During his pastoral visit to Cairns, His Grace Bishop Bartholomew of Brisbane received the first recorded Baptism Certificate issued in Australia, dating back to 1924.
The certificate – documenting a baptism performed in Cairns by the late Archimandrite Daniel Maravelis – was presented to His Grace by the Kezilas family during a luncheon following the Divine Liturgy at the Church of Saint John the Baptist.
The historic document will be preserved at the forthcoming Museum of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia in Sydney.
Bishop Bartholomew expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Kezilas family for their generosity, commending their contribution to safeguarding the Church’s heritage for future generations.
In his address, His Grace also reflected on the parish’s spiritual growth and announced that the consecration of the church will take place in June next year.
