Festive Holy Vigil for the Feast Day of Saint Paisios the Athonite in Melbourne

With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, a Holy Vigil (Agrypnia) on the eve of the Feast of Saint Paisios of Mount Athos was celebrated on Thursday night, 11 July 2024, at the Church of Sts Raphael, Nicholas and Irene in Bentleigh, Victoria. This particular Church was chosen for this celebration as it has a side Chapel dedicated to Saint Paisios.

The attendance of faithful believers was great, as it was the first celebration of the memory of Saint Paisios after his proclamation as Patron Saint of Australia and the Holy Archdiocese of Australia.

His Grace Bishop Kyriakos of Sozopolis presided over the Holy Vigil and was joined by the Parish Prish, Father Chris Dimolianis, as well as Father Alexandros Kantarakias, Father Doukas Georgalas and Father Panagiotis Zoumboulis. Contributing to the reverent atmosphere of the Vigil was the flawless rendition of the hymns by many Melbourne chanters, together with the Athonite monk Fr. Seraphim, from the Holy Skete of St. Anna.

At the conclusion of the Vigil, after delivering a short homily about the honoured Saint Paisios, His Grace Bishop Kyriakos conveyed to the faithful the blessings and wishes of their Chief Shepherd, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia.