The Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross was celebrated with ecclesiastical splendor and deep reverence at the Holy Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Sydney.
Archbishop Makarios of Australia presided over the Orthros and subsequently presided over the Divine Liturgy, accompanied by Bishop Athenagoras of Canberra and Bishop Christophoros of Kerasounta.
At the conclusion of the service, the ceremony of the Veneration of the Precious Cross took place, during which the faithful approached with devotion to receive spiritual strength for the remainder of Great and Holy Lent.
On the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the death of Eleftherios Venizelos, a memorial service was also held for the repose of his soul. The memorial was organized by the Oceania Branch of the National Research Foundation “Eleftherios Venizelos,” in cooperation with the Cretan Brotherhood of Sydney and New South Wales and with the participation of the Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand.
Among those present were Athanasios Lamprou, Communications Advisor at the Office of Public Diplomacy of the Consulate General of Greece in Sydney, representing the Consul General Georgios Skemperis; Theodosios Penklis, Secretary General of the Archdiocesan Council and Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; Nia Gitsa, newly elected President of AHEPA Sydney and New South Wales; and representatives of organizations of the Cretan diaspora.
