Today, Thursday, 21 August, the proceedings of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese of Australia commenced, convened in extraordinary session under the presidency of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia.
Following the opening prayer, the Minutes of the previous session were approved, and thereafter, the Holy Synod proceeded to examine the matters included in the Agenda.
The Holy Eparchial Synod, with joy and satisfaction, announces to the faithful plenitude across the Fifth Continent the favourable outcome of the trial endured by our Local Church regarding the deprivation of the icon of Saint Andrew the Apostle from its rightful custodians, the Holy Archdiocese of Australia and the Consolidated Trust.
Unfortunately, it was necessary to resort, initially, to the Australian civil justice system and subsequently to the Greek criminal justice system in order to reclaim the icon. Both judicial authorities ruled in favour of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, confirming its rightful ownership of the icon and obligating the unlawful claimant to return this sacred relic to its lawful custodian. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the legal counsel of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, Mr. Stylianos Katselis, for his responsible, coordinated, and successful handling of the entire case.
It is a blessing for all of us to witness the repatriation of the icon of the First-Called Apostle Andrew, and we glorify the Triune God for this great success of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, which coincides with the ongoing sessions of the Holy Eparchial Synod and the hosting of the Fifth Theological Symposium of St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College, held on the occasion of the 1700th anniversary of the convening of the First Ecumenical Council.
The icon of Saint Andrew will be placed for veneration on Sunday, 24 August, at the Cathedral of the Annunciation of Our Lady, during the Synodal Divine Liturgy, which will conclude the series of events organised by the Holy Archdiocese of Australia and St Andrew’s Theological College on the occasion of the 1700th anniversary of the convening of the First Ecumenical Council.”
Sydney, 21 August 2025
From the Chief Secretariat of the Holy Eparchial Synod
