Archbishop of Australia: The ultimate purpose of human life is our transfiguration in Christ

Amid an atmosphere of great joy, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated on Thursday, August 6, for the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Saviour, at the Holy Church bearing that same name in Thomastown, Melbourne, within the Diocese of Chora.

The Eucharistic Assembly was presided over by Archbishop Makarios of Australia, who during the service performed the ordination to the Diaconate of Mr. Panagiotis Andrews, a graduate of St Andrew’s Theological College in Sydney, a family man and father of one child.

The Archbishop was flanked by Bishop Evmenios of Chora and Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne, the parish priest of the Church, Fr. George Frangos, and other clergy, while Metropolitan Iezekiel of Derkoi was also present, concelebrating in prayer. Among the large congregation were Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Mr. Marios Kalogiannis and Mr. Antonios Tsourdalakis, together with students of St John’s Greek Orthodox College, Preston.

Before the ordination, the Metropolitan addressed fatherly words to the ordinand, noting at the outset that “the ultimate purpose of human life and existence is our transfiguration in Christ.” He observed that “the priesthood is, above all, a…