The newly established parish of the Holy Cross in Glenelg, Adelaide, celebrated the Feast of the Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross on Sunday.

Archbishop Makarios of Australia presided over the festal services, leading the Great Vespers on the eve of the feast and officiating at the Matins and Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on the day itself.

Concelebrating with the Archbishop were Bishop Silouanos of Adelaide and Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis, along with parish priest Fr Panagiotis Fotakis and other local clergy. Among the faithful who gathered to worship and venerate the Holy Cross was Greece’s Consul General in Adelaide, Ms Alexandra Theodoropoulou.

In his homily, Archbishop Makarios reflected on the history of the discovery and exaltation of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem and drew on the day’s Gospel passage recounting the Crucifixion. He highlighted the loneliness Christ endured in the lead-up to His death, abandoned even by those who had witnessed His miracles and teachings. At the height of His suffering on Golgotha, only His mother, the Theotokos, and His disciple John remained. Christ, the Archbishop reminded, showed His gratitude in those moments when He entrusted His mother to John with the words: “Woman, behold your son” and to John, “Behold your mother.”

Turning to the Epistle reading (1 Corinthians 1:18–24), His Eminence emphasised that while the Cross may appear as “foolishness” to non-believers, for the faithful it is a source of blessing and strength. He connected this message to today’s world, where loneliness often prevails:

“The person who has faith is never truly alone. Even in isolation, they feel fulfilled, while modern people may live among millions in a city yet still feel alone,” he said.

Summing up, Archbishop Makarios urged the faithful:

“The Cross transforms our lives. Let us not be afraid to embrace the Cross. If we embrace it, we will fear nothing in life—we will be strong and steadfast.”

Before offering his paternal blessings, Archbishop Makarios praised Bishop Silouanos for his humble and spiritual ministry in Adelaide and commended parish priest Fr Panagiotis Fotakis for his tireless efforts in establishing and nurturing the new parish of the Holy Cross.

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