On Friday, 22 March, the new Ambassador of Greece to Australia, Mr. Stavros Venizelos, visited the headquarters of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia in Sydney. Mr. Venizelos was accompanied by his wife, Ms. Larisa Tikaidi, and by the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Mr. Yannis Mallikourtis.
Upon their arrival at the Holy Archdiocese, they were warmly welcomed by Their Graces, Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis, Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia and Bishop Bartholomew of Charioupolis, and by the Chancellor of the Holy Archdiocese, Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne Christophoros Krikelis. Before their meeting with His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, the Ambassador and his entourage were guided through the Cathedral of the Annunciation of Our Lady, where they lit a candle, reverently venerated the holy icons and were informed about the history of the preserved Church building.
They then made their way to the Archbishop’s Office, where they were warmly welcomed by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia. His Eminence congratulated Mr. Venizelos for the undertaking of his new duties at the Greek Embassy in Canberra and wished him a blessed and productive tenure, for the benefit of Hellenism on the fifth continent.
During the constructive discussion that followed, views were exchanged on the issues of major importance for the Greek Community, while the Archbishop informed the Greek diplomat about the work carried out by the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, as well as about this year’s 100th anniversary of the Holy Archdiocese’s foundation and for the upcoming Apostolic Visit of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
Both His Eminence Archbishop Makarios and Ambassador Venizelos, at the end of the meeting, reaffirmed their willingness to continue the cordial cooperation between the Greek State and the Orthodox Church, in a spirit of unity and support.
