On Saturday, 14 December 2024, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, who is currently undertaking a pastoral visit in Melbourne, and more specifically, to the Holy Diocese of Chora, paid a special visit to elderly Greeks at the Saint Basil’s Aged Care Home, in the suburb of Fawkner. His Eminence participated for the first time in a Christmas celebration at the Aged Care Facility and had the opportunity to speak with the residents and staff, and to wish them well for the upcoming Holy Twelve Days of Christmas.
During the visit, the Archbishop was accompanied by the local Bishop of Chora and President of the Board of Directors of “Saint Basil’s Aged Care Homes”, His Grace Bishop Evmenios, His Eminence Metropolitan Prodromos of Rethymno and Avlopotamos and Archimandrite Vasilios Papadakis, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Saint Anastasia of Rome in Rethymno, and Archimandrite Theologos Papalevyzakis, Spiritual Councillor of the Holy Patriarchal and Stavropegic Monastery of Arkadi.
Also present were His Eminence Metropolitan Myron of New Zealand, His Grace Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne, and Mr. Ioannis Chrysoulakis, former Secretary General of Hellenism Abroad and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece.
During the event, which included a festive meal, music, and dancing, the Archbishop of Australia and the Metropolitan of Rethymno extended warm greetings with moving speeches to the elderly residents of “Saint Basil’s”, while His Eminence Metropolitan Prodromos, in particular, praised the work being done at the Aged Care Facility, congratulated its administration and staff, and offered His Grace Bishop Evmenios of Chora, a commemorative plaque with the depiction of the Four Holy New Martyrs of Rethymno, Manuel, Angelos, George, and Nicholas.
