“the family is the place where love, prayer, forgiveness and self-sacrifice are learnt and lived

“St John Chrysostom reminds us, however, that true wealth is that of the soul purified of the passions and filled with grace, and that the poorest person who is at peace in Christ is richer than an emperor troubled by the passions. Your common aspiration, regardless of the continent on which you live, for a better future finds its complete fulfilment only when that future includes communion with God.

“every church dedicated to the Theotokos becomes “a little Gethsemane” on the Feast of the Dormition—a place of prayer, hope and consolation.

“‘Christian socialism’ as a doctrine of social reform was preached by St. John Chrysostom in the fourth century and has been present in a general form in Christian thought from the moment when the so-called ‘social question’ began to trouble human conscience.

“It is a modest and humble church that reflects the first steps of the early Greeks, I would like this church to remain as it is, because it demonstrates that a people came here who were poor and humble, yet honourable. As time passed, our people progressed, but this church—one of the first to meet the needs of the great wave of migration—reflects our earliest steps and constitutes a historical and spiritual landmark.

Archbishop Makarios ›

Archbishop of Australia

Direct quote

“St John of Rila, who called on Christians to preserve unity, avoid divisions, and resist greed

St John of Rila ›

Reported

“Our churches should be places where young people know they belong, where difficult conversations can happen without judgement, and where those who are hurting find accompaniment and hope. To the young people gathered today: you are not only recipients of healing. You are also agents of healing. Through your commitment to justice, peace, creation, and community, you are already creating healing spaces.

“Christians must forgive others from the heart, describing this as the place where God’s love and mercy are revealed