Bishop Brisvanis at the celebratory Assumption Cathedral in Mt Gravatttranslated

The Most Holy Bishop of Brisbane, Mr. Bartholomeos officiated at the Solemn Vespers on the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, at the Holy Cathedral of the Assumption in Mt Gravatt, Brisbane. The Theophilus was flanked by the Priestly Head of the Cathedral, Fr. Nikolaos Brown, his co-priest, Fr. Panagiotis Simos, Fr. Athanasios Athanasiadis from the Holy Church of Agios Georgios South Brisbane, Fr. Theophilaktos Loizou from the Holy Church of Agia Paraskevi North Brisbane and Deacon Porphyrios Angeli.

During his sermon, His Holiness Theophilastos referred to the sacred tradition of the Church regarding the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, presenting the events connected with her exodus and her transition to heavenly life. Referring to the Apolytikion of the feast, "transmitted to life, mother existing of life", he explained that the Virgin, after giving birth to Christ, who is Life itself, transferred from the temporary present life to the fullness of eternal life near her Son. Her Dormition, therefore, is not merely a commemoration of a death, but a proclamation of the Christian hope that death does not have the last word.

Theophilastos...