Thousands of worshippers gathered on Sunday in Sydney, Australia for a service led by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is the leader of 300 million Greek Orthodox Christians worldwide and more than 400,000 in Australia. His tour of Australia represents his second visit Down Under, having first traveled there in 1996.
Patriarch Bartholomew expressed his deep affection for the Orthodox faithful in Australia, stating, “You truly deserve a united and strong Archdiocese.”
He mentioned the pioneer immigrants who arrived in the Antipodes amidst many difficulties and “their first concern was the building of places of worship, houses of God”.
Pointing out that in Australia, they found “a good and hospitable land and prospered and prospered”, he expressed his paternal satisfaction for preserving the father’s piety and faith.
“Proud of the Diaspora”
“We are rightly proud of the Diaspora,” he noted, “which is a chosen flock of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, whose pastoral care was taken over five years ago by His Holiness Archbishop Makarios, in succession to the late great hierarch Stylianos.”
Archbishop Makarios of Australia described the historical journey of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, recalling one by one his blessed predecessors, noting that since 2019, he has tried to follow in their blessed footsteps, “steps of peace, unity, reconciliation, healing of the broken, uplifting of the shattered, and reuniting of the estranged”.
He expressed his belief that the hundred-year journey of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia “justified the Patriarchate’s decision to establish it, as during the past century, it proved itself worthy of the expectations of the Mother Church of Constantinople”.
The Archbishop also described the renovations carried out in the Holy Cathedral of Sydney and expressed optimism about the future of the local Church, always under the spiritual care of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Bartholomew meets Australia’s Prime Minister Albanese
On Saturday Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with the worldwide head of the Greek Orthodox Church as part of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s tour of the country to mark a century of the church in Australia.
Albanese and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew met with parishioners and were part of a procession at the Cathedral of the Annunciation of Our Lady in Redfern in Sydney.
“Our Greek Australian community is such a vibrant part of our multicultural nation,” Albanese said. “I’ve seen that in my home of Marrickville, and in so many local businesses, sport groups, and community organizations across Australia.
“Today [Saturday] we’re investing in the restoration of this historic Cathedral in Redfern, helping to build a new Great Hall, Library and Museum. An investment that will benefit and serve the whole community. And it was so special to be joined by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for the occasion. Welcome to Australia,” the Australian PM added.
