Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
When asked which is the greatest commandment, or rather, what must one ultimately do to enter paradise, Jesus responded, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12: 30-31).
This passage from the Gospel of Mark lies at the heart of the Christian message, love in and through relationships. This is the distinguishing feature of the Christian identity. Our love for God and His people is how we will be seen and known by others as followers of Jesus Christ who says, “by this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Truly, we are relational beings, created in the image of a relational God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who exist in a perfect communion of love, and unity with one another. Therefore, we too are called to live our life in loving communion with our Lord and all people, something made possible through God’s grace, which enables us to grow in our ability to love as He loves.
On behalf of Saint Catherine Greek Orthodox Church, I welcome you, and invite you to visit or simply reach out to us. Saint Catherine is, as all Orthodox churches are, a hospital for ailing souls, not a courtroom where we are judged, or a place for perfect people, as our Lord says, “those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Mark 2:17).
I hope that you find our website beneficial, whether you are Orthodox, or simply learning about the Orthodox Faith. There are many excellent resources - websites, books and podcasts through which you can gather information and learn about the Orthodox Church, but most effective is by joining us, so please, “come and see” (John 1:39).
If you would like to learn more about our parish family, feel free to contact me at parish@stcatherine.org.au or on 02 9667 1001.
With love in Christ,
Fr. Peter Mavrommatis