The Feast Day of Holy Epiphany at the Archdiocesan Church of Our Lady ‘Axion Esti’, in the Holy Diocese of Chora

On Monday, 6 January 2025, the Great Feast of Holy Epiphany took place with due ecclesiastical splendour and reverence in the Holy Diocese of Chora, with the centre of festivities taking place at the Archdiocesan Church of Our Lady ‘Axion Esti’, in the Melbourne suburb of Northcote. The Matins Service, Divine Liturgy and Great Blessing of the Waters were presided over by His Grace Bishop Evmenios of Chora.

Bishop Evmenios conveyed to the congregation the blessings and love of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia.

During his homily, His Grace emphasised the importance of faith and the free acceptance of God’s grace. He stated that Sanctification does not impose its power, but acts within us when we accept it with faith and a sincere desire for sanctification. “Christ does not force us. He calls us freely to accept Him and to open our hearts to Him,” he pointed out.

Bishop Evmenios also emphasised that the positive effects of Sanctification in our lives presuppose our trust in God’s grace and our desire for this grace to work within us. “Faith and prayer pave the way for us to become partakers of the holiness that Sanctification offers,” he added.