A farewell dinner in honour of the outgoing Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Mr. Ioannis Mallikourtis, was held on Monday, 28 April 2025, by the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, in the Great Hall of Saint Andrew’s Theological College.
In addition to the host, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, Mr. Mallikourtis, who attended the dinner with his wife, Ms. Christiana Stavrou, was honoured with the presence of Their Graces, Bishop Bartholomew of Brisbane, Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis and Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia, Chief Secretary of the Holy Eparchial Synod, the Chancellor, Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne, Christophoros Krikelis, clergy of the city of Sydney, the Vice-President of the Archdiocesan Council and Archon of the Great Church of Christ Mr. Theo Penklis, the General Secretary of the Archdiocesan Council and Archon of the Great Church of Christ. Mr. Nick Pappas, representatives of Parishes-Communities and Organisations of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, and others.
The atmosphere of the evening was characterised by intense emotional charge, as the outgoing Consul General, in his almost three years of diplomatic service in Sydney, managed to win the love and appreciation of those who associated and collaborated with him. The emotion culminated when the Archbishop of Australia awarded Mr. Mallikourtis the Medal of the Order of the Christ-Loving, which constitutes the highest honorary distinction of the Holy Archdiocese.
His Eminence, warmly addressing the Greek diplomat, praised his ethics, kindness, high sense of duty and hard work. He thanked Mr. Mallikourtis for the excellent cooperation of the Consulate General with the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, but also for his unceasing personal presence at all the important events of the local Church, a sign of the inherent piety that distinguishes him and of his dedication to the ideals and traditions of our Nation. He also mentioned his late father, Ambassador Stylianos Mallikourtis, who had served successfully in Constantinople and had collaborated in an exemplary manner with the holy Centre of Orthodoxy. In conclusion, the Archbishop extended heartfelt paternal wishes to the outgoing Consul General for his future diplomatic career, while assuring him that he will forever remain a beloved member of the great Greek Orthodox family of the fifth continent.
Mr. Mallikourtis responded with equally warm words, first of all thanking His Eminence for the kind and fruitful cooperation they developed during his tenure in Sydney. Furthermore, he expressed his admiration for the personality, the dynamic pastoral care and the multidimensional work of Archbishop Makarios, stating his conviction that the realisation of his noble visions will mark an auspicious future for Orthodoxy and Hellenism in Australia.
