The Great Hierarchical Vespers for the feast of Saint Eleftherios the Hieromartyr was celebrated at the Church of Saint Eleftherios in Brunswick, Melbourne on Saturday, December 14.
The service was presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, marking a historic milestone as it was the first time since its founding in 1968 that an Archbishop had visited the church.
The Archbishop was welcomed by the faithful, with youth presenting him with a bouquet of flowers at the church entrance.
Parish priest Father Kyriakos Peripetsakis and Bill Papastergiadis, President of the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM), both highlighted the significance of the Archbishop’s visit and the occasion. Mr Papastergiadis also emphasised the importance of unity and solidarity in the community, and stressed the role of past President Dimitrios Elefantis in the establishment of the church.
In his address, Archbishop Makarios spoke with deep emotion about the importance of unity for the advancement of Orthodoxy and Hellenism, offering blessings for the church and its families.
The Vespers service was attended by several dignitaries, including His Eminence Metropolitan Ezekiel of Dervis, His Eminence Metropolitan Myron of New Zealand, and His Eminence Metropolitan Prodromos of Rethymno and Avlopotamos, who delivered the sermon at the Archbishop’s request.
Their Graces Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne and Bishop Evmenios of Chora, as well as Ioannis Chrysoulakis, Greece’s former Secretary General of Greeks Abroad, were also present.
The event marked a historic and deeply emotional moment for the church and the Greek Orthodox community of Melbourne.
