A rare and sacred relic of St John the Baptist was received with reverence at the Holy Monastery of St John the Forerunner in Forrestfield, Perth, Western Australia, marking this year’s celebration of the Saint’s birth on Tuesday, June 24.
His Grace Bishop Elpidios of Perth presided over the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the monastery, which sits among the peaceful hills of WA.
In his homily, Bishop Elpidios drew a poignant parallel between the desert of ancient Judea and the spiritual stillness of Forrestfield, calling the monastery “a place of repentance, prayer, and silence,” and likening it to the Saint himself — “hidden from the world, but aflame with the light of the Holy Spirit.”
This year’s celebration was made especially significant by the arrival of a precious relic of St John the Baptist, sent from Mount Athos on the eve of the feast. Though Elder Antipas of the Iviron Cell of St Anna in Karyes was unable to attend in person, Bishop Elpidios publicly thanked him on behalf of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia and the monastery’s Abbot Father Makarios for facilitating the transfer of the relic.
Among those in attendance was Greece’s Consul in Perth, Eleni Georgopoulou, who was warmly welcomed by Bishop Elpidios. Gratitude was also extended to Fr Makarios for his continued dedication to the monastic community.
Following the Liturgy, Bishop Elpidios offered a personal gift and name day blessing to Fr Ioannis Athanasiou, parish priest of St Nektarios.
The celebration concluded with a solemn outdoor procession of the icon and relic of St John the Baptist, followed by a light morning tea in the monastery’s refectory.
