Archbishop Makarios Names St Paisios Patron of Australia, Consecrates First Church
On 12 July 2024, the feast day of Saint Paisios the Athonite, Archbishop Makarios of Australia declared the saint patron, guardian and protector of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia. The announcement was made during the consecration of the first church on the continent dedicated to Saint Paisios, located at the Holy Monastery of Saint John in Forrestfield, Perth, Western Australia.
Hierarchs, clergy and faithful attended the historic service. The archbishop stated that the saint's apolytikion will be chanted at every Divine Liturgy after the apolytikion of the church. The decision recalls the saint's 1977 visit to Australia at the invitation of Archbishop Stylianos, who held Paisios in high regard for his spirituality and visited him often on Mount Athos.
During that visit Paisios expressed interest in becoming a monk in Australia and suggested a monastery be built between Sydney and Canberra, a proposal that led Archbishop Stylianos to establish monasticism in Australia. Paisios also said he felt Australia had not yet been sanctified by the blood of martyrs and holy labourers but that it would be.
The post includes an icon of the saint with a kangaroo and photographs from the consecration.
Main points
- Archbishop Makarios proclaimed Saint Paisios patron saint of the Archdiocese of Australia on 12 July 2024.
- The first Australian church dedicated to Saint Paisios was consecrated at the Holy Monastery of Saint John in Forrestfield, Perth.
- Saint Paisios visited Australia in 1977 at the invitation of Archbishop Stylianos, with whom he shared a spiritual friendship.
- Paisios suggested a monastery between Sydney and Canberra, prompting Archbishop Stylianos to establish monasticism in Australia.
- Paisios prophesied that Australia would be sanctified by the blood of martyrs and holy labourers.