Last Sunday the group baptism of ten new Orthodox Christians took place at the Archdiocesan Holy Church of the Wisdom of God and the parish of Saint Sophrony of Essex marking a significant moment for the Orthodox community in Adelaide.

With the blessing Archbishop Makarios of Australia, the newly established English-speaking parish of Saint Panteleimon welcomed seven new members (five adults and two children) into the Orthodox faith.

This marked the first baptisms for the parish, with the ceremonies taking place at the Archdiocesan Church of the Wisdom of God.

The baptisms performed by Bishop Silouan of Adelaide, assisted by Fr. John Saridakis from the Church of the Wisdom of God and Fr. Jeremiah Krieg from Saint Panteleimon also included a young adult from the same parish.

The parish founded two years ago, was blessed by Archbishop Makarios as part of the internal missionary work of the Church, aimed at welcoming English-speaking believers.

The two parishes, located in opposite parts of metropolitan Adelaide, serve a wide geographic area.

Since its reestablishment as an English-speaking parish on Christmas Eve 2023, Saint Panteleimon has consistently attracted 40–50 parishioners every Sunday. A notable number given that the church seats only 40 people, with attendees being both of Greek descent and non-Greek inquirers into the Orthodox faith.

EVERY PARISHIONER HAS A STORY

Each new member of Saint Panteleimon brought with them a unique and inspiring story. Among the baptised was a former Anglican priest, along with his wife and two children.

Following their baptism, the priest and his wife were also united in the sacrament of marriage.

Additionally, a mother and her teenage son, previously part of the Uniting Church, and a young man without a prior religious background were baptised into Orthodoxy.

A particularly moving story came from the Church of the Wisdom of God, where a young man, who lost his sight in a tragic accident, found spiritual vision through his interaction with his Orthodox caregiver. This relationship led him to embrace the Orthodox faith, culminating in his baptism, with his caregiver serving as his godparent. This diversity of backgrounds and stories is a testament to the universal appeal of the Orthodox Christian faith.