His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia conducted a Pastoral Visit to Tasmania from 6th to 8th of July 2024, and was accompanied by Their Graces, Bishop Kyriakos of Sozopolis and Bishop Bartholomew of Charioupolis, as well as by clergy of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia. His Eminence was received at the Hobart domestic airport with feelings of joy and great emotion by the clergy who minister in Tasmania, the presidents of the Parishes and Communities, the members of the Church Committees and the Philoptochos Associations.
During his stay on the island state, His Eminence attended an event marking the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia. The event was held in the presence of representatives of the State Government and the pious Christian plenitude of the island.
The speech delivered by the Archbishop was quite moving, focusing on the centenary anniversary of the local Church and the upcoming visit of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Australia. In particular, His Eminence referred to the struggles of the initial clergymen and the efforts of the Archbishop’s predecessors to unite the Holy Archdiocese. In the same spirit, Mr. Emmanuel Dellas also spoke, who presented the historical course and history of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia on the fifth continent, as well as its contribution to the wider Australian society, while he focused in particular on the history of the Church in Tasmania.
On Sunday, 7 July 2024, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia performed the consecration of the Holy Trinity Church in the capital city of Hobart. On this joyful and historic occasion, he was joined by their Graces, Bishop Kyriakos of Sozopolis and Bishop Bartholomew of Charioupolis, while the church full of devout believers was attended by, among others, the Governor of the State of Tasmania, Her Excellency the Honourable Barbara Baker AC, the State Minister, Ms. Madeleine Ogilvie, as a representative of the Premier of Tasmania, the State Minister and Leader of the House The Honourable Eric Abetz, the Honorary Consul of Greece in Tasmania, Ms. Ekaterina Skalidis, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Hobart, Most Reverend Julian Porteous, and the Most Reverend Mr. Richard Humphrey, as representative of the Anglican Bishop of Tasmania, the Most Reverend Richard Condie.
During his homily, at the end of the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Makarios made a special mention of the pioneers of the Greek Orthodox Parish of the Holy Trinity and those who worked throughout time for its development and progress. “We turn our thoughts with deep gratitude,” he noted, “to all those who contributed to the establishment of this Parish, many of whom are no longer with us, but participate in this sacred sacrament, which transcends the dimensions of time and of space”.
Afterwards, His Eminence congratulated and thanked, the outgoing Parish Priest, Archimandrite Irinaios Koikas, for his dedicated and fruitful ministry in the Parish. His Eminence then presented to the congregation and officially welcomed his successor, Father Andrew Joannou, expressing the certainty that his pastoral care will bring forth many spiritual fruits for the people of the Parish.
Archbishop Makarios also warmly welcomed Father Vasilios Verdos, who had been ordained a Presbyter in the Holy Trinity Church and had served for a period of time as Parish Priest, while he now ministers in Greece, as well as welcoming the first Parish Priest of the Church Father Timothy Evangelinidis, who now serves in Brisbane. Finally, His Eminence thanked the invited chanters from Thessaly, Mr. Evangelos Gikas and Mr. Ioannis Triantafillopoulos, who illuminated the sacred chanting stand with their presence, both during the Vespers and during the consecration Service and following this, the first Divine Liturgy which took place upon the newly consecrated altar.
