With feelings of spiritual joy, deep gratitude to the Mother Church and praise to the Triune God, two historic events for the Holy Archdiocese of Australia were celebrated on Meatfare Sunday, 10 March 2024: the completion of 100 years since its foundation (publication of the founding Tome on 7 March 1924) and the recent decisions of the Ecumenical Patriarchate regarding the approval, in principle, of its new Constitution.
The centre of the celebration took place at the Church of Archangel Michael, in the suburb of Crows Nest in Sydney, in which His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia liturgised. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a Doxology was conducted, the Archbishop’s Encyclical on the above-mentioned historical events was read, and the polychronion of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was chanted.
In his short address, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios referred on the one hand to the blessed anniversary of the first centenary of the Holy Archdiocese and on the other hand to the decisions beneficial for the future of the local Church, which were taken by the Holy and Sacred Synod, on the positive recommendation of the Ecumenical Patriarch, during the session of 28 February 2024. His Eminence pointed out, in fact, that “we owe everything to the Mother Church and to our Patriarch”.
Also, on the occasion of his visit to Church of Archangel Michael, the Archbishop honoured with the Order of the Christ-loving one of the outstanding persons who serve the Parish of Crows Nest with devotion. The reason for Mrs. Athena Politis’ awarding, who was nominated by the Parish Priest Father Timothy Klintsaris and the Parish Council, was in recognition of her love for the Church, her philanthropy and her self-sacrificing character. His Eminence, during the awarding of the medal, whole heartedly wished Mrs. Politis to have health and strength, and many more years to continue teaching the younger generations with her morals and testimony.
