The memory of Saint Evmenios, Bishop of Gortyna the Wonderworker, was celebrated with splendor in Northcote, Victoria, on the Sunday after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the day when Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta celebrates his Name Day feast.
On the eve of the feast, Saturday September 17, at the Archdiocesan Church of Panagia “Axion Esti” the Great Vespers were celebrated, officiated by the celebrating Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta, flanked by the Holy Clergy of the Northcote Archdiocesan District.
On the day of the feast, Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta officiated at the Orthros and presided over the Divine Liturgy, attended by, among others, the Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Mr. Emmanuel Kakavelakis, the President of the Intercommunity Council of Victoria, Mr. Antonis Tsourdalakis, as well as students and staff of the Greek Orthodox College of St. John in Preston.
During his sermon, Bishop Evmenios referred to the person of Saint Evmenios and especially to his gift of performing miracles, while analysing what a miracle is, he explained that it is not about something metaphysical, but about the revelation of the living God in our lives.
All of us have this gift, the Bishop said among other things, adding that we can all perform miracles, since we all have the ability to reveal God in the world. “When we do good deeds, when we bring a smile to a hurting and wounded fellow man, when we stand by the fellow man in various ways and comfort him with a kind word, then we reveal God and perform a miracle, that is we change a person’s life”, he pointed out characteristically.
On behalf of the clergy, Fr. George Frankos, Supervisor of the Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour in Thomastown, addressed Bishop Evmenios respectfully, expressing heartfelt wishes on behalf of everyone for his Name Day.
Bishop Evmenios thanked everyone for their prayers and wishes and especially Archbishop Makarios of Australia, for his love and support, while he finished his address by chanting the ‘Fimi’ of the Archbishop.
