Announcement on the completion of the work of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia

ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE

Holy Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese of Australia

Sydney, 24^th October 2024

ANNOUNCEMENT

The proceedings of Holy Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese of Australia, which convened in Sydney from the 22^nd to the 24^th of October 2024, were completed under the presidency of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia. During this session, His Eminence conveyed the warm wishes and blessings of His All-Holiness, our Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, to the God-loving Bishops and informed them about current issues and initiatives of the local Church. Subsequently, all items on the Agenda were discussed, and the following announcements are made:

1. A committee has been established for the translation of the Constitution into English, under the supervision of His Grace Bishop Silouan of Adelaide, and with the participation of Their Graces Bishop Elpidios of Perth, Bishop Evmenios of Chora, Bishop Bartholomew of Brisbane, the Undersecretary of the Eparchial Synod, Archdeacon Athinagoras Karakonstantakis, and the distinguished Mr Philip Kariatlis, Sub-Dean of St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College. The English text will be subject to synodical consultation and will subsequently be submitted to the Ecumenical Patriarchate for final approval.
   
   
2. The following Synodal Committees have been established: a) On Inter-Orthodox, Inter-Christian, and Interfaith Relations, b) On Legal and Canonical Issues and the relationship between Church and State, c) On Theological and Greek education and the Orthodox cultural heritage, d) On Christian marriage and the family, e) On Youth, f) On charitable and philanthropic institutions, g) On divine worship and ecclesiastical music, h) On external missionary work, i) On pastoral and catechetical work, j) On the utilisation of Church property, k) On church construction and Christian art, l) On bioethics and contemporary social issues, m) On publications and translations, n) On protocol and event management, o) On the preparation of the ecclesiastical calendar. The Presidents and Members of the committees will be assigned following the appointment of the Bishop to the Holy Diocese of Canberra.
   
   
3. The local Episcopal Courts have been established, with the following members appointed:
   1. For the Archiepiscopal District of Sydney: President: The Chancellor. Members: Very Reverend Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne Eusebios Pantanassiotis, and Reverend Presbyter Timothy Klinstaris. Alternate Members: Very Reverend Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne Amphilohios Papantoniou, and Very Reverend Protopresbyter Stavros Ivanos.
   2. For the Holy Diocese of Canberra: President: The Chancellor of the Archdiocese. Members: Very Reverend Protopresbyter Petros Kipouros, and Reverend Dimitrios Katsis. Alternate Members: Reverend Presbyter Agathangelos Masteas, and Reverend Presbyter Kyriakos Theologou.
   3. For the Holy Diocese of Melbourne: President: His Grace Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne. Members: Very Reverend Protopresbyter Elias Kentrotis and Very Reverend Protopresbyter Dimitrios Catrinei. Alternate Members: Very Reverend Protopresbyter Chris Dimolianis, and Reverend Presbyter George Adamakis.
   4. For the Holy Diocese of Perth: President: His Grace Bishop Elpidios of Perth. Members: Very Reverend Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne Emmanuel Stamatiou, and Reverend Presbyter John Athanasiou. Alternate Members: Reverend Presbyter Evangelos Battalis, and Reverend Presbyter Eleftherios Gerovasilis.
   5. For the Holy Diocese of Adelaide: President: His Grace Bishop Silouan of Adelaide. Members: Very Reverend Protopresbyter Nicholas Pavlou, and Reverend Presbyter Panayiotis Photakis. Alternate Members: Reverend Presbyter Panayiotis Kouvoussis, and Reverend John Saredakis.
   6. For the Holy Diocese of Brisbane: President: His Grace Bishop Bartholomew of Brisbane. Members: Very Reverend Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne Dimitri Tsakas, and Reverend Presbyter Nicholas Brown. Alternate Members: Reverend Presbyter Stavros Karvelas, and Reverend Presbyter Athanasios Athanasiadis.
   7. For the Holy Diocese of Chora: President: His Grace Bishop Evmenios of Chora. Members: Very Reverend Archimandrite Ierotheos Kourtesis, and Reverend Presbyter Haralambos Vezos. Alternate Members: Very Reverend Protopresbyter Jordan Krikelis, and Reverend Presbyter Demos Nicolaou.
      
      
4. After a thorough discussion regarding the presence of lay preachers in the Holy Churches of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, it was unanimously decided that henceforth the canonical order of the Church be observed, meaning that preaching should be done only by clergy. In cases where there are special reasons, our lay brothers may preach in the Church during the Divine Liturgy or other Services only if they have written permission from the Holy Eparchial Synod.
   
   
5. Finally, gratitude and appreciation are expressed once again both from His Eminence our Archbishop and the God-loving Bishops under him to His All-Holiness, our Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, for his honourable presence in the Fifth Continent on the occasion of the centenary of the establishment of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia. We all cherish the fond memories of the blessed presence of His All-Holiness in Australia and pray that our Patriarch may have many more years to continue his esteemed Patriarchal ministry to the glory of God. For the love and overwhelming participation of our people in the worship and other events, the Holy Eparchial Synod will issue a Synodal Encyclical, which will express the gratitude of the Local Church and will be read on the forthcoming Sunday, October 27, 2024.

From the Chief Secretariat of the Holy Eparchial Synod.