The Feast of the Assumption in Melbournetranslated

With due ecclesiastical splendor and with a large participation of pious Christians, on Saturday morning, August 15, 2026, the Mother of God feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary was celebrated in Melbourne, centered on the celebratory Holy Church of the same name in the suburb of North Altona.

The Solemn Divine Liturgy was presided over by the Most Reverend Archbishop of Australia Mr. Makarios, with the Theophilist Bishops of Melbourne Mr. Kyriakos and Mr. Eumenios of Chora co-celebrating. Among the congregation were the Lords of the Great Church of Christ Mr. Marios Kalogiannis and Mr. Antonios Tsourdalakis.

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, His Holiness spoke about the deepest meaning of the Mother of God feast, stressing that it is a feast of hope, consolation and joy, as the Virgin Mary, through her transmigration, always remains close to man and his trials. At the same time, he urged the faithful to pray with confidence to the Theotokos, convinced that She knows human pain and understands their anxieties.

Concluding his speech, Archbishop Mr. Makarios expressed his warm thanks to the co-celebrants of the High Priests, for their participation...