Northcote: The Feast Day of the Church of Saints Methodius and Cyril, Preston

The memory of Saints Methodius and Cyril was celebrated with due ecclesiastical splendour in the Archdiocesan District of Northcote, specifically at the celebrating Church of Saints Methodius and Cyril in the suburb of Preston in Melbourne.

On the eve of the Feast Day, Friday of Bright week, 10 May 2024, the Great Vespers took place officiated by His Grace Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta, Archiepiscopal Vicar of Northcote, who was joined by the Parish Priest Father Vasileos Kourtesis and other clergy from the local Archdiocesan District.

On Saturday, 11 May, the main day of the feast, His Grace presided over the Feast Day Divine Liturgy.

Also present for the Liturgy were the Consul General of Greece on Melbourne, Mr. Emmanuel Kakavelakis and a group of executives from the “Agapi” Foundation.

During the bright feast day services that had an Paschal character, Bishop Evmenios conveyed to the faithful of the Parish the wishes and blessings of their Chief Shepherd, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, while he spoke to them about the life and work of the honoured Saints and particularly about the sacred mission they undertook and fulfilled.

“Wherever they went, the Saints translated the Holy Bible and the liturgical texts into the local languages,” he noted and added: “We are called to do the same, but a little differently. The language of the Gospel is not spoken with the tongue and the mouth, but with the heart. The language that everyone without exception understands is love. So we are called to take the Gospel to all people with our love, with acts of love. The Gospel is life and witness.”