In an atmosphere of spiritual joy and emotion, and with the presence of a large gathering of devout faithful, the Consecration of the Church of the Apostle Andrew in the suburb of Noarlunga, Adelaide, was celebrated on Saturday, 13 September, by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia.
During both the Service of Consecration and the first Divine Liturgy at the newly sanctified Holy Altar, His Eminence was joined by His Grace Bishop Silouan of Adelaide, His Grace Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Saint George of the Mountain in New South Wales, and the clergy of Adelaide, including the Parish Priest of Saint Andrew’s Church, Fr. Armandos Manafis.
Among those present were the Consul General of Greece in Adelaide, Ms. Alexandra Theodoropoulou; South Australian State Ministers Mr. Tom Koutsantonis MP, Ms. Andrea Michaels MP, and Ms. Katrine Hildyard; Archons of the Great Church of Christ, Mr. Panagiotis Demourtzidis and Mr. George Kyriakou; and Professor Mr. Andreas Takis.
The Consecration service was a historic event, both for the Parish of Saint Andrew and for the Holy Diocese of Adelaide as a whole. It marked, on the one hand, the culmination of the restoration journey of the church following the devastating fire of March 2024, and on the other hand, it represented the first consecration of a Greek Orthodox church in Adelaide in decades.
In his address to the large congregation, Archbishop Makarios spoke at length about the importance of the consecration of a church. “This event, which happens only once for every Church of God, is not a simple act of dedication, but constitutes a theological event, a spiritual baptism, a liturgical testimony that a space has been set apart from worldly reality and has been transformed into a vessel of divine presence,” he emphasised. He urged the faithful of the parish to regard the Church of Saint Andrew as their own spiritual home, not merely as a place they visit occasionally, but as a living House of God, where through the Mysteries they experience communion with the Triune God.
The Archbishop then congratulated and thanked, on behalf of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese of Australia, all who have contributed to the material and spiritual progress of the parish, from its foundation until today. He first congratulated the Parish Priest, Fr. Armandos Manafis, for his self-sacrificial ministry, as well as all his clerical predecessors. He also made special mention of the founding members, benefactors, and donors, together with the faithful parishioners, living and departed, who worked hard and supported the establishment and growth of the parish in various ways.
“I pay tribute to all these people, because they did not merely build a church. They opened the gates of heaven in this blessed city of Adelaide for all who long for the Kingdom of God,” he declared.
Finally, addressing His Grace Bishop Silouan, he praised his dedication to the pastoral care of the parishes and faithful of the Holy Diocese of Adelaide. He acknowledged that the Bishop’s presence, guidance, and spiritual care have been decisive for the unity of the Church and the advancement of the Orthodox witness in the State of South Australia.
