On Saturday, 20 September, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia received at the headquarters of the Holy Archdiocese in Sydney, a delegation from the Panathinaikos Basketball Club, led by Mrs. Despina Giannakopoulou, widow of the late owner and president of Panathinaikos BC and president of Panathinaikos AC, Pavlos Giannakopoulos. Mrs. Giannakopoulou was accompanied by the President, Mr. Vasilios Parthenopoulos, the General Director, Mr. Stavros Dinos, and Panathinaikos and Greek National Team player, Mr. Dinos Mitoglou.
Upon their arrival at the Archdiocese, they were warmly welcomed by His Grace Bishop Elpidios of Perth and Their Graces Bishops-elect Athinagoras of Canberra and Christophoros of Kerasounta, in the presence of students from St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College. They were first guided through the Cathedral of the Annunciation of Our Lady and then proceeded to the Archbishop’s Office, where they met with His Eminence Archbishop Makarios in a cordial and friendly atmosphere.
It is noted that the Panathinaikos basketball team is visiting Australia as part of its participation in the 7th International Tournament “Pavlos Giannakopoulos,” which has been established in memory of its late owner and president. His Eminence Archbishop Makarios congratulated the leaders of the Club for choosing to hold this year’s sporting event in Australia, observing that their initiative constitutes an additional opportunity to strengthen the bonds of the Greek diaspora with the motherland.
Furthermore, the discussion focused on matters concerning the life of the Greek diaspora and the ministry of the Orthodox Church in Australia. At the conclusion of the meeting, His Eminence thanked the members of the delegation for their visit and offered them commemorative coins from the centenary series issued by the Holy Archdiocese of Australia. In return, the Panathinaikos team, through the head of the delegation, Mrs. Giannakopoulou, and the President, Mr. Parthenopoulos, presented the Shepherd of the fifth continent with a commemorative ring of the International Tournament “Pavlos Giannakopoulos.”
