Patriarch Porphyrios in Melbourne: “Where Christ Is, There Is Our Homeland
From joyful Serbian diaspora welcome in Australia to missionary journeys in Japan, teachers honoured in Moldova and saints remembered across continents, this week the Church showed again that our true home is wherever Christ dwells.
On Thursday 8 October, His Holiness Patriarch Porphyrios of Serbia stepped off the plane in Melbourne and was met with tears and embraces at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Brunswick. Serbian families who have long made Australia their home filled the church as their Patriarch began a pastoral visit that would carry the love of the mother Church to her scattered children. In one sentence he captured the heart of every believer: “Where Christ is, there is our homeland.” The same spirit of living faith moved through the week. In Japan a tireless missionary bishop walked among American servicemen and local souls alike. In Moldova a metropolitan thanked teachers shaping the young. In a quiet Bulgarian monastery the Patriarch served Liturgy for twenty-six martyrs. Russian children followed a new pilgrim route that begins at a patriarchal cathedral, while an old Georgian saint reminded readers that even deer and partridges once found refuge at the feet of a holy man. Everywhere the Church quietly stitched together past and present, near and far.
Stories of the week
Church of Greece · Oct 8
Patriarch Porphyrios Welcomed in Melbourne
His Holiness Patriarch Porphyrios of Serbia arrived in Australia on 8 October and began his multi-day pastoral visit at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Brunswick, Melbourne. The Serbian diaspora welcomed him with joy and deep emotion. Standing among his spiritual children far from the Balkans, the Patriarch reminded them that “Where Christ is, there is our homeland.” The Church of Greece’s Orthodoxia News Agency reported the warm gathering that marked the start of a visit meant to strengthen the bonds of faith across continents. For every believer living away from ancestral soil, the words of the Serbian Patriarch became both comfort and compass.
Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) · Oct 7
Patriarchal Cathedral Joins National Family Project
The Patriarchal Ascension Cathedral in Rostov-on-Don has become a living classroom on the educational route “Don: Sources, Strength, Unity,” part of Russia’s national project “Family.” Supported by the Ministry of Culture, the programme brings schoolchildren aged ten to eighteen from many Russian regions to the spiritual centre of the Cossack hosts. Guided by the cathedral’s pilgrimage service, the young visitors learn the Christian roots of their land. The Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) thus opens its holy places to the next generation, showing that the Church’s walls are not only for prayer but also for the formation of faithful citizens and loving hearts.
On Sunday in Bălți, His Eminence Metropolitan Antonie of Bessarabia awarded twenty-six teachers from northern Moldova for their devoted work in forming young souls. The ceremony anticipated World Teachers’ Day and took place under the care of the Romanian Orthodox Church. The Metropolitan wished to thank those who labour daily to hand on knowledge and values to the coming generation. In a time when secular voices grow loud, the Church’s public gratitude reminded everyone that teaching remains a sacred vocation and that the faithful owe deep respect to those who shape the minds and hearts of children.
At an international academic conference in Greece marking ten years since the Holy and Great Council of 2016, Dr Alexandros Smotsefsky, canon-law professor at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, presented a detailed study of how the conciliar text “Autonomy and the Manner of Its Proclamation” was formed. The Church of Greece hosted the gathering that looked back on the Council’s work and forward to its fruits. The careful academic discussion showed the Orthodox world still pondering how local Churches relate to the whole, always within the spirit of unity and canonical order.
Metropolitan Ambrosios Begins New Mission in Japan
On 2 October Metropolitan Ambrosios of Korea and Exarch of Japan, accompanied by Deacon Christopher Jonker, landed in Okinawa to begin a fresh missionary journey. Their first stop was the chapel of Saint Nicholas inside an American military base. The visit continued to Tokyo. The Church of Greece’s news service reported the trip as another chapter in the patient Orthodox witness in the Land of the Rising Sun, where a small but living community seeks to make Christ known among both locals and expatriates.
Patriarch Daniel Serves Liturgy for Zograf Martyrs
On 10 October His Holiness Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria presided at the Divine Liturgy in the German Monastery of Saint John of Rila, honouring the twenty-six Holy Martyrs of Zograf. He was concelebrated by Bishop John of Branitsa and other clergy. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church thus kept the memory of the martyrs who gave their lives for the Orthodox faith on Mount Athos centuries ago. Their feast remains a call to courage and fidelity for every generation.
Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) · Oct 10
Venerable David of Gareji and the Animals
The Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) magazine Foma told again the story of Venerable David of Gareji, the Georgian ascetic who once protected deer and partridges from hunters. According to tradition an angry rider raised his sword against the saint, only to witness a miracle that changed his heart. The gentle tale of the sixth-century hermit who cared for both beasts and people reminded readers that holiness embraces all creation and that even the smallest creatures can become instruments of God’s mercy.
The Holy Nun-Martyr Eulogia demonstrates the important role of lay faithful, monks and nuns in preserving and confessing the Orthodox faith in difficult times, in periods of spiritual aridity and secularisation.
The week brought together both calendars in gentle harmony. On the Gregorian 6 October the Church honoured Saint Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow, and the Holy Apostle Thomas. The Julian 7 October (Gregorian 20 October) remembered the Holy New Martyrs of Alaska and the Protomartyr Thecla, Equal-to-the-Apostles. The next day, Julian 8 October, the repose of Venerable Sergius of Radonezh and Saint Euphrosyne were kept. Gregorian 9 October honoured Saint Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow, and Apostle James son of Alphaeus, while the Julian calendar marked the repose of Saint John the Theologian. The week closed on Julian 11 October with Venerable Chariton the Confessor and the Prophet Baruch. For the faithful these feasts quietly affirm that the cloud of witnesses is always near, encouraging us to run with patience the race set before us.
Looking ahead
Next week the Church prepares to celebrate the Protection of the Most-Holy Theotokos on Julian 14 October, together with Saint Romanos the Melodist. On the Gregorian calendar 18 October brings the memory of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke. In many parishes the faithful will already be sewing the first threads of the Nativity Fast that begins soon after, drawing hearts toward the quiet joy of the cave in Bethlehem.
May the saints we remembered this week walk beside you in the coming days. Until next Friday, may your homes be little churches filled with peace.
For the curious: the numbers behind the week
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Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) · Church of Greece · Romanian Orthodox Church
Written by the editors of Orthodox House from the news of the Local Orthodox Churches published during the period; every story links to its source. Photographs belong to the source publications. · All reviews · Article →
