Saints Raphael, Nicholas & Irene
Parish & Community of Liverpool, NSW
Our Patron Saints
Raphael, Nicholas & Irene
Having suffered martyrdom at the hands of Turkish invaders on the Island of Lesvos (Mytilene) on Bright Tuesday in 1463, Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene are rightfully named Holy and Glorious on account of their torture, death and the revelation of their relics.
While building the foundations of the monastery on the island, the excavation revealed a grave containing human remains with a sweet fragrance. What ensued was a series of magnificent and spiritual occurrences. The digger, Mr. Doukas Tsolakis, collected the bones he dug underground and placed them into a sack which became too heavy to lift, feeling a numb sensation running through his arm and those all those who tried.
During the night, the Priest was called for a Trisagion of the found remains and dreamt of a Saint who appeared as a priest and revealed his name to be Raphael - born on the Island of Ithika. He appeared to many nearby villagers through their dreams also telling them “I am the Holy Martyr Raphael, the remains found at Karyes belong to me.”
The story that was revealed told of Saint Raphael who, having been blessed with education and his rank in the Church, was sent on a mission to France, where he met with a young student named Nicholas. Nicholas, having been revealed the spiritual life, abandoned his worldly life and joined Saint Raphael who then ordained him as a deacon. Upon their return, the Turks invaded forcing Saint Raphael and Saint Nicholas to flee to the island of Lesvos, joining a small brotherhood at the Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos, where they lived for 9 years.
Saint Raphael performed the final Divine Liturgy on Holy Thursday. The Turks then invaded the monastery, capturing the Saints as well as the community chief and teacher. The Community Chief’s 12 year old daughter, righteous and holy Irene was torturously burnt to death in an earthen pot, with her parents as witness. Saint Raphael was savagely beaten, his mouth sawed and his jaw cut off. They tied Saint Nicholas to a walnut tree, enduing endless beatings and stabbings and dying from heart failure after seeing his beloved priest endure such a horrifying death. Having their relics divinely discovered, the continual blessings and miracles that occurred also led to their icons being written, which portrayed their memory in a realistic manner by those that reached a consensus on their physical identity. They also requested a Church to be built in their honour.
“How much splendour comes out from the gigantic spiritual statue of Saint Raphael and his Holy Companions! Here one finds himself in the area of divine beauty, as if he were living in the harmony of the infinite and he is burning with the divine yearning”
His Eminence Archbishop
Makarios of Australia
His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, was born in Heraklion of Crete in 1973. He completed his elementary studies in his birthplace and at the Rizareios Ecclesiastical School of Athens.
He is a graduate of the Higher Ecclesiastical School of Athens and of the Theological School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. He completed post-graduate studies at the Universities of Boston, (Master of Sacred Theology), Harvard, (Master of Arts), and Monash, (Master of Bioethics), whilst his doctoral dissertation was received and passed as “Excellent” by the Medical School of the University of Crete. The work was published under the title, “Cloning: Social, Ethical and Theological Components”.
His Eminence Archbishop Makarios' First Pastoral Visit to our Parish in 2019
Since 2003 he has been teaching at the Patriarchal Academy of Crete. In tandem, he has served as a visiting Professor to various Universities, amongst which are the Theological College of Holy Cross in Boston, the University of Tartu and the Medical Schools of the Universities of Crete, Thessaly and Athens. In May 2015, he was elected the first Dean of the Department of Orthodox Studies of the Autonomous Church of Estonia.
He became a monk and Deacon in 1993, a Presbyter in 1997 and an Archimandrite in 1998 at the Holy Monastery of Saint George Epanosifi, whilst on Easter Sunday of 2008, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew bestowed upon him the office of Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne. He served at the historic community of Saint George in Southbridge of the USA. At the Holy Archdiocese of Crete, he served as Director of the Radio Station, as President of the Administrative Committee of the School for Byzantine Music, as Director of the Estia for Ecclesiastical Education at the Patriarchal Academy, as a Member of the Synodal Committee for “Bioethics and Contemporary Concerns”, Director of the Press Office and Preacher of the Archdiocese from 2002 up till his election as bishop. He founded and runs the Publishing Series “All About Bioethics”, which operates under the auspices of the Mother Church of Constantinople.
On April 27, 2015, he was unanimously elected Bishop of Christopoulis by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. In 2008, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate appointed him representative on the Panorthodox Committee for Bioethics, whilst in 2018 he was appointed President of the Synodal Committee for Bioethics of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He has represented the Mother Church of Constantinople in various assignments. He has been invited to speak at many Metropolises
in Greece and Abroad, He has given lectures at international scientific, medical and theological seminars. He is a member of many scientific and ecclesiastical organizations and has published articles, studies and books.
On 27th April 2015 he was elected unanimously by the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Bishop of Christoupolis, as Assistant to the Ecumenical Patriarch. He was ordained by His Eminence Archbishop Irenaeus of Crete, on the 16th May of the same year, assuming the high responsibilities assigned to him by Patriarch Bartholomew and the Mother Church at the Autonomous Church of Esthonia, in order to organize its theological and catechetical work. He attended the Holy and Great Synod of the Orthodox Church of Crete in 2016 as counsellor to the Delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
On 9th May 2019, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, following the favourable commendation of His All Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, having appreciated his theological and secular education, his literary contribution, his administrative charisma and his ecclesiastical ethos as the hitherto Bishop Makarios of Christoupolis, elected him unanimously Archbishop of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia.
Father Asterios Zouriakas
Born in Melbourne, Father Asterios Zouriakas learned at a young age, the art of Byzantine Chanting from his father Apostolos Zouriakas who currently serves as a Protopsalti (head chanter). Father Asterios moved to Sydney at the age of 18 to study at St Andrews Greek Orthodox Theological College in Redfern and complete his Diploma of Education at the University of Sydney.
Father Asterios was then appointed as the Protopsalti at the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Redfern, Sydney in 2001, where he served for a further 20 years. He continued with his study of Byzantine chanting and became a member, and then Choir Master of the Australian Byzantine Choir.
Photo of Fr Asteri's ordination to the Holy Diaconate, 26th Dec 21
@Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia
Professionally, Father Asterios worked as a high school teacher for many years, including St Euphemia Greek Orthodox School in Sydney.
On the 26th December 2021, Father Asterios was ordained to the Holy Diaconate, and then to the Priesthood on the 10th January 2022, where he served Saints Constantine & Helen in Newtown and then the Parish Priest of Saints Raphael, Nicholas & Irene Church in Liverpool on the 11th April 2022. Father Asterios humbly serves the Parish and Community of Liverpool, along with his wife Presvytera Panayiota Zouriakas and their 4 children.
Ignatios
President
Michael
Secretary
Greg
Finance
Eric
Director
The Directors of Saints Raphael, Nicholas & Irene Liverpool, in collaboration with Father Asterios, support the overall function of the Church and provide engagement opportunities for our community to participate in spiritual & cultural events. They actively support the ministry of the Church by collectively providing guidance and leadership in all church related matters.
Yianni
Director
Christos
Director