Great and Holy Friday at the Churches of Saint Paraskevi and Saint George, Brisbane

On Great and Holy Friday, 3 May 2024, with the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, His Grace Bishop Bartholomew of Charioupolis, the newly appointed Archiepiscopal Vicar of Queensland, presided over the Holy Services of the Apokathilosis and the Epitaphios Service at the Churches of Saint Paraskevi and Saint George, respectively.

At Saint Paraskevi, at the end of his sermon, His Grace Bishop Bartholomew conveyed to the faithful the love and paternal blessings of their Chief Shepherd, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, while duly wishing the Parish Priest Fr. Athanasios Athanasiadis, the President of the Parish and all the parishioners well for a blessed resurrection. In addition, after introducing himself to the congregation, he emphasised the importance of love and unity, while pointing out that the primary goal of the local Church is to guide its flock to Christ.

During the Epitaphios Service at the Church of Saint George, His Grace Bishop Bartholomew Charioupolis appropriately referred to the meaning of the day and also spoke about the importance of love and unity in the body of the Church. His Grace conveyed the blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia to the clergy and to the President of the Parish-Community, as well as to the faithful who participated en masse in the reverent and prayerful Service, while he welcomed the presence of the Honorary Consul General of Greece in Brisbane, Mr. George Mastrocostas, along with his family.