With the blessing of Archbishop Makarios of Australia, ten new members were joyfully received into the Orthodox Church at the Parish of the Resurrection of Christ in Kogarah, a suburb of Sydney.
Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia, chief (Proistamenos) of the parish and Chief Secretary of the Holy Archdiocesan Synod, officiated the sacred Mysteries of Baptism and Chrismation for the catechumens, joined by Fathers Athanasios Giatsios, Socrates Dokos, and Anastasios Kalogerakis.
The church was filled with parishioners, family members, and friends who came to witness this sacred milestone in the lives of the neophytes.
In an atmosphere filled with emotion and spiritual joy, the newly baptized—Anastasios, Job, Ioannis, Julia, Artemis, Stavroula, Panagiotis, Ioannis, Sophia, and Angeliki—were fully received into the Orthodox faith. Through the holy Mystery of Baptism, they “put on Christ,” marking the beginning of their new spiritual journey.
Bishop Christodoulos conveyed the paternal blessings of Archbishop Makarios to the neophytes, emphasizing the significance of their commitment to Christ and His Church. The parish community stood by them as witnesses, offering heartfelt prayers and support as they were reborn in Christ.
Following the service, the Parish Philoptochos hosted an outdoor dinner, where parishioners and guests celebrated the occasion with the new members of the Church, offering prayers for abundant blessings and divine guidance in their new lives as Orthodox Christians.
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
