The ‘final farewell’ to the late Vasiliki Vasilopoulos, mother of Bishop Evmenios of Chora
On Saturday, 4 January, at the Holy Monastery of Our Lady ‘Axion Esti’ in Melbourne, in an atmosphere of deep emotion, the funeral service for the late Vasiliki Vasilopoulos, the mother of His Grace Bishop Evmenios of Chora, took place.
The Service was presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, who was joined by His Eminence Metropolitan Ezekiel of Dervis, Their Graces, Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis, Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne, Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia, Bishop Evmenios of Chora and Bishop Bartholomew of Brisbane, and by a multitude of clergy from the Holy Dioceses of Chora and Melbourne.
At the crowded Holy Monastery of Our Lady “Axion Esti”, Federal Member of Parliament Ms. Maria Vamvakinou MP, the President of the Greek Community of Melbourne Mr. Bill Papastergiadis, presidents and representatives of other Greek community organisations and organizations in Victoria, as well as relatives and friends of the Late Vasiliki Vasilopoulos, were present all joined in prayer.
The eulogy was delivered by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, who expressed the belief that death, for the late Vasiliki Vasilopoulos, constitutes the beginning of her transition to eternal life. His Eminence also described a person with many gifts and virtues, who constantly strived to offer to her fellow human beings – to offer not only material goods, but also her kind words, her smile, the time she dedicated to listening and caring for her neighbour who was in need. As he characteristically pointed out, much love and the spirit of sacrifice “are the stamps on Vasiliki’s passport, in order to pass from death to life”.
Addressing His Grace Bishop Evmenios of Chora and the other relatives of the late Vasiliki, His Eminence conveyed to them the condolences of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, as well as of all the members of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, while he personally wished them many years and to remember the late Vasiliki, and for God to grant her rest with the Saints and the Righteous.
Following the conclusion of the Funeral Service, the burial took place at the Fawkner Memorial Park Cemetery.
