With ecclesiastical splendour and an atmosphere of deep spiritual joy and emotion, the formal installation of the first Bishop of Canberra, Athenagoras, was held on Saturday, 6 December, at the festively celebrating Church of Saint Nicholas in Australia’s capital.
The Bishop was recently elected by unanimous decision of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, following the equally unanimous proposal of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.
As he begins his archpastoral ministry in the newly established Holy Diocese of Canberra, he is accompanied by the heartfelt prayers of his spiritual father, Archbishop Makarios of Australia, the hierarchs of the Orthodox Church in Australia, the clergy, and the devout faithful of the Australian capital. The people of Canberra participated in great numbers, honouring this historic and celebratory moment of his enthronement.
Archbishop Makarios, who presided over both the festal Synodal Divine Liturgy and the enthronement ceremony, reaffirmed the Church’s complete confidence in the newly appointed Bishop of Canberra. He described him as a gifted church figure of rare talents and profound knowledge, but above all as one adorned with the fruits of the Spirit — “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (cf. Gal. 5:22–23).
Offering paternal exhortations, the Archbishop first urged Bishop Athenagoras to remain, as he has throughout his ministry, devoted and obedient to the Church, the Ecumenical Patriarch, his Archbishop, and the Holy Eparchial Synod.
He also encouraged him to labor wholeheartedly for the unity of his new flock: “Become one body and one soul with our devoted clergy and the wonderful faithful of the Holy Diocese of Canberra. Only in this spirit of unity will your ministry bear fruit, be blessed and pleasing before God, and your episcopal service become a gentle and light yoke.”
Concluding his address, and after conveying the blessings and goodwill of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Archbishop Makarios, visibly moved, offered his personal wishes to the new Bishop: “May you live and may the grace of God make you, like Saint Nicholas whom we celebrate today, a ‘rule of faith, an icon of gentleness, and a teacher of self-control.’ Axios!”
The acclamation “Axios!” was then proclaimed “with one voice and one heart” by the hierarchs, clergy, and faithful who had filled the Church of Saint Nicholas for this historic moment.
Among those present at this historic enthronement were the hierarchs of the Holy Eparchial Synod: Bishop Elpidios of Perth, Bishop Silouan of Adelaide, Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne, Bishop Eumenios of Chora, and Bishop Bartholomew of Brisbane. Also in attendance were the assitant bishops: Bishop Iakovos of Militoupolis, Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia, and Bishop Christophoros of Kerasous.
The Ambassador of Greece to Australia, Stavros Venizelos, the High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus, Antonios Sammoutis, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and the President of the Parish of Saint Nicholas in Canberra, Ioannis Loukadellis, were likewise present.
