His Grace Bishop Bartholomew of Brisbane visited Cairns in Far North Queensland, where he celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Parish of St John the Baptist, assisted by parish clergy Father Sotirios Papafilopoulos and Father Evangelos Aspiotis.
During the service, Bishop Bartholomew conveyed the love and blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia and expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Reverend Fathers, Parish President and Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Theo Bacalakis, the Parish Council, altar servers, chanters, the Greek School teacher and volunteers for their dedicated service throughout 2025, wishing them abundant blessings in 2026.
The visit continued with the Blessing of the Waters and the immersion of the Holy Cross at Trinity Beach, where the Cross was retrieved by high school student Dionysios Dimitriou.
Following the ceremony, a traditional meal was shared at the beach, allowing Bishop Bartholomew to meet with the faithful and extend wishes of good health and happiness for 2026.
