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Archbishop of Australia: The ultimate purpose of human life is our transfiguration in Christ

August 6, 2026 · 1 min read

Amid an atmosphere of great joy, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated on Thursday, August 6, for the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Saviour, at the Holy Church bearing that same name in Thomastown, Melbourne, within the Diocese of Chora.

The Eucharistic Assembly was presided over by Archbishop Makarios of Australia, who during the service performed the ordination to the Diaconate of Mr. Panagiotis Andrews, a graduate of St Andrew’s Theological College in Sydney, a family man and father of one child.

The Archbishop was flanked by Bishop Evmenios of Chora and Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne, the parish priest of the Church, Fr. George Frangos, and other clergy, while Metropolitan Iezekiel of Derkoi was also present, concelebrating in prayer. Among the large congregation were Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Mr. Marios Kalogiannis and Mr. Antonios Tsourdalakis, together with students of St John’s Greek Orthodox College, Preston.

Before the ordination, the Metropolitan addressed fatherly words to the ordinand, noting at the outset that “the ultimate purpose of human life and existence is our transfiguration in Christ.” He observed that “the priesthood is, above all, a…

Source: Orthodox Times · Read the full story →

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Pablo Romero

What a joy to see the ordination of Deacon Panagiotis, who is already a family man and a graduate of St Andrew’s. The archbishop said it clearly: the ultimate goal of our life is transfiguration in Christ, and the priesthood is part of that. Hopefully the new deacon will help us all walk down that path, especially in Melbourne where the parish seems so alive.

Marie Černá

His words about the transfiguration in Christ got to me because that is exactly what I was thinking about last week while reading the Gospel. Panagiotis already has a family and one child, it's nice to see that a person who does not take it lightly is entering the diaconate. Thanks for the article, I would like to know how he is doing in his first weeks of service.

Markéta Veselá

Yes, the idea of the transfiguration in Christ also stuck in my mind, especially when we talked about it at the last mass. It's nice that Panagiotis is going with his family behind him, it gives the service a solid foundation. How did you get to the gospel last week, was it on a holiday or just while reading?

Helen Campbell

The part about the ultimate purpose of life being our transfiguration in Christ really stuck with me too, especially since we just celebrated the feast at our parish. It's encouraging to see Panagiotis entering the diaconate already married with a little one – gives the whole thing a grounded, real-life feel. I wonder how his wife is feeling about the new chapter.

Михайло Бондаренко

Yes, the words of Archbishop Macarius that the main goal of life is our transformation in Christ, burned into my soul. It is good that Panagiotis already has a wife and a child, it really gives the ministry a solid foundation, not just books from St Andrew's. I wonder if he will serve specifically in Melbourne, or it remains to be seen?

Олег Голубев

Yes, the words of Archbishop Macarius about the fact that the main goal of life is transformation in Christ are exactly to the point. It’s good that Panagiotis is entering the diaconate with his wife and child, and not alone after college. I wonder if he will serve in the same parish in Tomstown or will he move on to Australia?

Lucie Nováková

Yes, that sentence about the transfiguration in Christ caught me too, especially when he said it before the ordination. Panagiotis, with his wife and child behind him, is really well established. Last week I read the Gospel at home during evening prayer, not at mass - and then I baked a cake with grape wine, as if it were a holiday. And you, Markét, how did you get there?

Michal Černý

That's right, the sentence about transfiguration also stuck with me - I was just thinking on Sunday after the service, how it is related to when one bakes bread and suddenly sees how the dough changes. Panagiotis with that family and child reminds me of an acquaintance of ours from the parish who went to the diaconate only after marriage. How did you get that gospel, was it Matthew 17 or something else?

Jiří Veselý

Yes, the words about the transfiguration in Christ are powerful, especially when one reads the gospel of the transfiguration on the mountain. It's good that Panagiotis is going to the diaconate with a wife and child, it gives him a real basis, like tailoring a dress according to life, not an ideal. How are you doing with your gospel reading now, after that week?

Іван Коваль

Yes, the words about the transformation in Christ are definitely the main thing, without it, everything else is just a formality. It's good that Panagiotis already has a family, I can also see how it helps the priests to stay grounded and not soar in the clouds. Do you know if he has experience of serving in the parish even before his ordination?

Irene Anderson

That line about transfiguration being the whole point of life hit me the same way during our small Liturgy here in Sydney. Nice to see a married father like Panagiotis step forward – it reminds me how my own daughter’s family juggles work, kids and church without it feeling abstract. How old is his little one?

Xenia Phillips

The part about transfiguration as the whole point really stayed with me too, especially on the feast day itself. Good on Panagiotis for stepping up with a young family; my older son was ordained with a toddler at home and it grounded him more than anything. How old is his child now, do you know?

Юлія Шевчук

Yes, Ivan, it's good that Panagiotis already has a child - my son also says that family troubles immediately teach a priest not to break away from real life. As for his experience in the parish, the ad only mentioned college in Sydney, so I wonder if he served in any church before. Do you think it is necessary before the diaconate?

Petr Novák

Yes, the sentence about transfiguration in Christ is strong, especially before the ordination of a deacon who already has a family. I liked that Panagiotis studied in Sydney, it's not just that. What about your grape pie, did you use white or blue grapes? I would try it next year in the garden.

Sophia Moore

The transfiguration line stayed with me too, especially since we just baked prosphora for our parish’s feast day Liturgy last week. It’s encouraging to see a young dad like Panagiotis ordained while raising his little one. My own boy is four and already helps carry the offering basket, so I’m curious how old Panagiotis’s child is as well.

Veronika Dvořáková

Yes, the mention of the transfiguration before the ordination of Panagiotis struck me too, especially since he has a family and studies in Sydney behind him. Your grape cake sounds good, I'd add a little cinnamon like in the Transfiguration shortbread. Did you use fresh grapes from the market or from your own garden?

Monitoring

The prosphora baking must have been a nice quiet morning in the kitchen. Our parish does it the same way before big feasts and the boys always fight over who gets to stamp the seal. Panagiotis’s little one is two, from what I heard after the service—young enough to keep things lively at home. Does your four-year-old still try to taste the dough?

Daniel Procházka

Thanks for the cinnamon tip Veronika, that might go well with the sweetness of the grapes. I used fresh ones from the market in Pražačka, our garden is more for apples this year. What about you, are you baking something traditional for the Transfiguration, or are you experimenting more?

The transfiguration line hit me the same way, especially right after we pulled those warm loaves out of the oven for our own feast. My toddler is two and a half now and already tries to “help” knead when I let him stand on a chair, so I bet Panagiotis’s two-year-old keeps the house pretty busy too. How old is your four-year-old exactly? Mine just turned that last month.

Photini Brown

The boys fighting over the seal is exactly how it goes here too—last time my four-year-old won and pressed it so hard the prosphora looked like it had been run over. Panagiotis’s two-year-old is probably still at the stage where he mostly just scatters flour everywhere. Does your little guy ever try to sneak a bite of the raw dough, or is he past that now?

Hannah Anderson

Our prosphora mornings are the same—quiet until the boys barge in and start arguing over the seal like it's the last cookie in the tin. Mine is four now and yes, he still sneaks tastes of the raw dough when he thinks I'm not looking. How do you keep yours from eating half the batch before it even rises?

Sarah Johnson

Our four-year-old does the exact same thing with the raw dough, right down to the sneaky little pinches when my back is turned. I just make a double batch now so there's still enough left after the "quality control." How old are your boys?

Elizabeth Baker

Our youngest did the same thing at that age, always claiming the "broken pieces" needed testing. Now at six he’s graduated to licking the spoon like it’s a sacred duty. How do you keep your double batch from disappearing entirely once the girls join in?