On Thursday, 22 February 2024, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia received His Excellency Mr. Georges Papacostas, Ambassador of Greece in Canberra, at the headquarters of the Holy Archdiocese in Sydney.
The Ambassador was accompanied by the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Mr. Yannis Mallikourtis, by the Permanent Military Attache of the Greek Embassy, Colonel Mr. Ioannis Fasianos, as well as by his wife, Ms. Gohar Badalyan. His meeting with the Archbishop of Australia was also attended by Their Graces, Bishop Elpidios of Kyanea and Bishop Bartholomew of Charioupolis, Archiepiscopal Vicars of Perth and Canberra respectively.
The meeting had a bidding farewell character, as after four years at the Embassy of Canberra, Mr. Papacostas will soon be leaving Australia.
In recognition of the valuable services he offered to the Greek Community, as well as the kind cooperation he developed with the Orthodox Church in Australia, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia honoured the Greek diplomat, awarding him the Grand Cross of the Order of Christ-Loving with a Star.
After the awarding, the Archbishop sincerely wished the outgoing Ambassador good health and strength for the successful exercise of the new duties, which will be assigned to him by the Greek State. He concluded with the request that he never forget the Greeks of the fifth continent, as well as with the assurance that the embrace of all the Greeks, as well as of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, will always be there for him.
Mr. Papacostas duly responded, wishing His Eminence health and a length of days, to continue his God-pleasing pastorate for the benefit of the Orthodox Church and Hellenism in the Antipodes.
