On the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman, 18 May 2025, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia liturgised at the newly established Parish of St. Savvas the New of Kalymnos, in Darwin, at its temporary accommodation in the Palmerston area. His Eminence was accompanied by His Grace Bishop Silouan of Adelaide, the Parish Priest of the newly established Parish, Fr. Christos Tsoraklidis and the Parish Priest of the Church of Saint Savvas the New of Kalymnos in Banksia, Sydney, Fr. Savas Pizanias. Among the large congregation were the Ambassador of Greece to Australia, His Excellency Mr. Stavros Venizelos, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Darwin, The Most Rev. Charles Gauci, as well as Members of Parliament and other representatives of the political authorities of the Northern Territory of Australia.
During his sermon, Archbishop Makarios analysed the Gospel passage of the day, which recounts the encounter of our Lord Jesus Christ with a woman from Samaria, at Jacob’s well. Initially, he described the gradual transformation of the Samaritan woman, who came to draw natural water, but during her encounter with the Lord she received “living water.” Since then, as he pointed out, she abandoned her sinful life, became an Equal-to-the-Apostles – our well-known Holy Great Martyr Photini – and dedicated herself to spreading the truth about the deepest, spiritual source, which quenches the thirst of the soul.
Referring to today, His Eminence implored the faithful not to be consumed by worldly concerns and pleasures, which distract their attention away from Christ. “Do not be afraid to approach the well of Christ,” he characteristically urged and emphasised: “Christ offers something that cannot be found in popularity, wealth or success. He offers meaning. He offers love. Only He can quench our insatiable thirst and become within us a “fountain of water springing up to eternal life.”
Furthermore, the Archbishop emphasised that “when we have quenched our thirst from the living water of Jesus Christ, just like the Samaritan woman, we will not be able to keep it to ourselves, but will want to tell everyone about it.” “Our mission,” he pointed out, “is, on a personal level, to unite with Christ and be healed and, on a collective level, as a parish, to be a place where people will encounter Christ and drink from the well of His mercy and love.”
