The great Feast Day of the Transfiguration of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was celebrated with due splendour in the Holy Diocese of Chora. The centre of the feast day was located at the celebrating Church of the Transfiguration of Our Lord in Thomastown, where on Tuesday morning, 6 August 2024, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia presided over the feast day services.
In the crowded church, among the numerous parishioners and pilgrims were the Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Mr. Emmanuel Kakavelakis, the Greek-Australian Federal Member of Parliament, Ms. Maria Vamvakinou MP, and the brother of the Ecumenical Patriarch, Mr. Nicholas Archontonis, with his wife, Katerina.
After the Matins Service, His Eminence, who was joined by Their Graces, Bishop Evmenios of Chora, Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne and Bishop Themistocles of Nicopolis, from the Patriarchate of Alexandria, performed the Service of the Consecration of the Holy Church and then presided over the first Divine Liturgy on the newly consecrated Holy Altar. During this, he awarded the office of Archimandrite to Protopresbyter Fr. Vasileos Kourtesis, Parish Priest of the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Preston, renaming him Ierotheos, in honour of late Fr. Ierotheos Kourtesis, a worthy and charismatic cleric who greatly contributed to the Orthodox Church in Australia.
At the end of the elevation of Father Ierotheos, the Archbishop wished the new Archimandrite good health and a long life, so that he may continue to bear witness to love, faith and hope, just as his late uncle did. “The high distinction you received today,” he pointed out to him, “demonstrates that the Church and the Archbishop love and respect you, and much more is expected and awaited from you.”
The Holy Sermon was preached, at the request of His Eminence, by His Grace Bishop Themistocles of Nicopolis.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Makarios praised the work and contribution of His Grace Bishop Evmenios of Chora to the Parish of the Transfiguration of Our Lord in Thomastown during his many years of ministry as its Parish Priest, before his promotion to the episcopal office, as well as the contribution of his successor, Fr. George Frangos , about whose personality he spoke with warm words, wishing him to continue with the same zeal and dedication to work for the glory of Christ and the Church.
Concluding, His Eminence addressed wholehearted paternal wishes to the large congregation, while, after thanking His Grace Bishop Themistocles of Nicopolis for his words in the Holy Sermon, he urged everyone to listen to and keep the word of God, and to apply it in every aspect of their lives, turning it into a meaningful living out and experience.
