Northcote: The Sunday of Thomas at the Greek Orthodox Church of St George, Shepparton
On 1st of May, one week following the celebration of the Sunday of Holy Pascha, the Orthodox Church observed The Sunday of Thomas. His Grace Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta from the Archdiocesan District of Northcote visited the celebrating Greek Orthodox Church of Saint George in Shepparton of regional Victoria.
His Grace Bishop Evmenios attended and conducted the Sunday Matins and the Divine Liturgy. His Grace was assisted by the Parish Priest of Saint George in Shepparton, Reverend Father Platonos Derlis, and Reverend Father Konstantinos Apostolellis from Melbourne. At the end of the Divine Liturgy, a Litany of the Holy Icon of the Saint took place.
In his sermon, His Grace referred to the Apostle Thomas noting that, while people call the Apostle an infidel, the Holy Fathers call him a believer. His Grace stated that Christ warned his students many times that “false-messiahs and false-prophets” would appear and try to deceive even the people who very close to Christ (The Gospel According to St. Matthew 24:23-27). Bishop of Kerasountos continued his sermon and he pointed out, that Apostle Thomas may have remembered the words of Christ, and he wanted to remain faithful to these words. “The best protection against falsehood and false-teachers is to know the truth,” His Grace continued. “To distinguish something fake, you must study the true. That’s what Apostle Thomas did.”
Finally, His Grace Bishop Evmenios, on behalf of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, thanked Reverend Father Platonos Derlis who serves all the parishes of the regional Victoria, especially during Holy Week, and wished everyone a Blessing day.
Afterwards, the whole congregation had the opportunity to attend a luncheon organised by the Parish Community.
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