Archbishop Makarios of Australia officiated at St Nicholas Church in Marrickville, Sydney, reports the Orthodox Times. There he blessed and cut the Vasilopita for the new year. He also sent greetings to the parish priests and the faithful.
The Archbishop officiated the Orthros and presided over the three-hierarchical Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great along with his co-celebrants, Bishops Aimilianos of Meloi and Elpidios of Kyanes. At the end of the Divine Liturgy, the Doxology service was performed for the new year. Following the Dismissal, the Archbishop appointed the members of the new composition of the Philoptochos Brotherhood of the Parish and wished that God blessed their works. By following the example of St. Basil the Great, they would be able to alleviate the pain of our fellow human beings as much as possible, he said.
He also addressed the congregation and spoke about the great Hierarch and Saint of the Orthodox Church. First of all, he hoped that all the faithful were able to receive the spiritual and heartfelt blessings written by the Great Saint during the Divine Liturgy. As a result, they would realise their soul’s magnificence.
The Archbishop urged the faithful not to remain idle by and not to consider ourselves irresponsible for all the negative and unpleasant things that happen around us. “This year, between the many goals you have set, take the example of St Basil the Great, read what he had written and do not consider that we do not bear responsibility in relation to the bad things that happen. So, let us lower our heads and say: ‘Christ, it is our fault, too. Forgive us, have mercy on us, give us some enlightenment,’” he added.
