14/09/2025
On this sacred Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Orthodox Christians worldwide gather to honor the life-giving Cross of our Lord—a symbol of sacrifice, love, and ultimate victory. The festal troparion resounds in our hearts:
"Save, O Lord, Your people and bless Your inheritance;
grant victory to the faithful over their adversaries.
And protect Your commonwealth, by the power of Your Cross."
As I reflect on this holy day, my thoughts drift to September 2019, when I visited my late spiritual father of blessed memory, Fr. Gregory Sakellariou, in the nursing home, as I had done many times before. Just a month prior, he had joined us at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in South Brisbane for a radiant Hierarchal Divine Liturgy led by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, surrounded by our beloved clergy and visiting priests.
On that feast day in 2019, Fr. Gregory and I spoke of the joy of that liturgy and his lifelong ministry—a sacrificial calling marked by radiant highs and painful lows, caused by some who resisted the truth he represented and the love he shared with generations of spiritual children.
Like St. Helen, who tirelessly sought the True Cross, Fr. Gregory’s life was a testament to seeking Christ and proclaiming the unchanging truth of the Gospel. Always a gentleman in his delivery, yet never shying away from proclaiming God’s Word as taught by the Holy Fathers, rejecting the modern notion of “my truth” so prevalent today.
The recent loss of Charlie Kirk, taken in the prime of his youth, in such a violent manner and not in old age, stirs our hearts with human sorrow. His passing feels untimely, yet we trust, as Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 reminds us: "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die."
God alone knows when we are called into His loving embrace.
Both Fr. Gregory and Charlie, in their distinct vocations, spoke the truth of the Gospel with boldness, touching souls across generations—one on a local pastoral level, the other globally, amplifying his voice across digital and traditional media platforms. They both, in their own style and calling, lived out Christ’s words in Matthew 5:16:
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
Their lives challenge us to reject the subjective narrative of “my truth”—a fleeting opinion that shifts with personal perspective—and instead proclaim the eternal, unchanging truth of Christ’s Gospel.
The Cross calls us to cast aside the seven deadly sins—pride, envy, greed, lust, gluttony, wrath, and sloth—which cloud our witness and fuel the temptation to elevate “my truth” over God’s truth.
No matter how insignificant we may feel, we must not wait for a perfect moment to serve the Lord, we live in a time that those around us need to hear our Christian witness. St. John Chrysostom declares:
"The Cross is the proof of the love of God, for by it He has saved us, not by our own merits, but by His mercy."
This truth comforts us, urging us to act in faith, however small our efforts may seem. There will be many who do not like to hear the Gospel proclaimed, and even those within families who judge us for seeking to depart from sin and live a more godly life. Yet, the life of a Christian is not about ease and comfort.
A generation of youth resonated with Charlie Kirk’s message of faith, family, and pride in one’s country because he spoke with conviction, rooted in the Gospel’s call to live courageously for Christ.
We are called to seek the Lord with all our heart, as Jeremiah 29:13 promises: "You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart."
In moments of doubt or adversity, do not fear and hide, rather let us boldly proclaim the Gospel’s truth—not our own opinions or watering our words down—living as disciples who reflect Christ’s love and humility.
St. Augustine reminds us: "The Cross is the mast on which we sail to heaven."
Whether young or old, may we carry our cross with courage, serving God and treating all as His children, leaving behind a legacy of good works rooted in the Gospel’s truth.
On this holy day, let us pray, “Lord, have mercy,” for ourselves and the world, lifting high the Cross in our hearts and proclaiming His truth alone.
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.
