From Friday, 10 November 2023, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, who is joined by His Grace Bishop Bartholomew of Charioupolis and Archdeacon Athenagoras, is conducting a Pastoral Visit to the capital city of South Australia. Upon his arrival at the airport of Adelaide, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios was warmly welcomed by a large group of clergy and faithful, led by His Grace Bishop Silouan of Sinope, Archiepiscopal Vicar of Adelaide.
Afterwards, the Archbishop made his way to the Church of the Prophet Elias, in the suburb of Norwood, where, after lighting a candle and saying a prayer, he attended a Dinner given in his honour by the Central Philoptochos of the Archdiocesan District of Adelaide, in the adjacent Parish-Community Hall. The Dinner was also attended by Their Graces, Bishop Silouan and Bishop Bartholomew, the Clergy of the Archdiocesan District with their Presvyteres, and Presidents, members of the Parish Councils and representatives of the Parishes – Communities, the Organisations of the Holy Archdiocese in South Australia, representatives from Saint Basil’s and The Greek Welfare Centre Foundations and the Schools of Saint George and Saint Spyridon.
This blessed meeting of the members of the local Church was brightened even more by the lively presence of many members of the youth, in which Archbishop Makarios made a special mention during the greeting he addressed at the beginning of the dinner. “We are proud of you,” he declared emphatically, while paternally urging the young men and women to stay close to the Church and preserve the heritage of their ancestors.
The Archbishop also warmly greeted all those present at the modest event organised by the Central Philoptochos Association and thanked them for their devotion to the Holy Archdiocese and for their contribution to the ecclesiastical, spiritual and social activities of the local Church. His Eminence offered special thanks to the ladies of Central Philoptochos, on one hand, for the initiative of organising the dinner, and on the other, for their general contribution to the Church and for their tireless struggle for their ‘neighbours’, through which they set an example of Christian virtues and the Orthodox faith.
It is noted that during his current pastoral visit, His Eminence will lead the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Holy Monastery of Saint Nectarios, where he will ordain two new clergy from Adelaide. In His Eminence’s address, he underlined that these ordinations “reflect the devotion of our faithful and the Christ-centred family environment in which our young people grow up”. His Eminence also expressed his joy at the fact that the Holy Clergy of the Archdiocese of Australia is growing both quantitatively and qualitatively, “which is proof of the flourishing spiritual life within our Holy Archdiocese”, as he pointed out.
During the Reception Dinner held in honour of the Archbishop of Australia, members of the dance groups of the Cretan Association of South Australia and students of the Greek school of the Parish – Community of Prophet Elias, performed traditional Greek dances, while the church choir “Saint John of Damascus” beautifully chanted hymns from the Vespers Service of Saint Menas the Great Martyr.
