The Sunday of Orthodoxy was celebrated with ecclesiastical splendor at the Holy Cathedral Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Sydney.
Archbishop Makarios of Australia presided over the Matins service and the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, concelebrating with Bishops Christodoulos of Magnesia, Secretary of the Holy Diocesan Synod, and Christophoros of Kerasounta, Protosyncellus of the Holy Archdiocese.
Also present, participating in prayer, was Hieromonk Father Antipas, Elder of the Iberian Cell of Saint Anna of Karyes on Mount Athos. Among the faithful attending were the Greek Consul General in Sydney, Mr. Georgios Skemberis, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, presidents and representatives of parishes, communities, organizations, and institutions of the Holy Archdiocese, students of the Greek Orthodox College of Saint Spyridon, as well as the President of the Orthodox Christian Union, Dr. Ioannis Psaromatis, and catechism school teachers, who received the blessing of the Church on the occasion of the beginning of their new academic year.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a procession of the Holy Icons took place, commemorating their definitive restoration in 843 A.D. and the triumph of Orthodoxy over the heresy of iconoclasm.
In his address, the Archbishop emphasized that the restoration of the icons, following a long period of dispute and division, brought about the restoration of peace within the Church. On this occasion, he highlighted the profound significance that the Orthodox Church places on the concept of peace, both as an internal spiritual state of the individual and as an external social reality. He reminded the faithful, among other points, that at the beginning of the Divine Liturgy, there are repeated references to peace (“Let us pray in peace to the Lord,” “For the peace from above,” and “For the peace of the whole world”), as in all services and sacraments of the Church.
He then expressed his concern and apprehension regarding the ongoing and escalating wars of our time, stressing that the Church has consistently opposed aggressive wars and that its principal mission is to convey the peace of Christ to humanity. “In contrast to the powerful of this world,” he noted, “our Church has always engaged in missionary efforts. It went to places where people did not know Christ and, through much effort and sacrifice, trials, hardships, and martyrdom, shared with them this great treasure, the Gospel of Christ.”
Next, addressing the attending catechists, the Archbishop urged them, in the new academic year, to emphasize the teaching of our Church concerning the peace of God, so that the students of the catechism schools may receive the proper spiritual preparation. At the same time, he congratulated and thanked the Christian Union, its President, Mr. Psaromatis, and all its collaborators, for the exemplary way in which they serve the catechetical ministry of the local Church. He encouraged them to continue with the same zeal to strengthen the Word of God in the hearts of the youth, concluding with paternal blessings for a blessed and fruitful catechetical period.
Finally, Archbishop Makarios addressed Hieromonk Father Antipas of Mount Athos with words of fraternal love and gratitude. Once again, Father Antipas honored the Holy Archdiocese of Australia with his blessed presence and served the Sacrament of Holy Confession during the period of the Holy and Great Lent.
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou
