Unanimously elected by the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Holy and Sacred Synod, the new bishops were consecrated at Sydney’s Evangelismos Cathedral in services led by Archbishop Makarios.
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia welcomed two new bishops over the weekend, with the ordinations of Bishop Christophoros of Kerasounta on Sunday and Bishop Athenagoras of Canberra on Saturday at the Cathedral of the Annunciation (Evangelismos) in Sydney.
Sunday’s Synodal and Polyarchieratic Divine Liturgy, presided over by Archbishop Makarios of Australia, drew hierarchs, clergy and hundreds of faithful who filled the cathedral to celebrate Bishop Christophoros’ consecration.
One day earlier, the cathedral was again at capacity for the ordination of Bishop Athenagoras, until now the longtime Archdeacon of the Archdiocese, performed by his spiritual father, Archbishop Makarios, in a ceremony marked by joy and heartfelt emotion.
The celebrations followed Friday evening’s Akolouthia tou Megalou Minymatos (Great Message), during which the election of both bishops was proclaimed publicly and the elect responded with their words of thanksgiving, formally accepting the patriarchal mandate. Both bishops were elected unanimously by the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Among those present across the services were the Patriarchal representative to the Pan-Australian Clergy Synaxis, Metropolitan Apostolos of Miletos (Abbot of the Patriarchal and Stavropegic Monastery of St Anastasia Pharmakolytria), visiting hierarchs including Metropolitans Ignatios (Demetrias & Almyros), Gregorios (Cameroon), Ioustinos (Nea Krini & Kalamaria), Myron (New Zealand) and Damaskinos (Aitolia & Akarnania), members of the Archdiocese’s Holy Eparchial Synod, clergy from across Australia, representatives of organisations and schools, and a large congregation.
The ordinations coincide with the opening in Sydney of the 2nd Pan-Australian Clergy Synaxis (29 Sept–1 Oct), hosted by the Archdiocese and focusing on “Social Media and the Priesthood.”
