His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia who was invited by Abbot Archimandrite Nathanael and the synaxis of Elders, visited the Holy Monastery of Iviron on Mount Athos, to preside over the Feast of the Holy Monastery on the feast day of the Dormition of the Theotokos.
His Eminence Archbishop Makarios arrived at the Holy Monastery on the eve of the feast of the Mother of God, being officially received at the entrance of the Monastery by the Abbot Archimandrite Nathanael, the Former-Elder Vasilios and the brotherhood of the monastery. According to the traditional order, His Eminence presided over the service of the Litany and transfer of the miraculous icon of Panagia Portaitissa, from the chapel to the Katholikon Church of the Monastery, then he officiated at Vespers, Matins and the Divine Liturgy, which was co-celebrated by the Hierarchs: His Eminence Metropolitan Ioustinos of Nea Krini and Kalamaria, and Their Graces, Bishop Bartholomew of Arianzos, Bishop Yohanna of Palmyra (from the Patriarchate of Antioch) and Bishop Ierotheos of Efkarpia.
After the festive Divine Liturgy, a celebratory meal followed, while, according to the traditional order, in the afternoon of the main day of the feast, together with the Vespers Service, a memorial service was held for the repose of the souls of the founders of the Holy Monastery.
It should be noted that after the Vespers with the memorial service for the monastery’s founders, the Holy Monastery was visited by the Protepistate of Mount Athos, Father Stefanos together with the members of the Holy Community of Mount Athos, while the Abbots, Archimandrite Methodios of Hilandar Monastery, Archimandrite Tychon of Stavronikita Monastery and Archimandrite Bartholomew of the Monastery of Esphigmenou, also visited. During the festive meal, the Protepistate of Mount Athos, Archimandrite Stefanos, the Abbot of the Monastery of the Great Lavra, Archimandrite Prodromos and the Abbot of the Monastery of Iviron, Archimandrite Nathanael, addressed the brotherhood and pilgrims, while, finally, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia also offered a speech.
