Archimandrite Ierotheos Kourtesis to retire after 60 years of priesthood

During the vespers work for the feast time of the Church of Saints Methodios and Kyrillos successful Preston, Bishop Evmenios of Chora made an affectional and important announcement regarding the long-standing work of Archimandrite Ierotheos Kourtesis.

The Bishop revealed that this coming July, Archimandrite Ierotheos will people 60 years of work successful the priesthood, a uncommon and profoundly honourable milestone for some the Church and the Greek Australian community. He besides announced that, aft six decades of progressive ministry, including the past 15 years serving successful Preston, the Archimandrite has expressed his wish to discontinue from progressive parish duties.

Bishop Evmenios explained that the petition had been respected and accepted by the Archdiocese, while emphasising that the determination does not mean the Archimandrite is stepping distant from the Church itself.

On the time of his ordination. From left: Bishop Themistoklis of Nikopolis (Patriarchate of Alexandria), Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne (formerly of Sozopolis), Archbishop Makarios, Archimandrite Ierotheos Kourtesis, and Bishop Evmenios of Chora (formerly of Kerasounta). Photo: Supplied

“Priests ne'er cease their mission,” helium noted, adding that the doors of each churches under the Archdiocese whether successful Preston, astatine the Axion Esti Church, oregon elsewhere — will ever stay unfastened to Archimandrite Ierotheos, who will proceed to beryllium a surviving beingness within the beingness of the Church.

Archimandrite Ierotheos Kourtesis, formerly Fr Vasileios Kourtesis, was elevated to the fertile of Archimandrite by Archbishop Makarios of Australia. Originally from Corfu, helium has lived successful Melbourne for 62 years, faithfully serving the Greek Orthodox assemblage done each stages of its humanities and κοινωνικά development.

His ministry has go profoundly intertwined with the past of the Greek Australian assemblage itself. Special notation was besides made of the information that helium received the sanction “Ierotheos” successful honour of his precocious uncle, besides Archimandrite Ierotheos Kourtesis, continuing a household spiritual tradition.

At the decision of the vespers service, Archimandrite Ierotheos expressed his gratitude to Bishop Evmenios for his warm words, arsenic well arsenic to each those who supported him passim his agelong ministry. He made special notation to Archbishop Makarios of Australia, thanking him sincerely for his trust and spiritual guidance implicit the years.