Archbishop Makarios of Australia officiated the Divine Liturgy for the Nativity of Christ and the feast of St. Anastasia Pharmakolytria, at the Holy Church of All Saints in Belmore, Sydney. He was joined by Father Christos Triantafyllou, who recently retired after 50 years of service to the parish, and his successor, Father Dimitrios Papaoikonomou.
Addressing the congregation, which included former Greek Secretary General for Public Diplomacy John Chrysoulakis, the Archbishop highlighted the significance of the day’s celebration, honouring the earthly ancestors of Jesus Christ.
“The Church commemorates their memory to remind us that the birth of Christ is not a fictional story but a historical event,” he explained.
“Jesus was a real person, born into human history, with relatives and a genealogy—proving His tangible existence, not an abstract or utopian figure.”
Reflecting on the modern custom of exchanging gifts during Christmas, Archbishop Makarios encouraged the faithful to present a unique offering to the celebrant of the season, Jesus Christ.
“Offer Him your sins,” he urged. “Christ became human to make humanity divine. But for this transformation to occur, we must first rid ourselves of sin.”
He emphasised that recognising one’s own sins is the crucial first step.
“Once we acknowledge our sins, we can seek Christ’s mercy through confession. This is the greatest gift we can give to Christ and the best investment for eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
The Archbishop also cautioned against the pitfalls of judging others, calling it a “trap of the devil” that distracts people from self-reflection and spiritual growth.
“Those who judge and gossip about others will never find the time to focus spiritually on themselves,” he noted.
Archbishop Makarios urged the congregation to embrace Christmas in a spiritual manner.
“Celebrate differently this year—spiritually—by approaching the manger of the newborn Christ and offering what weighs you down, what you no longer need. In doing so, you will realise that Christ came into the world to make humanity divine,” he concluded.
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