Archbishop Makarios was greeted by throngs of people at Perth Airport on Thursday. The Byzantine choir of Saint John of Damascus travelled with His Eminence Archbishop Makarios and sang hymns upon his arrival.

Priests, school representatives, dozens of faithful greeted the primate with the words ‘Axios, Axios’.

The decision to choose Perth as his first visit outside Sydney came following the Archbishop’s request to be present at the first liturgy at the newly-built church of Saint Paisios on his name day.

READ MORE: Archbishop Makarios set to visit Melbourne on 3 August

He addressed the congregation at the new church with a call-to-action for all Orthodox Christians. He said he had a dream for the church to move forward with Australian society, and for the people in the Church to not just open their doors but also their hearts. “There is at this moment, at this time, a great tendency for people to look for spirituality in Australian society,” he said. “Don’t keep it only for yourselves. Our Church is not just for immigrants, our Church is for every person who wants to learn the truth.”

READ MORE: ‘A Caring Father, An Honest Brother and A Sincere Friend’ – Archbishop Makarios Enthroned in Sydney

He told the people that he apprecated their zeal and enthusiasm. “I feel your love. And believe me, I have the same feelings for all of you, personally, for each one of you,” he said.

The Australian archbishop will visit Melbourne on 3 August as part of his tour to communities across Australia. He will visit the Parish and Communities of South-East Queensland from 24-28 August.

Archbishop Makarios announces his dream for the Holy Orthodox Church

Brothers and Sisters,In Perth last night, Archbishop Makarios addressed the congregation offering a call-to-action for all Orthodox Christians. All I can say is, truly this is a man with deep love for our Lord Jesus Christ and is graced and filled with the Holy Spirit. If you have never been baptised an Orthodox Christian or for whatever reason may have become less active/turned away from the faith, now is the time to come hear the message of truth and embrace the love and warm glow of light to be found. Today is a new dawn and a renewed opportunity to serve as soldiers of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I have complete love for this beautiful shepherd of our Church, I ask all of you to keep him in your prayers and take the opportunity to meet him in person. Here is a transcript of his words:"I have a dream for this Church, to move forward to the Australian society."I have a dream for this Church, the people that are there outside to be inside."I have a dream for this Church, the people who are inside to open their hearts not only the doors. "The doors should be always open, but we have to think seriously, and we have to open our hearts, in order to ask the other people who are outside to come inside and to take the first place in our hearts, and I would like to ask for all of you to work for this."There is at this moment at this time, there is a very great tendency to the Australian society that most of the people are looking for spirituality. We have the spirituality, don’t keep it only for you."Our Church is not only for immigrants, our Church is for every person who wants to learn the truth."With these thoughts, I would like to thank you all for your warm welcome, I appreciate your love. "I appreciate your zeal, your enthusiasm (τον ενθουσιασμό σας), your joy (τη χαρά σας), and I feel your love. And believe me, I have the same feelings for all of you personally, for each one of you. "And, I bless you and I pray may our Lord Jesus Christ help you all and give you strength and bless your life, your families, this very beautiful Church, Parish and Community and all of you. Thank you very very much."Let us all join in embracing these profound words and look to find ways that we might each individually and collectively work towards learning and spreading the word of the Holy Gospel and the original Apostolic Church of Christ, the Orthodox Church.Thank you FrKyrillos Zisis for sending this recording.Lastly, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios is travelling across the country visiting the various cities. He will be visiting the Parish and Communities of South-East Queensland between 24-28 August 2019. Details will be posted closer to the arrival date on the Facebook page of St George Greek Orthodox Church, Brisbane.Please keep Archbishop Makarios in your prayers! Axios Axios Axios.God Bless,Demetri Hughes#EasternOrthodox #OrthodoxChristian #Orthodoxy #Orthodox #Religion #Christian #Christianity #Christ #JesusChrist #Church #AustralianChristianity #AustralianChristians

Posted by Orthodox Christianity in Australia on Friday, 12 July 2019