Feast Day of Saint Demetrios in South Australia
With the blessings of our Father and Shepherd, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, the feast day of Saint Demetrios was celebrated again this year in South Australia with great spiritual joy and enthusiasm.
On the eve of the feast day, 25 October 2023, the festive Vespers was celebrated at the Church of Saint Demetrios, Salisbury, in Adelaide. His Eminence Metropolitan Ignatios of Northern Madagascar presided over the service. Metropolitan Ignatios is currently visiting Adelaide, with the blessing of our Archbishop, to inform the faithful about the missionary work in his Metropolis. A large number of faithful attended the Vespers service. In his sermon, His Eminence Metropolitan Ignatios referred to the life of Saint Demetrios and emphasised that our salvation is achieved when we consciously participate in the life of the Church and Her mysteries. He also thanked His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia for granting him the blessing to communicate with the Orthodox faithful in Australia. His Eminence was joined by the Holy Clergy of the Archdiocesan District of Adelaide, while His Grace Bishop Silouan of Sinope participated in prayer from the sanctuary.
After Vespers, His Grace travelled a three-hour trip to Berri, where in the morning of Saint Demetrios feast day, 26 October 2023, His Grace officiated at Matins and presided over the festive Divine Liturgy at the Church of Saint Demetrios. His Grace was joined by two priests who were also celebrating their name day, Fr Demetrios Moraitis and Fr Demetrios Papakyriakopoulos. Father Demetrios Moraitis is the current Parish Priest in Berri. Fr Demetrios Papakyriakopoulos is a retired clergyman from Melbourne who many years ago was the Parish Priest in Berri. Fr Demetrios Papakyriakopoulos was visiting his old Parish and its faithful.
In his sermon, His Grace, referring to the life of Saint Demetrios, emphasised the importance of humility, the mother of all virtues, through which the faithful are sanctified and spread spiritual joy around them. At the end of the Divine Liturgy, His Grace conveyed to the faithful the heartfelt wishes and blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia. He also congratulated and thanked the two priests who celebrate their name day for their God-pleasing priestly ministry in the vineyard of the Lord.
Afterwards, His Grace blessed the festive luncheon offered to all the congregation in the adjacent parish hall where the faithful enjoyed the company of each other in Christ. After the communal meal of thanksgiving and love, His Grace returned to Adelaide full of good memories.