Melbourne Parish welcomes His Beatitude Mar Narsai De Baz
By Joseph Haweil
27 August 2006
Melbourne, Australia
The Assyrian community of Melbourne was honoured with the privilege of having His Beautide Mar Narsai De Baz, Metropolitan of Syria, Lebanon and all Europe and Patriarchal Vicar among them. His Beautide is currently visiting Australia and New Zealand and took time from his busy schedule, as a loving Shepard in Christ’s Church, to visit and bring both joy and happiness to the hearts of the faithful of St. George Parish of the Assyrian Church of the East.
His Beatitude performing the Holy Mysteries
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His Beautide offered the Holy Eucharist on the ecclesiastical date of the 6 th Sunday of Summer at Ishtar Receptions owing to the lack of room available in the small St. George Church located in Reservoir. While the Assyrian community of Melbourne and parishioners of St. George Parish are small in number the Mass was exceptionally well attended with some 500-600 attendees.
His Beatitude delivering his sermon
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His Beautide is well renowned for being an exceptionally skilled orator and his sermon, centering on the need of Faith was inspiring in its message of Christian love and the need for faith in a world so engulfed in immorality. His Beautide commented in his sermon that faith is the only avenue through which individuals could be in peace with one another. Moreover His Beautide emphasised the beauty of faith and that without strong faith happiness would ultimately only be a distant objective.
His Beautide Mar Narsai De Baz later presided over a general body meeting of the St. George Parish in Melbourne were a range of issues, pertaining to the future direction of the Parish were discussed. Initially His Beautide relayed the blessings and regards sent with him from His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East and reminded the faithful that His Holiness has constantly on his thoughts the well being of his flock wherever they are in the world. His Beautide commented in his speech that the Church of the East is a pearl which has been passed on to us, the sons and daughter of our most Apostolic Church and that it is essential that steps are taken to ensure the progress and success of Parishes in different Dioceses’ around the world. His Beautide also commented on current situations unfolding worldwide – both church and international events – and discussed the deplorable situation in the Middle East, particularly of the Assyrians (and other nationalities) of Iraq and other Middle East nations. His Beautide asked the faithful to always treat hate and evil with good works and not with anger.
His Beatitude delivering a speech to the faithful at the General Body Meeting
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As has become a constant trait of visiting clergy, His Beautide kindly took time to personally greet all those in attendance of the general body meeting and wished them the best for the future of the St. George Parish. His Beautide Mar Narsai Metropolitan prayed that the Lord God would assist and guide our beloved Church and Nation to peace and harmony.
The Holy Eucharist is offered by Rev. Fr. Gewargis Toma at St. George Church located at
8 Broadhurst Avenue, Reservoir every Sunday at 9am.
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