Archbishop Makarios of Australia blesses Cuba’s first Orthodox monastery

On the outskirts of Havana, the capital of Cuba, lies a small beacon of Orthodox spirituality, the humble monastery of Saint Spyridon, Bishop of Trimythous the Wonderworker.

His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, who is visiting Cuba to represent the Mother Church and His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, at the celebrations for the twentieth anniversary of the consecration of the Church of Saint Nicholas in Havana, visited this unique Orthodox monastery in the Caribbean country on Friday, 24 January 2025.

The Archbishop was accompanied by the local Shepherd, His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos of Mexico, and Their Graces, Bishop Athenagoras of Myrina and Bishop Timotheos of Assos, while he was welcomed by the monk, Fr. Makarios. Also present was a large group of pilgrims, Greeks of the United States of America, including the Consul General of Panama in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Her Excellency Ms. Georgia Athanasopoulou.

Upon entering the Katholikon, His Eminence venerated the holy icons with reverence and emotion and chanted, together with all those present, the Apolytikion (Dismissal Hymn) of Saint Spyridon and the Fimi of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The celebration of the small Sanctification Service (Agiasmos) followed, and then the Archbishop blessed and cut the Vasilopita of the Holy Monastery.

One of the pieces of Vasilopita, dedicated to the people of Cuba, was offered to a young local resident. Two other pieces were also dedicated to the suffering people of the neighbouring countries Haiti and Venezuela.

Before his departure, Archbishop Makarios had the opportunity to speak with local residents from the houses adjacent to the monastery. In fact, he offered a Vasilopita to the members of one family and had a moving dialogue with them.