With the Blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, His Grace Bishop Bartholomew of Charioupolis celebrated Matins and the Divine Liturgy for the great feasts of the Circumcision of our Lord and St Basil the Great.
At the conclusion of the Liturgy His Grace chanted the Doxology Service for the commencement of the new year as well as the Cutting of the Vasilopita.
His Grace conveyed the love, blessings and respect of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia and encouraged the congregation for this coming year to prayer more, to repent more, to love more, to forgive more, to show more compassion and mercy, to increase our worship, to participate in the holy sacraments of Confession and the Eucharist more, to read the scriptures more, in summary to obtain a better relationship with Christ.
Specifically, His Grace encouraged the faithful to pray for the peace of the world, in particular for Ukraine.
Moreover, to pray for our Ecumenical Patriarchate who continue to minister with love and dignity the Christian message to the world. His Grace then encouraged the faithful to pray for His All-Holiness our Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I who continues to be the beacon of light in the face of adversity.
Furthermore, to pray for our Primate and Shepherd, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia who continues to inspire the local clergy and laity with his strong work ethic, his love and devotion to serve the church of Australia.
In addition, the Bishop once again announced the inaugural visit of His Eminence to the Parish on the feast day January 7 and encouraged everyone to attend, to receive the blessings of our Archbishop and have the opportunity to speak with him afterwards.
