The Feast of the Nativity of Saint John the Forerunner and Baptist was celebrated at the Holy Monastery of Saint John in the Holy Diocese of Perth.
The feast day celebrations commenced with the Hierarchical Vespers Service on the eve of the feast, presided over by Bishop Elpidios of Perth, and continued the next day on the 24th of June with the celebration of Hierarchical Matins and the Divine Liturgy.
In his sermon during the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Elpidios stated: “We do not know in what manner God sustained Saint John the Baptist in the wilderness, how He protected him from the wild beasts, nor how he learned to nourish himself on locusts and wild honey. Yet we believe unshakably that for God all things are possible. From the very beginning, the life of the greatest ‘among those born of women’ (Matt. 11:11) was unique and unparalleled.”
At the conclusion of the service, Bishop Elpidios conveyed to all present the paternal blessings and love of Archbishop Makarios of Australia. The celebrations then continued with a fellowship morning tea in the monastery refectory.
