On Sunday, 14 September, the Feast of the Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross was celebrated with due solemnity and deep reverence at the church of the Holy Cross in the suburb of Glenelg, Adelaide. The celebration of the feast of the newly established parish was led by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, who presided at the Festal Vespers on the eve and on the feast day itself presided at Matins and celebrated the Festal Divine Liturgy.
Concelebrating with His Eminence were His Grace Bishop Silouan of Adelaide and His Grace Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis, while also serving were the Parish Priest, Fr. Panayiotis Photakis, and other clergy of Adelaide. Among the faithful who gathered to worship and venerate the Holy Cross was the Consul General of Greece in Adelaide, Ms. Alexandra Theodoropoulou.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Makarios offered a brief reflection on the history of the discovery and exaltation of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem. He then turned to the day’s Gospel passage (John 19:6–11, 13–20, 25–28, 30), recalling the Crucifixion of our Lord on Golgotha. He reminded the faithful that Christ experienced profound loneliness in the lead-up to the Cross, as people distanced themselves or abandoned Him despite His teachings and miracles. At the climax of this solitary journey, as He hung upon the Cross, only His Mother, the Theotokos, and His Disciple John remained near Him. Christ then said to His Mother, “Woman, behold your son,” and to John, “Behold your mother.” As the Archbishop explained, these words reflect the Lord’s gratitude for John’s faithfulness, remaining with Him to the end.
The Archbishop also analysed the Epistle reading (1 Corinthians 1:18–24), noting that while the Cross appears as “foolishness” to unbelievers, for those who have faith in God it is a blessing and source of strength. Turning to the modern era, dominated by loneliness, he underlined: “The person who has faith is never alone. Even if alone, he feels as though he is not alone. Even if isolated in the desert without seeing another person, he feels fulfilled. On the other hand, in our times we see people living in cities among millions of others, and yet they feel alone.” In summary, His Eminence stressed that “the Cross changes our lives” and made a paternal appeal: “Let us not be afraid to embrace the Cross.” He added: “If we embrace the Cross, we will fear nothing in life; we will be strong and steadfast.”
Finally, before extending his paternal blessings to the congregation, Archbishop Makarios congratulated both Bishop Silouan, praising his humble, prudent, and spiritual service to the Diocese of Adelaide, and Fr. Panayiotis Photakis, commending his tireless efforts and labour for the progress of the newly established Parish of the Holy Cross.
