Perth: Sunday After the Nativity of Christ

On the Sunday after the Nativity of Christ, 29 December 2024, His Grace Bishop Elpidios of Perth, presided at the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Annunciation in West Perth.

Towards the end of the service, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s 2024 Christmas Message was read. His All-Holiness, among other things, stated:

“Christmas is an opportunity for us to become conscious of the mystery of divine freedom and the great miracle of human freedom. Christ knocks on the door of the human heart, yet only human beings honoured with such freedom are able to open that door. “Clearly, without Him, without Christ,” as the late Fr. Georges Florovsky writes, “man cannot do anything. But there is something that only man can do—namely, respond to God’s call and welcome Christ.”

In conclusion, on behalf of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, His Grace Bishop Elpidios wished the Very Rev. Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne, Emmanuel Stamatiou, a blessed Name Day, and presented him with some flowers on behalf of all the parishioners.

His Grace thanked Father Emmanuel and Presbytera Mary Stamatiou, for their hard work, devotion and leadership that they have shown over the years since being appointed to the Parish of the Annunciation and wished them both many years of good health.