Archbishop Makarios of Australia: “May we be found worthy of our ancestry and the faith we received from our fathers”

On Friday, 28 March 2025, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, who is currently conducting a pastoral visit to Victoria, visited the Church of St. Haralambos, in the suburb of Templestowe, Melbourne, and officiated at the Service of the Fourth Stanza of the Salutations to the Most Holy Theotokos. Also present and joined in prayer were His Eminence Metropolitan Ezekiel of Dervis, and Their Graces, Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne and Bishop Evmenios of Chora. The church was attended by a large number of devout believers, among whom was the Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Ms. Dimitra Georgantzoglou.

At the end of the reverent Service of the Salutations, the Archbishop addressed the congregation with an inspiring homily, first presenting the direct connection of the Service of the Salutations with the feast of the Annunciation of the Theotokos. “In reality, the Annunciation in the Orthodox Church is celebrated six times,” he characteristically observed, numbering the main celebration of this world-saving event (25 March) and the five Services of the Salutations, which are celebrated on the Fridays of the first five weeks of Holy and Great Lent, where they are chanted firstly in four parts and then the entire Akathist Hymn. “Throughout the entire kontakion during the Service of the Salutations we refer to the event of the Annunciation,” he recalled, and analysed individual aspects of the events narrated in the Hymn.

At the same time, His Eminence focused on the profound respect and reverence that the Greeks have for the venerable person of the Mother of God. “We love our Virgin Mary, but the Virgin Mary loves us too,” he emphatically noted. He then proceeded to a brief historical review of the course of the Greek Nation, to demonstrate that the Virgin Mary was throughout time a “Champion Leader” at the side of our ancestors, strengthening and protecting them in the trials they faced and at every difficult turning point in history. “If today we have a piece of free land, called Greece, we owe this to the faith of our ancestors in Christ and in the Virgin Mary,” he emphasised, among other things, while summing up, he made a paternal request: “Let us not forget the beneficence of our Virgin Mary, but also how our ancestors struggled to keep their faith and traditions.” “And apart from not forgetting this” he pointed out, “May we also be found worthy of the great ancestry we have and the faith we received from our fathers. Then truly the Virgin Mary will continue to bless our Nation and all Greeks, wherever they may be.”

The Archbishop concluded his homily with warm paternal wishes to the faithful in light of the feast of the Resurrection of the Lord, while he did not fail to welcome the presence of the Hieromonk from Mount Athos, Fr. Christodoulos Kapetas, who is currently in Melbourne and is ministering the Sacrament of Holy Confession. “We feel great spiritual joy that you are among us,” said His Eminence, “firstly, because we love you and respect you as a person, and, secondly, because in your person we see Mount Athos, which is the “Garden of our Virgin Mary” and we consider your presence here a great blessing.”

Finally, Archbishop Makarios was addressed with heartfelt words by the Parish Priest of the Church of Saint Haralambos, Fr. Elias Kentrotis. In his response, His Eminence thanked Fr. Elias for his God-pleasing ministry and contribution to the Parish and praised his ecclesiastical ethos, as well as his devotion to the Church. “May the Virgin Mary give you strength to continue your struggle for the glory of Christ and the salvation of his people,” he wished him in conclusion.