The work of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese of Australia, which convened on Thursday 24th and yesterday, 25th April 2025, under the Presidency of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, in its regular Session for the period of the Pentecostarion, has been completed.
After the opening prayer, the Minutes of the previous Session were ratified and, subsequently, the Holy Synod proceeded to examine the issues included in the Agenda and made the necessary and appropriate decisions.
With great emotion and joy, the Holy Synod and the entire plenitude of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia were informed of the two new, high, honorary distinctions of His All-Holiness, our Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, on the one hand, his election as a permanent member of the French Academy, and on the other, his awarding with the important Templeton Prize of the USA. With feelings of pride for the Patriarch of the Nation, who with his initiatives and his charismatic personality has elevated the Orthodox Church worldwide, we filially congratulate and reverently thank him, because in his person the entire Orthodox Church and every Orthodox believer are honoured.
The Holy Synod, on the occasion of the death of Pope Francis of Old Rome, through its President, sent letters of condolence to the Vatican Nuncio in Australia, Archbishop Charles Daniel Balvo, and to all the local Roman Catholic Archbishops of the Fifth Continent, praying for the repose of his soul. It is a fact that the late Pope was simple, humble and wise and was distinguished for his friendly feelings towards our Orthodox Church. May his successor continue in the same steps of simplicity and cooperation.
During the proceedings of the Holy Synod, the English translation of the Constitution of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia was also studied thoroughly and unanimously approved, which is being submitted, through the Archbishop, to the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
In addition, it was unanimously decided to grant the requested canonical permission, from the Holy Eparchial Synod, to Dr. Philip Kariatlis, Sub-Dean of Saint Andrew’s Theological College, from the direct Archdiocesan District, and to Messrs. Dionysios Krinas, Vasilios Lecouliard, Vasilios Manavas, Ananias Ananievski and Vasilios Gioutlou, from the Holy Diocese of Melbourne, and to Messrs. Photius Hatzi, Theodoros Theodorou, Patroklos Georgiou and Christos Koniditsiotis, from the Holy Diocese of Chora, to preach Holy Sermons in churches, during the Divine Liturgy and other services and ceremonies.
In addition, the Holy Synod was informed about the progress of the program “Our people their stories”, which was inaugurated by our Ecumenical Patriarch during his visit to Australia last October. It is a living museum recording, in short documentaries, the life of immigrants in Australia. It was with great satisfaction that the remarkable progress and acceptance of the program by the people were noted, since in the last 90 days there were 2.9 million page views. Both His Eminence Archbishop Makarios and the Bishops express their gratitude to the devout people who have embraced with fervour and trust this effort of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, and to the contributors to this production.
Finally, it is made known to the Christian plenitude of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia that St. Andrew’s Theological College in Sydney, on the occasion of the anniversary of 1700 years since the convening of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea (325 – 2025), in conjunction with the New South Wales Ecumenical Council of Churches, is organising a international Academic Conference with the title: “Nicaea at 1700: A Council for the ages?”. The conference which will be held on the 22nd and 23rd of August 2025, in Sydney, is gladly placed under the auspices of the Holy Eparchial Synod. The celebrations for this historic anniversary of the Church will culminate on Sunday, 24 August, with a Synodal Divine Liturgy, presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia.
From the Chief Secretariat of the Holy Eparchial Synod.
