The Feast Day of the Church of Saint Savvas the New of Kalymnos in Banksia, Sydney
The commemoration of Saint Savvas the New of Kalymnos was celebrated with ecclesiastical splendour in the Parish dedicated to his honour in the Sydney suburb of Banksia. The celebrations were presided over by His Grace Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia, who represented His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia.
On the eve of the feast, Saturday, 5 April, His Grace officiated at the festive Great Vespers, while on the morning of the feast day, the Fifth Sunday of Lent, His Grace officiated at Matins and presided over the Divine Liturgy accompanied by the Parish Priest Father Savas Pizanias.
With hundreds of faithful filling the church, hall and courtyards of the parish the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served with a procession at the conclusion of the Saints Icon which was held by the President and representatives of the Kalymnian Association of NSW who also offered the Artoklasia (blessing of five loaves).
During his sermon, His Grace outlined the life of Saint Savvas the New, focusing among other things on his fervent faith and love for God and his fellow man, which makes him an example for modern Christians to emulate.
Speaking to the congregation also at the end of the Divine Liturgy, His Grace also referred to the life of Saint Mary of Egypt, whom our Church also honours on the Fifth Sunday of Holy and Great Lent. This saint is a model of repentance, he pointed out, because while she lived an immoral life, she later repented, embraced Christ and followed a strict ascetic life in the desert. His Grace, therefore, urged the faithful to take courage from the two honoured saints and to aim to live in repentance with a lot of love for Christ, for His Church and for their fellow human beings.
In conclusion, His Grace Bishop Christodoulos conveyed to everyone the love of their Shepherd, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios, as well as his heartfelt wishes for the remainder of Holy and Great Lent and for a blessed Pascha.
The Parish then offered a lenten lunch to all, honouring not only the Saint but his Grace Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia for representing his Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia.
