By Andriana Simos and Peter Tantalos
In an atmosphere of spiritual joy and emotion, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia consecrated the Church of Saint Andrew in the Adelaide suburb of Noarlunga on Saturday, 13 September 2025.
The landmark occasion drew hundreds of faithful, clergy, dignitaries, and community leaders for the first consecration of a Greek Orthodox church in South Australia since 1961.
From fire to renewal
The consecration marked the culmination of an extraordinary journey. In March 2024, Saint Andrew’s was devastated by fire during Holy and Great Lent, just weeks before Pascha.
“Tragedies are never welcome, but with God’s help, we find the strength to overcome them,” said His Grace Bishop Silouan of Adelaide. “Just as Christ was tested, so too is the Church, but it will never break.”
Through resilience and solidarity, the parish rebuilt. Fundraising efforts, donations from parishes across South Australia, and a $50,000 contribution from the South Australian Government made the reconstruction possible.
A sacred rite
The day began with Matins, followed by the Service of Consecration and Divine Liturgy. His Eminence was joined by Bishop Silouan, His Grace Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis, and clergy from across Adelaide, including the parish priest of Saint Andrew’s, Fr Armandos Manafis.
During the service, Bishop Silouan sealed the four walls of the church with the Chi-Rho, the monogram of Christ. According to Church tradition, the symbol was revealed to Emperor Constantine before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 AD, accompanied by the words ἐν τούτῳ νίκα (“in this sign, conquer”).
In his address, Archbishop Makarios emphasised: “The [consecration] event only occurs once for each particular temple of God. It is not a mere ceremonial dedication but a theological act: A spiritual baptism and liturgical proclamation that a space has been set apart from the secular world, transferred into the divine prescience… Through the sacred right of consecration, the building is mystically united with heaven and becomes a living part of the body of Christ.”
Gratitude and acknowledgements in the church hall
Following the service, clergy, dignitaries, and faithful gathered at St Basil’s Aegean Aged Care Home’s Patriarch Bartholomew Hall for a celebratory luncheon and speeches.
Among the dignitaries present were the Consul General of Greece in Adelaide, Alexandra Theodoropoulou; South Australian State Ministers Tom Koutsantonis MP, Andrea Michaels MP, and Katrine Hildyard MP; Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Panagiotis Demourtzidis and George Kyriakou; and Professor Andreas Takis.
Mr Koutsantonis told the congregation: “The South Australian Government was pleased to co-contribute $50,000 to the reconstruction of this Church… Community is everything for a Government, and we want to see you prosper and grow.”
He reflected on the significance of the date chosen for the consecration, referencing the Archbishop’s speech where he drew a link back to 335 AD when the Church of the Resurrection was dedicated in Jerusalem by St Helen and Emperor Constantine. This, he said, forever connects the parish of St Andrew with the earliest ministry of the Christian Church.
Mr Koutsantonis also commended the collective effort of the faithful, observing that although the parish did not have the resources to complete the rebuilding alone, support from parishes across South Australia together with government assistance had allowed the church to rise again, shining as a beacon in Adelaide’s southern suburbs.
Archbishop Makarios praised Bishop Silouan and paid tribute to all those who contributed to the parish’s progress: “They did not merely build a church. They opened the gates of heaven in this blessed city of Adelaide for all who long for the Kingdom of God.”
He continued: “While the community of St Andrews is small [in number], it is strong in spirit. And this characterises the Hellenes and the Orthodox.
“Here I saw a new church. But I am not talking about the church as a building, I don’t care about the building; I care about the building that you have in your soul. This is the most important thing for me.”
A young voice
For 20-year-old volunteer Michaela Serdaridis, the consecration was unforgettable.
“I was crying in the church,” she told The Greek Herald. “The ceremony is just so powerful, especially as a practising Orthodox. To see a church that you have such a connection to just get baptised, and a service that hasn’t been done since roughly 1960, it’s amazing. For me, it feels like the Holy Spirit is just shining, not only through the church, but through all of us in that big service that they did.”
Looking ahead, she said: “It’s about building it up and bringing more people. The youth group, the Bible studies — it’s already full, and this will only make it grow stronger.”
A milestone for South Australia
The consecration of Saint Andrew’s Church in Noarlunga was not just the sanctification of a rebuilt structure, but a milestone for Adelaide’s Orthodox community. It was the first consecration of a Greek Orthodox church in South Australia since 1961 — a symbol of faith, resilience, and continuity.
For Adelaide’s Orthodox faithful, the day marked both an ending and a beginning — the rebirth of a parish that rose from tragedy to once again open in the southern suburbs.
*All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos / Peter Tantalos
