On Tuesday, March 25, the magnificent Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Sydney celebrated the Feast with ecclesiastical splendor.
On the great Feast of the Annunciation, Archbishop Makarios of Australia presided over a Polyarchieratic Co-Liturgy, concelebrating the Divine Liturgy with Metropolitan Seraphim of Sebasteia; Bishops Prodromos of Toliara and South Madagascar, Elpidios of Perth, Iakovos of Militoupolis, and Christodoulos of Magnesia, Chief Secretary of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese of Australia; Protosyncellus and Hierarchical Head of the Cathedral, Archimandrite Christoforos Krikelis of the Ecumenical Throne; and other clergy from the city of Sydney.
During the Divine Liturgy, the message of Archbishop Makarios for the double celebration of March 25—the Annunciation of the Theotokos and the Greek Revolution of 1821—was read in Greek and English in many churches.
“The event of the Annunciation was the prelude to a new era for the humankind—an era in which darkness recedes and light spreads, where despair is replaced by the joy of Christ and the hope of eternal life,” Archbishop Makarios noted, among other things, in his message.
Before the Dismissal, and in an atmosphere of deep emotion, a memorial service was held for the repose of the soul of the late Archbishop of Australia, Stylianos, marking six years since his passing. “We remember him with great gratitude,” Archbishop Makarios said, “because he was truly a great and brilliant ecclesiastical and theological figure.”
“I thank God,” he continued, “for allowing me to undertake the leadership of this great and historic Eparchy of our Ecumenical Patriarchate, following a succession of notable and worthy hierarchs—including Stylianos of Australia—who served our people in difficult times, amid many challenges, divisions, and great poverty. Especially he, along with his immediate predecessor Archbishop Ezekiel, faced the great wave of immigration from Greece.”
Elsewhere, he emphasized: “There is no doubt that the late Stylianos delivered the Holy Archdiocese of Australia in a much better state than he received it.” He concluded by praying that God grant him rest “among the Saints and the Righteous.”
Present among the congregation were the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis; Members of the Hellenic Parliament—Stavros Keletsis, Athanasios Papathanassis, Stefanos Parastatidis, and Miltiadis Zamparas—who are visiting Australia as part of the March 25 celebrations; and Theodosios Penklis, Archon of the Great Church of Christ and Vice President of the Archdiocesan Council.
