About Our Parish

The look of the temple project

Establishment and Vision

The Holy Archdiocese of Australia is pleased to announce the establishment of a new Orthodox Parish in the Northern Territory of Australia. The establishment of the new Parish, which will be honoured in the name of Saint Savvas the New of Kalymnos, is a vision and initiative of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia. His Eminence visited the Greek community in Darwin in 2019, shortly after assuming his duties, and listened to their need and deep desire for the establishment of a second Greek Orthodox Parish in the city.

Significant Visit and Planning

On Wednesday, 20 March, Father Christos Tsoraklidis, Parish Priest of the Parish of Saint Savvas the New of Kalymnos, along with Mr. George Alexopoulos and Mr. Ioannis Mousellis, current Vice Presidents of the Board of Directors of the newly established Parish, visited His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia at the headquarters of the Holy Archdiocese in Sydney. Mr. Mousellis was accompanied by his wife, Zacharoula, and Mr. Alexopoulos by his wife, Maria, and their son, Nicholas.

After a cordial reception by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia at the Archbishop’s Office, a detailed and constructive discussion followed regarding the project of erecting the new Church building dedicated to Saint Savvas of Kalymnos in the Palmerston area. The members of the delegation from Darwin thoroughly informed the Archbishop about the actions carried out and the planning to be implemented, with the goal of completing this God-pleasing work. They also thanked their Chief Shepherd for his tireless paternal interest in the new Parish and more broadly for the Greek Orthodox flock of the Northern Territory of Australia.

Parish Information

Summary of Activities

The Parish of St. Savvas of Kalymnos is dedicated to the advancement of the Orthodox Christian Faith and religious understanding within the Australian community. In furtherance of this mission, the Parish conducts Holy services of the Greek Orthodox Church at a consecrated place of worship, in accordance with Orthodox Traditions, in both Greek and English languages, under the guidance of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.

Founding and Development

Taking into account the large number of faithful and the wide scope of the area, His Eminence launched the necessary actions to make possible the establishment of the new Parish and the future construction of the Holy Church. The first priest of the new Parish is Fr. Christos Tsoraklidis from Adelaide, who celebrated the first Divine Liturgy on Saturday, 25 March 2023. As of 10 July 2024, a permanent location for the new Parish has been found in the Palmerston area. The necessary procedures for the establishment and completion of the new Parish are being monitored by His Grace Bishop Silouan of Sinope, Archiepiscopal Vicar of Adelaide, on behalf of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia.

Guidance and Support

The Archbishop, after thanking the Parish Priest and the administration of the Parish of Saint Savvas of Kalymnos for their dedicated service so far, offered appropriate instructions and directions for carrying out the next stages of the project. He wished for God to strengthen them and guide their steps and decisions.

We invite you to join us in worship and community activities, and to be part of our growing Parish family. Together, we strive to live out our faith and support one another in our spiritual journey.

Our Confessor

We are blessed to have Fr. Christos Tsoraklidis as our Confessor. He provides spiritual guidance and the sacrament of confession to all who seek it, helping us to deepen our relationship with God and grow in our faith. As it is written in the Bible, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16). Fr. Christos is dedicated to supporting our spiritual journey, reflecting the teachings of Christ:

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

Bible Studies

We invite everyone to join our Bible studies every Tuesday at 7 pm. These sessions are a wonderful opportunity to explore the Scriptures, ask questions, and engage in meaningful discussions about our faith. Led by our Rector, Rev. Dr. Christos Tsoraklidis, these studies help us to better understand the Word of God and its application in our daily lives.

For more information, please contact Rev. Dr. Christos Tsoraklidis at [email protected] or 0414 395 705. As the Bible encourages us:

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path

Psalm 119:105

Our studies aim to illuminate the path of faith for all participants!