His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia has issued a special Christmas message to Greek Orthodox faithful.
Full message in English:
Revered Fellow Bishops and Beloved Children,
We are a people who take pride in our history and glorious past, in our philosophy, poetry, arts, and culture. A shining example of global poetic excellence is the works of Homer, which mark the beginning of European and, by extension, Western literature. In the Odyssey, Homer recounts the adventures of Odysseus as he strives to return to his homeland. I shall not delve into all the events but will highlight the episode where Odysseus finds himself on the island of Circe, who, with her magical wand, transforms his companions into swine. She did not torture them, imprison them, or take their lives but degraded them to the level of animals. It was inconceivable for the sorceress Circe to bestow her powers and magical authority upon Odysseus’s companions.
When God decided to intervene in the world, He acted humbly. Thankfully, He did not seek human counsel, for we, as humans, would have likely advised Him to follow Circe’s example: to use His divine power to humiliate, punish, and subdue humanity. However, instead of degrading humanity, God humbled Himself and chose to become human so that humanity might become divine.
This means that God’s incarnation is not merely a commemorative or celebratory event. It is neither limited to decorations and lights, nor the exchange of gifts and festive dinners. The birth of Christ is a call to ascent, progress, or, to use a more ecclesiastical term, a call to holiness. Christmas signifies an understanding that, as humans, we have potential and possibilities that extend beyond the limitations of animals, whose capacities are finite and whose spiritual horizons are non-existent. Christmas is the realisation that life does not cease, even in death.
On behalf of the Holy Eparchial Synod and my fellow bishops, I wish you all a blessed Christmas and a joyful New Year. May 2025 be a year of happiness, peace, and salvation for your families, colleagues, our nation, and our Church.
In Sydney, 25th December 2024
†Archbishop of Australia MAKARIOS
