Archbishop Makarios of Australia made a historic visit to Saint Eleftherios Greek Orthodox Church in Brunswick, Melbourne, on Saturday.
The visit marked the first time in the church’s 56-year history that the Archbishop attended a service at the parish, which is part of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and operates under the Greek Community of Melbourne.
The Archbishop officiated the Great Vespers service in celebration of the feast day of Saint Eleftherios the Hieromartyr.
His arrival was met with a warm reception from parishioners, with young men and women presenting him with flowers at the church entrance. Father Kyriakos Peripetsakis, the parish priest, and Bill Papastergiadis, President of the Greek Community of Melbourne, formally welcomed the Archbishop, highlighting the significance of his visit to the community.
In his address, Archbishop Makarios stressed the importance of unity and solidarity within the Orthodox Church and the Greek diaspora. He offered blessings to the congregation, wishing them health and prosperity under the guidance of Saint Eleftherios.
The service was attended by prominent members of the clergy, including Metropolitan Ezekiel of Dervis, Metropolitan Myron of New Zealand, and Metropolitan Prodromos of Rethymno and Avlopotamos.
At the Archbishop’s request, Metropolitan Prodromos delivered the sermon. Also present were Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne, Bishop Eumenios of Chora, and Archimandrites Vasileios Papadakis and Theologos Papalevizakis, representing the Holy Monastery of Saint Anastasia and the Patriarchal and Stavropegial Monastery of Arkadi, respectively.
