Numerous people and dozens of children welcomed the new Archbishop of Australia, Makarios, who arrived at the Perth airport on Thursday, July 11, in the afternoon.
There was the Byzantine Choir of St. John of Damascus from Adelaide, who traveled along with the Archbishop and recited chanting on his arrival.
At the Airport was also the clergy of Perth, a delegation of school children, representatives of Greek diaspora bodies and dozens of believers, who greeted him with the cry “Axios, Axios” (“Worthy, Worthy”), according to sbs.com.au.
The first pastoral visit of Archbishop Makarios of Australia to Western Australia was the result of his desire to officiate at the first Divine Liturgy of the newly built church of Agios Paisios of Mount Athos on the day of the Saint’s feast.
Saint Paisios passed away on Tuesday, July 12, 1994, and was buried in the Cemetary of St. John the Theologian in Souroti, Thessaloniki.
Then, Archbishop Makarios and the faithful went to the Holy Monastery of St. John in Forrestfield, suburb of Perth, where there was an official welcoming for the new Archbishop.
Doxology and the festal Vespers followed in the presence of all the clergy of Perth in the first church of St. Paisios in Australia.
On Friday morning, July 12, a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was held at the Holy Monastery of St. John for the feast of Saint Paisios.
