“With love and unity we move forward for the glory of Christ and our Nation, in order to deliver a better future to the new generations.” This unifying message of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia was the seal of the magnificent anniversary event, entitled: “In honour and memory – 100 years of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia”, which was hosted in the Centennial Hall of the Sydney Town Hall, on Friday evening, 22 March 2024.
The majestic Town Hall was packed with spectators, who enjoyed a wonderful musical concert conducted by the composer Mr. Leon Vitogiannis. This special evening was attended, among others, by Their Graces, Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis, Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia and Bishop Bartholomew of Charioupolis, the Ambassador of Greece to Australia, His Excellency Mr. Stavros Venizelos and the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Mr. Yannis Mallikourtis, both joined by their wives, as well as the Greek-Australian Member of Parliament and shadow Minister for Finance and Sport in New South Wales, Mrs. Eleni Petinos.
After the completion of the musical program, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia delivered a short speech, referring to the history of the founding of the Holy Archdiocese and highlighting the catalytic role played by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the glorious course of Orthodoxy on the fifth continent. His Eminence also pointed out that the Mother Church has never ceased in its concern and taking care of her flock in Australia, a fact that is amply confirmed by the recent beneficial decisions of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate regarding the new Constitution of the Holy Archdiocese.
Due to these decisions, which were made after a positive proposal by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, “we are now sure”, noted His Eminence, “that the future we are preparing for our children will be free from the divisions and dissensions of the past and, above all, will be free from ecclesiastical schisms and separations.”.
Also, Archbishop Makarios gratefully remembered all his predecessor Hierarchs, as well as the clergy and laity who worked sacrificially in the previous hundred years for the divine progress of Hellenism on the fifth continent. Afterwards, His Eminence congratulated the contributors of the anniversary event, firstly the music composer Mr. Leon Vitogiannis, while he thanked all those present and the participants in the joy of the local Church.
Addressing, in particular, the newly appointed Ambassador of Greece, Mr. Venizelos, he spoke of a sensitive and Christ-loving person, and thanked him for the decision to effectively begin his service in Australia with his presence at the anniversary event of the Holy Archdiocese.
Concluding his speech, His Eminence addressed a unifying call to all, underlining that “unity and mutual love are the only resources we can rely on to move forward and be led to the light. Everything else: selfishness, separations, dislikes, hatreds and ambitions, lead to darkness and decay.”
