OUR HISTORY
It was always a dream of Fr Savvas from a young child but also hundreds of other devout people (Kalymnian & non Kalymnian decent) to establish an Orthodox Church in honour of St Savvas of Kalymnos in Australia- one of the newest Saints of our Orthodox Church. His first attempt was when as a young teenager he attempted to raise over $30, 000 along with a few others to be offered to the Greek Orthodox Community of Batemans Bay - as offers were being asked to raise funds & in turn name the Church which was being planned to be built. This was initially agreed upon Between the President of the Community Mr Sideris & the then late Maria Michailou (Fr Savas aunty)-with the then teenager Fr Savas, but then suddenly last minute - this did not proceed as they were told a wealthier Family from Canberra -The Liangis family offered to build the whole church complete and all expenses payed for, as long as it was named after St John the Baptist after Mrs Sotiria Liangis son John. Even pleas of making the church a 2-altared church (Disipostatos) was rejected. This was very disappointing for all involved, but also a decision which many were confused about as there was already literally further down in Jervis Bay the church of St John. How did the Church Goverance allow two Parishes with the same name side by side in the South Coast, was something all wondered? Why not allow for a Double Altared Church (Disipostatos) and have St Savvas name as well? As such St Savvas of Kalymnos- this wonderful Miraculous Saint was rejected- but not forgotten!
In the year 2010, this dormant idea & desire of Fr Savas was awoken again & permission was granted by his then Hierarchs upon request, and as of 2014, a missionary Parish & Community Association was officially and legally registered, in the Saints name. Church Services initially took place at a temporary premises, as the church continued to be established, purchased or built.
Through Gods Grace a major miracle took place on 31st August 2016 by our Beloved St Savvas and within two years of being established against all odds against those who were trying to shut us down & had attacked our Saint & community, we were given the opportunity to purchase an existing Church on a large block of land and a large hall with a smaller one with many other facilities, within the St George area and on the main Hwy. Not only was this former Protestant Church established in 1890, it was a landmark of Banksia and the wider St George Area. The first Agiasmo- blessing of the Church & premises took place on Wednesday 16th November 2016 & the First Historic Divine Liturgy with the blessings of our Patriarchate was served on Sunday the 20th November 2016.
Our Church & Community of St Savvas the New of Kalymnos is one of the first Churches named solely after the Saint in all the world, apart from his Church on the Island of Kalymnos- were his Miraculous Holy Relic (Full Body) is found. Fr Savvas has also been blessed to Be Given one of St Savvas Stoles from his monastery- which emanates a divine heavenly Fragrance, along with a small wooden prosforo seal (typari) carved & used by the Saint himself & from Aigina Fr Savas was given one of St Savvas own icons he painted & signed with his own hands while in Aigina in 1919, one year before his spiritual Brother St Nektarios Fell asleep. These priceless treasures have been placed within his church for all devout to venerate & receive blessings.
Within the main Church we also have a Chapel in Honour of Panagia Hrisoleontissa (Historical Monastery & Miraculous icon in Aigina) in which an exact copy of her Miraculous Icon was given to our Church by the Abbess of the Monastery who is Fr Savas & Presvyteras Styliani's Aunty and is now housed in her Chapel with a side altar to St Euphemia as well. Panagia Hrisoleontissa had a special place in the hearts as we know of both St Nektarios & St Savvas of Kalymnos as they not only both at one point lived within her monastery - while fixing Holy Trinity but also would go and spend hours in front of her miraculous icon and pray with tears in front of her. St Nektarios himself before leaving Aigina to be entered into hospital before he fell asleep, he went up to the Monastery of Hrisoleontissa and prayed for the last time hours before her icon as he knew he was departing within days from this world. Both Saints loved Panagia Hrisoleontissa. Hanging from our icon is also an engolpio of our late bishop & exarch who dedicated it to Panagia but sadly did not get to see it be housed in her chapel here.
On Sunday 12th November 2017 a Patriarchal Delegation led by the Patriarchal Vicar Metropolitan Epiphanios of Pereyaslav (now the canonical First Hierarch of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine), conducted and consecrated officially our Church & Holy Altar, a beautiful service and Historic event for our Church.
On the 11/10/2018 with an Official Announcement of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in the framework of granting Autocephaly to our Ukrainian Church, all Anathemas, Excommunications & Defrockments were uplifted from our Patriarch Philaret and subsequently ALL the clergy under him, restoring HIM and ALL the clergy to their episcopal and priestly rights and with their flock joining them to canonical communion with worldwide orthodoxy, recognised canonically by all, without exception or debate.
On the 15/12/2018 the new head of the church Metropolitan Epiphanios of Pereyaslav (Kyiv Patriarchate) was elected by the united Sobor of bishops assembly.
On the 6th January 2019, Autocephaly and Tomos to the Orthodox Church of Ukrainian was officially handed to the Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine Epiphanios in Constantinople by the Ecumenical Patriarch.
In accordance to the resolutions taken by the Holy Hierarchs of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia in their Bishops Synaxis that took place 28th-29th March 2022 led by our beloved Archbishop Makarios of Australia,our Parish of St Savvas of Kalymnos & our sister Ukrainian parish of St Basil the Great in Newcastle has now been admitted into the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese-Ecumenical Patriarchate.