MORE than 100 members of the Macedonian community gathered in Woronora Cemetery on Friday to bless the foundations of a new gateway chapel.
The official blessing was performed by His Eminence Metropolitan Petar, the Diocesan Bishop of the Macedonian Orthodox Church Diocese for Australia and New Zealand, and the event was given extra significance as it was held on Macedonia’s national day.
Sutherland Shire mayor Kent Johns said it was a great honour that the Macedonian community had chosen to locate the temple in the shire.
‘‘I wish you a great day of celebration and I look forward very much to the completion of this chapel,’’ Cr Johns told the gathering.
The chapel will be built in the traditional Byzantine style of the 14th century, and is conceived of as a gateway temple, and a place of comfort to those visiting the cemetery to pay tribute to their departed loved ones.
Woronora chief executive Graham Boyd said visiting the graves of the departed was an important tradition within the Macedonian Orthodox Church.
‘‘The chapel will be a symbolic place of comfort to families where they can pray for the souls of relatives who have passed, and through this act of prayer find comfort for their own souls,’’ Mr Boyd said.
The gateway temple, which will be called Holy Trinity once completed, will be the first of its kind in Australia.
On Friday the foundation stones were blessed and placed, and a time capsule containing details of the contemporary church recorded on papyrus was also placed in the foundations of the chapel.
The foundation stones recorded the names of community members involved in funding the chapel, and will form the foundations of the chapel.
