On Sunday morning, 19 November 2023, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, liturgised at the Church of the Holy Trinity, in the capital city of Tasmania, Hobart. His Eminence officiated at the Matins and presided over the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, joined by His Grace Bishop Bartholomew of Charioupolis, Archiepiscopal Vicar of Canberra, and by the clergy of the two Greek Orthodox Parishes of Hobart, Father Irinaios Koikas and Father Dimitrios Katsis.
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, three distinguished members of the Greek Orthodox community of the island State who offering valuable contribution to the establishment and progress of the Parish of the Holy Trinity, were honoured by the Archbishop of Australia with the distinction of the Order of the Christ-loving. Specifically, this high distinction of the local Church was received by: Mrs. Aliki Pantazis, who was instrumental in the founding of the Parish, Mr. Michael Klonaris, who has volunteered as a chanter for a number of years, and Mr. Anastasios Giamaios, who tirelessly helps the Parish, with humility and obedience. These three persons also received the grateful thanks of their Shepherd, as well as paternal words of love and affection, accompanied by the wish that God will always bless their works.
On behalf of the Christ-loving people of Tasmania, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia was welcomed to the church by His Grace Bishop Bartholomew of Charioupolis, thanking him for his regular visits and for building a stable bridge connecting the headquarters of the Holy Archdiocese with the island State of Australia. Bishop Bartholomew also addressed the faithful who had flocked to the church of the Holy Trinity to meet and receive the blessing of their Shepherd and Archbishop. His Grace urged them to love the Archdiocese and the Archbishop, recalling a wise saying of Saint John Chrysostom, that the Church is our mother and the Bishop is our father.
Finally, His Grace thanked His Eminence Archbishop Makarios for announcing the good news about the honorary visit of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Tasmania, in 2024, while in closing he wished the Archbishop health and strength, to continue guiding the plenitude of the Orthodox Church in Australia towards Christ.
In response to this address, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia thanked His Grace Bishop Bartholomew, the reverend fathers and the pious faithful of Tasmania for their warm welcome and warm hospitality, as well as for their unwavering devotion to the Holy Archdiocese of Australia. He also spoke with emotion and much love for the people of Tasmania, assuring them that he always has them in his heart and prayers.
In closing, the Archbishop expressed his warm thanks to Mr. Steve Magdalopoulos, Director of the Greek Welfare Centre of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, who travelled to Hobart, accompanied by members of the Greek Orthodox Christian Society of Sydney, as well as by chanters who chanted the hymns of the Matins and the Divine Liturgy at Church of the Holy Trinity.
After the Dismissal of the Divine Liturgy, a fundraising lunch was held in the adjacent community hall, which was attended by, among others, State MPs Lara Alexander, Simon Behrakis and David O’Byrne. During the meal, His Eminence cut a cake prepared by members of the Parish in honour of the recent 30-year anniversary of his monastic tonsure and ordination to the diaconate.
