Holy Diocese of Chora: Presanctified Divine Liturgy presided by Father Christodoulos of Mount Athos at the Church of Our Lady ‘Axion Esti’

With deep reverence and piety, the Presanctified Divine Liturgy was celebrated on Wednesday, 12 March, in the Holy Archdiocesan Church of Our Lady “Axion Esti”, in the Holy Diocese of Chora, and was presided over by the Hieromonk Fr. Christodoulos (Kapetas), from the Holy Skete of Saint Anna of Mount Athos.

The distinguished guest was received, on behalf of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, by His Grace Bishop Evmenios of Chora, who welcomed him with words of honour and gratitude, recalling his ministry as the Parish Priest of the Church of Our Lady ‘Axion Esti’ during the 1990s. His Grace praised the spiritual contribution of Fr. Christodoulos and his long-standing dedication to monastic life and Orthodox tradition, emphasising that his presence is a great blessing for the Church of Our Lady ‘Axion Esti’ and for the entire local Church.

Fr. Christodoulos, moved by the warm welcome, expressed his gratitude to His Eminence Archbishop Makarios for the blessing and permission to visit Australia. With fatherly love, he spoke about the importance of Holy and Great Lent, as a journey of repentance and spiritual rebirth, emphasising the power of prayer and fasting.

He made particular reference to the Virgin Mary, whom the Orthodox Church honours with deep reverence as the Mother of all Christians and protector of the faithful. “The Virgin Mary is our Mother, our Guide, the one who intercedes for us with her Son,” he emphasised, recalling miraculous events that testify to her constant presence in the lives of Orthodox believers.