Palm Sunday at the Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Theotokos, Sydney

Palm Sunday was celebrated with solemnity and fervor at the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Redfern, Sydney.The Divine Liturgy was presided over by His Grace Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis, assisted by the Protosyggellos of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, Proistamenos of the Cathedral, Very Rev. Father Christophoros Krikelis, along with Very Rev. Father Stephanos Tinikasvili.

In a filled church, His Grace, Bishop Iakovos spoke about the fact of the solemn entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem and about the applause with which the people welcomed him, with the most characteristic cry: “Hosanna; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel “.

“We wish to remain faithful to this cry, recognising Christ as Saviour and Lord,” His Grace Bishop Iakovos pointed out, “and not to fall into the delusion into which many fell at that time, and while shouting:” Hosanna; blessed is he who comes in Lord ”,

After a few days, when they saw that he was not as they expected the Messiah to be, that is, the Redeemer of Israel and to redeem them from the Romans, they quickly turned against him and shouted, “Crucify him, crucify him.”

“I am sure that from today and always”, added the Bishop Iakovos of Militoupolis, “our heart, our mind, our soul, our whole life will be identified with Christ and we will follow him”.

Finally, His Grace Bishop Iakovos conveyed to the faithful the prayers and blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, while urging everyone during Great and Holy Week to come to church with humility and much prayer, and “above all to pray with gratitude to the Lord to forgive us, have mercy on us and save us.”

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, His Grace Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis offered palm crosses to all those who attended church.

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