Perth, Australia, January 14, 2025 – On January 11, Bishop Elpidios of Perth of the Patriarchate of Constantinople’s Archdiocese of Australia celebrated a collective Baptismal service for 12 people at the Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in West Perth. Among those baptized were three siblings from the same family.
The candidates completed a year-long catechism program under Fr. Emmanuel Stamatiou, the parish’s head priest, reports the Archdiocese’s Vema of the Church.
The Church has seen growing interest in Orthodox Christianity, particularly among young people drawn to its Apostolic roots and traditions. This increasing number of converts has led the Church to shift from individual Baptisms to group ceremonies.
Following the Baptisms, Bp. Elpidios also welcomed another member through the Sacrament of Chrismation. He concluded the service by sharing Archbishop Makarios’ blessing with the newly illumined faithful and formally welcoming them into the Orthodox Church.
The next day, thousands of Greek Orthodox faithful from the Sydney community attended the blessing of the waters of the Pacific Ocean at the coastal location of Carss Bush Park, led by Abp. Makarios.
Photo: vema.com.au
120 young believers dove into the ocean to retrieve the holy cross that the Archbishop threw in after blessing the waters.
Speaking at the Epiphany Greek Festival later in the day, Abp. Makarios spoke of the importance of the Cross in the life of an Orthodox Christian, saying:
It is the ultimate symbol of Christ’s love and sacrifice, the instrument of our redemption and the gateway to eternal life…
By immersing the Cross in the waters, we proclaim Christ’s victory over sin and death and affirm not only His sovereignty over all creation, but we also affirm our commitment to endure our individual crosses and follow the Lord with faith and courage…
Let us strive to make every aspect of our lives a reflection of His holiness, so that we may become vessels of His love and instruments of His peace.