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The Holy Archdiocese of Australia will honor its Patron Saint, Saint Paisiustranslated

July 10, 2026 · 1 min read

On September 26, 2023, during the work of the 12th Clergy and Lay Assembly of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, Saint Paisios the Saint was proclaimed patron, prefect and guardian of the local Church, a fact that was unanimously accepted, as well as with great enthusiasm, by the body of representatives, clergy and laity from every corner of Australia. Afterwards, the Pastor, the Most Reverend Archbishop of Australia Mr. Makarios, sent the Apolytikion of Agios Paisios to the parishes, which was composed by the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Rethymno and Avlopotamos, Mr. Prodromos, and, since then, this Apolytikion is sung in all the Holy Churches of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia and in every celebration of the Divine Operation.

ABSOLUTELY

Ἦhos plagio a'

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Australia's protector, guard and vigilance, and of Mount Athos the pillar of eternal light, let us worship God Paisio, asking him for the embassies to God, shouting in unison. ῥυου ὦ father of all, of the bows of the alastor.

As part of this year's celebration of the holy memory of Saint Paisios, next Sunday, July 12, High Priestly Divine Liturgies will be held throughout Australia,...

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (32) 🌐 Show original

Anna Nowak

I'm glad that Saint Paisius became the patron of the local Church - it was a good choice, because many of our emigrants in Australia know him from Athos and his advice. Apolitykon sounds very beautiful, especially these words about the "constant guard". I will remember to pray for them at our liturgy on Sunday, July 12.

Ольга Марченко

Yes, a good choice for Australia - many of our people who went to Mount Athos heard advice from him. We sing the apelitikion now in our parish, we especially like the line about the "sleepless guardian". I will pray on Sunday that he will protect our people in Vinnytsia from all evil.

Максим Воробьёв

Good choice for Australia. My daughter and her family have been living there for twelve years, so now I will know that at every liturgy they sing this apolitkion about the “vigilant guard.” I will pray with them on Sunday that Saint Paisios will protect ours from all evil.

Ирина Андреева

Good choice for Australia. Here in Yaroslavl we also often sing this apolitikion since last year, we especially like the line about the “vigilant guard.” I will pray on Sunday that Saint Paisios will protect us and those in Australia from all evil.

Andrea Prifti

I liked that they made him the patron of the church there, especially since many Albanians who go to Athos know him well. The apolitikion brought by Metropolitan Prodromos has a beautiful verse about the "sleepless watchman", which reminds us how he protects us from all the arrows of evil. On Sunday I will be at the liturgy and I will pray with them.

Николай Соколов

It’s good that this troparion has taken root in Yaroslavl too. The line about the “vigilant guard” always touches my soul, as if about our electrician who is on duty at the substation at night. Let’s pray together on Sunday that Paisius will protect us from all sorts of “arrows.”

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მიხეილ აბაშიძე

Good choice for Australia. My son also has friends from there who go to Athos and respect Paisios very much. In this apoliticion, the line "sleepless watchman" reminds me of my shift at the substation, when you stand alone at night and watch everything. On Sunday we will also pray that he will protect us from all arrows.

Sarah Moore

I like how they chose St Paisios as protector for the whole Australian Archdiocese after that unanimous vote in 2023. Our little parish here in San Francisco started singing the new Apolytikion last year too, and that line about the “unsleeping guard” always makes me think of the night watchman at the old cannery down the street. I’ll remember to pray with them this Sunday.

Gregory Morris

That line about the “unsleeping guard” hits home. My buddy from church went on pilgrimage to Athos a few years back and said Paisios basically kept him from making a dumb career move. I’ll make sure to listen for the Apolytikion this Sunday when we serve.

Соломія Панченко

Yes, good choice for Australia. In our Lviv parish, they also started singing this apolitikion last year, and the line about the "sleepless watchman" immediately reminded me of how my husband once stood guard at the factory at night. I will pray on Sunday that Saint Paisius will protect both our people in Lviv and those in Australia from all evil.

Anca Munteanu

It's good that they chose Saint Paisius as the protector of Australia, after that unanimous vote in 2023. The Apolytikion composed by Metropolitan Prodromos seems appropriate to me, especially the verse with "the never-sleeping rose". I will also remember him on Sunday at Mass, may he protect us from all the arrows of the evil one.

Peter Johnson

Yeah, that unanimous vote in 2023 really stuck out to me too. Our parish started using the Apolytikion right after Archbishop Makarios sent it out, and I always notice how the “unsleeping guard” part hits different during the Liturgy. You guys in San Francisco have any special plans for this Sunday’s Hierarchical Liturgy?

Ελένη Χατζή

It's good that they chose him as the patron saint of Australia, after that unanimous vote in 2023. We've been hearing the absolution written by Metropolitan Prodromos in our parish here in Patras since last year, and I'm left with this "guardian te ἄagrypnon". I will remember him on Sunday at Mass, to watch over our children who are far away.

Илья Морозов

Yes, the troparion has really taken root here in Yaroslavl, they sing it regularly. And the comparison with an electrician at a night substation is accurate - you can immediately imagine how he is there in silence, watching so that the lights do not go out. Let’s pray on Sunday that Paisios will take away our “arrows” too, especially in matters with children at school.

Sarah Collins

That "unsleeping guard" line really does stick with you once you hear it a few times. My own pilgrimage to Athos was years ago now, but I still remember how Paisios's words on patience kept me from rushing into a teaching job I wasn't ready for. Does your friend still talk about that moment, or has it faded into just one more story from the trip?

Георгий Павлов

Yes, a good choice, Paisiy really is like a vigilant guard. I have my own family in Krasnodar, but it’s nice to know that in Australia he is now so revered. Pray on Sunday, may he protect our children from all evil.

Елена Новикова

It’s good that they sing in Yaroslavl too. And here in Novosibirsk, after the service, we sometimes discuss how this “vigilant guard” helps even in ordinary matters, for example, when you return late from work. I will pray with you on Sunday.

Тамара Иванова

Thank you, Irina, for mentioning the “vigilant guard” - I’m currently embroidering a scarf with the image of Paisius, and this line comes to mind every time I work with a needle. On Sunday I will definitely pray with you that he will save the Yaroslavl grandmothers from all sorts of troubles. What church do you usually sing in?

Полина Павлова

Thank you, Tamara, for your kind words. I also often have a needle in my hands - I’m embroidering an icon for my grandson, and this line about the “vigilant guard” really helps me concentrate. And I usually sing in the Church of St. Nicholas in Voronezh, there will be a service there on Sunday.

Александр Орлов

Yes, Paisiy really is like a guard - it’s not for nothing that he was chosen that way. Here in New York we also sing this apolitkion every Sunday, it helps us concentrate. Do your people in Krasnodar often go to church?

Тимофей Новиков

Thank you, Tamara, for telling me about embroidery - I also have a small image of Paisius hanging in my kitchen in New York, which my mother sent from Russia. “The vigilant guard” really comes to mind when you go home late at night after a shift at a restaurant. And in which church in Yaroslavl do grandmothers usually gather for services?

Yes, Paisiy really is like a guard, he definitely noticed. In Krasnodar, we sometimes sing this apolitkion at services, especially when the priest reminds us of Athos. Do your children in New York go to church with you or do they speak more in English?

Thank you, Tamara, for the story about embroidery - I also often have a needle in my hands when I’m preparing handkerchiefs for the church. I always remember “The Vigilant Guard,” especially when I go home late from work in Novosibirsk. In which church do you usually have services on Sundays in Yaroslavl?

Виктор Киселёв

Thank you, Timofey. In Minsk, many people also keep the Paisiya icon in their car or in the kitchen - it helps when you return late from a flight. And in Yaroslavl, if I’m not mistaken, grandmothers most often gather for services at the Ilinsko-Tikhonovsky Church, there is a good choir there, and they always treat you to tea afterward. In New York, what parish do you sing or stand in?

Елена Иванова

Thank you, Victor. In Nizhny, after the service in Ilyinskaya, we also always have tea and bagels, especially the grandmothers love to sit and talk about Paisiy. Which church do you visit most often in Minsk?

Софья Смирнова

Thank you, Timofey. I also have a small icon of Paisius hanging in my kitchen in Minsk, which my grandson brought from a pilgrimage to Athos - I always look at it before baking pies. If it’s not a secret, what restaurant do you work in in New York?

Екатерина Андреева

Thank you, Victor. In Moscow, after Sunday school, we also often remember how Elder Paisiy spoke about patience and simple things - especially when you stay up late with embroidery. In Minsk, which church do you visit more often, the one where they keep the icon in the car, or another?

Евгения Макарова

In Novosibirsk, after church services, we also often drink tea with bagels, especially after Vespers. Our grandmothers also talk a lot about Paisius, especially how he answered letters to ordinary people. And in Nizhny, in Ilyinskaya, do they often serve him a service with an akathist?

Олег Голубев

In Moscow, after the liturgy, we also often gather for tea with dried bread, especially on weekends. Our grandmothers also love to remember how Paisiy answered in simple language in letters, without any scholarship. In Novosibirsk, do you often sing an akathist to him or is it more for simple conversations after the service?

Георгий Киселёв

Thank you, Ekaterina. For Paisius, everything is really simple: be patient and do your job, even if your hands no longer obey. And embroidering until late - I understand that, sometimes I myself keep the bread in the oven until the night so that the crust comes out right. I have never been to Minsk, but in Voronezh I most often stand in the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In Moscow, what else do they tell children about the old man after school?

Марина Иванова

In Krasnodar, we also often serve tea with bagels after Sunday services, especially when it’s hot. Our grandmothers tell more about how Paisiy helped ordinary people in the mountains, without further ado. Do you often sing an akathist to him in Novosibirsk or is it more for simple conversations after the service?

Светлана Волкова

Here in New York, after Sunday liturgy, we also often stay for tea and bagels, especially when it’s hot—grandmothers bring their own preserves. Paisiy really wrote as if he was sitting next to him and simply talking, and this attracted many. In Moscow, do you sing an akathist to him regularly, or is it more for such conversations at the table?