Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia – The resource for the Greek Orthodox in Australia

Welcome to the Greek Orthodox Church of Australia!

Latest News

The SEPTEMBER edition of VEMA is available in Greek and English!
Εκδόθηκε το τεύχος του ΣΕΠΤΕΜΒΡΙΟΥ της δίγλωσσης μηνιαίας εφημερίδας, της Ιεράς Αρχιεπισκοπής Αυστραλίας, ΤΟ ΒΗΜΑ. Click on the following link to view and download the edition: 2018 September VEMA
His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos of Australia received and welcomed the newly elected Metropolitan of New Zealand, His Eminence Metropolitan Myron, at the central offices of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in Redfern 17.09.2018
Before arriving in New Zealand for his enthronement, His Eminence Metropolitan Myron, newly elected for this See of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, visited Australia and the central offices of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in Redfern, Sydney, on Monday 17th September, 2018. He was received and welcomed by His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos, Primate of the Greek Orthodox […]
The AUGUST edition of VEMA is available in Greek and English!
Εκδόθηκε το τεύχος του ΑΥΓΟΥΣΤΟΥ της δίγλωσσης μηνιαίας εφημερίδας, της Ιεράς Αρχιεπισκοπής Αυστραλίας, ΤΟ ΒΗΜΑ. Click on the following link to view and download the edition: 2018 August VEMA
Letter from His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos of Australia to Mr Prokopis Pavlopoulos, President of the Hellenic Republic, regarding the tragedy from the fires in Attica, Greece. 25.07.2018
His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, wrote a letter to the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr Prokopis Pavlopoulos expressing not only the Church’s condolences for all who have tragically perished in the latest fires in Attica, Greece but also stating that the Omogeneia in Australia stands together in […]

< 2018 >

September 25

25
Euphrosyne of Alexandria
Martyr Paphnoutios & 546 Companions in Egypt
All day
25-09-2018-21-09-2019
http://www.greekorthodox.org.au/?ecwd_event=st-euphrosyne-of-alexandria
St Euphrosyne of Alexandria was born at the beginning of the fifth century in the city of Alexandria. She was the only child in her family of famous and rich parents. Since her mother died early, she was raised by her father, Paphnoutios, a deeply believing and pious Christian. He frequented a monastery, the Abbott of which was his spiritual guide.
When Euphrosyne turned eighteen, her father wanted her to marry. He went to the monastery to his spiritual guide to receive his blessing for the planned wedding of his daughter. The Abbott conversed with the daughter and gave her his blessing, but she yearned for monastic life. She secretly accepted tonsure from a wandering monk, left her father’s house, and decided to enter a monastery in order to lead her life in solitude and prayer. She feared, however, that in a women’s monastery her father would find her. Calling herself the eunuch Smaragdos, she went to the very same men’s monastery, which she had visited with her father since childhood.
The monks did not recognize St Euphrosyne dressed in men’s garb, and so they accepted her into the monastery. Here in a solitary cell, she spent 38 years in works, fasting and prayer, and attained a high level of spiritual accomplishment. Her father grieved over the loss of his beloved daughter and more than once, on the advice of the Abbott, he conversed with the monk Smaragdos, revealing his grief and receiving spiritual comfort. Before her death, the nun Euphrosyne revealed her secret to her grieving father and asked that no one but he should prepare her body for burial. Having buried his daughter, Paphnutios distributed all his wealth to both the poor and to the monastery, and then he accepted monasticism. For ten years right up to his own death, he laboured in the cell of his daughter.
Dismissal Hymn (Plagal of the Fourth Tone)
In you the image was preserved with exactness, O Mother; for taking up your cross, you followed Christ, and by your deeds you taught us to overlook the flesh, for it passes away, but to attend to the soul since it is immortal. Therefore, O righteous Euphrosyne, your spirit rejoices with the Angels.
Kontakion (Second Tone)
Desiring to reach the life on high, you earnestly spurned every vain and fleeting pleasure here below and lived among men as if a man, O all-famed Euphrosyne, since for Christ your Bridegroom’s sake you forsook a bridegroom that was temporal.