Father Antipas from Mount Athos visits the Holy Diocese of Brisbane
With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, Father Antipas from Mount Athos, visited the Holy Diocese of Brisbane and was warmly welcomed by His Grace Bishop Bartholomew of Brisbane, the clergy and laity of the Diocese of Brisbane.
Father Antipas commenced his visit at the parish of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Mt Gravatt, with the offering of the sacrament of Holy Confession to the faithful.
In the evening of the same day, in the presence of His Grace Bishop Bartholomew of Brisbane and the clergy of Brisbane, Father Antipas delivered a talk to the local youth emphasising the importance of being obedient to the Church and to the voice of the Church which is the Holy Synod, and our participation in the holy sacraments of the Church.
Following the talk, Father Nicholas Brown, Parish Priest of the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Mt Gravatt, thanked Father Antipas for his insightful talk, and on behalf of the youth of the parish presented Father Antipas with a small symbolic gift.
The next day, His Grace Bishop Bartholomew of Brisbane presided over the Matins service and celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the church of Saint Paraskevi in the northern suburb of Taigum, Brisbane. Joining the Parish Priest Father Stavros Karvelas, Father Antipas from Mt Athos also took part in the Divine Liturgy.
On behalf of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, Bishop Bartholomew welcomed Father Antipas to the parish and wished him many years of good health, strength and patience to continue glorifying God and praying for the people of God. Father Antipas then preached the homily to the faithful.
On Sunday evening, His Grace presided over the Lenten Vespers service at the church of Saint George in South Brisbane, assisted by Father Antipas of Mt Athos. Following the service, Father Antipas delivered a talk to the faithful on the life and person of St John of Climacus, the author of the “The Ladder of Divine Ascent” and the importance of living a life of prayer and participation in the Holy Sacraments of the Church.
Over following two days, Father Antipas offered the sacrament of confession at the parishes of Saint George in South Brisbane and Saint Anna on the Gold Coast.
