LAST UPDATE 16:01 13/11/2021
In an atmosphere of spiritual joy and emotion, the Service of the Formal Election Announcement (Mega Minima) of the four new Bishops of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia was held on the afternoon of Friday, November 12, at St. Nicholas Church in Sydney’s Marrickville suburb.
“Worthy” was heard four times, once for each of the elected Bishops Kyriakos of Sozopolis, Christodoulos of Magnisia, Eumenios of Kerasous and Prochoros of Charioupolis.
During the service, the election of the new Bishops by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate was announced in the church. Before Archbishop Makarios of Australia, Metropolitans Ezekiel of Derby, and Bishops Iakovos of Militoupolis, Aimilianos of Meloa, Kyaneon Elpidios of Kyanes and Siluan of Sinope, the four newly elected Bishops accepted the election and showed their gratitude to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and to the Synodal Hierarchs.
Following the rules to prevent the spread of the pandemic, many priests from the city of Sydney participated in the service, while the brother of the Ecumenical Patriarch, Nicholas Archontonis, and his spouse, Aikaterini, were among the faithful who attended the Church of St. Nicholas.
After the end of the service, the Vespers were celebrated on the feast of St. John Chrysostom, officiated by Archbishop Makarios. In his short talk at the end of Vespers, the Archbishop praised God for His great contribution to the Greek Orthodox Church of Australia, referring to four worthy young Bishops who will assist from various executive positions in the pastoral and administrative work of the Holy Archdiocese.
After cordially thanking the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Holy Synod, he referred to the impending ordination of the elected Bishops and, on this occasion, addressed a prayer to the congregation, as well as to the faithful who watched the events online, to pray for the new Bishops so that they use the many gifts they have and to appear worthy of the expectations of the Mother Church, the Ecumenical Patriarch, their Archbishop and the Holy Archdiocese of Australia.
In closing, the Archbishop wished everyone to have the blessing of God and the Holy Spirit to bless not only the new Bishops of the local Church but also the entire congregation of the Holy Archdiocese and Australia.
The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate at the end of August, elected the four new bishops, following a proposal by Archbishop Makarios.
The new Bishops assumed the following duties:
Bishop-Elect Kyriakos of Sozopol is appointed Archepiscopal Vicar of Melbourne;
Bishop-Elect Christodoulos of Magnesia is appointed Chief Secretary of the Synaxis of Bishops of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia;
Bishop-Elect Evmenios of Kerasous is appointed Archepiscopal Vicar of Northcote;
Bishop-Elect Prochoros of Charioupolis is appointed Archepiscopal Vicar of Canberra.
The Holy Archdiocese of Australia has announced to the pious crew of the fifth continent that the ordinations of the new Bishops, recently elected by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, will be performed by Archbishop Makarios and his associates as follows:
– On Saturday, November 13, at 6.30 am *, the ordination of Bishop-Elect Kyriakos of Sozopolis.
– On Sunday, November 14, at 6.30 am *, the ordination of Bishop-Elect Christodoulos of Magnesia.
– On Saturday, November 20, at 6.30 am *, the ordination of Bishop-Elect Evmenios of Kerasous.
– On Sunday, November 21, at 6.30 am *, the ordination of Bishop-Elect Prochoros of Charioupolis.
Both the Formal Election Announcement (Mega Minima) and the ordination of the hierarchs will be performed at the Holy Cathedral of the Annunciation in Sydney.
