout clergyman for his character, dedicated ministry, and selfless service.
It is worth noting that Fr. Ioannis had voluntarily chosen to serve without salary for many years at the Parish of Saint Nektarios. “We all knew how faithful and proven a worker of the Gospel you have been, and that you served the holy Altar with fear of God,” the Archbishop noted in his opening remarks, adding: “What we did not know, however, was the hidden labor of your heart and the rare virtue of detachment from material gain that adorns you.
After your resignation, we realized with astonishment and thanksgiving to God that from the day you were appointed Parish Priest of the Church of Saint Nektarios until the day of your resignation—nine full years—you did not receive your salary for a single day, but offered it entirely for the needs of the parish.
At a time when materialism and a worldly mindset threaten even the Church, a married priest—indeed, a father of three children, with all the needs that family life entails—showed us all that the fulfillment of the Lord’s command, ‘Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, nor about your body, what you will wear’ (Matt. 6:25), is entirely possible, even while living in the world.”
Archbishop Makarios then offered his wishes to Fr. Ioannis, his Presvytera Marina, and their children, praying that God’s blessings may abound in their lives. He also formally welcomed the new Parish Priest of Saint Nektarios, Fr. Nikolaos Carmonas, who comes from Sydney.
Expressing his confidence that Fr. Nikolaos will devote all his strength to the spiritual growth of the parish, the Archbishop also addressed a fatherly appeal to the parishioners of Saint Nektarios, urging them to embrace their new priest with love and to work together with him in a spirit of unity.
Finally, the Archbishop bestowed the Medal of the Order of the Philochristoi upon Athanasios Limnios, in recognition of his many years of service to the Holy Archdiocese of Australia and the Greek community of Perth.
