Archbishop Makarios of Australia condemns Last Supper mockery at Paris Olympics opening

·

Archbishop Makarios of Australia has condemned a scene that mocked Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper during the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony.

Da Vinci’s painting shows the moment when Jesus Christ declared that an apostle would betray him.

The scene displayed on Friday, July 27 at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony featured DJ and producer Barbara Butch – an LGBTQ+ icon – surrounded by drag artists and performers.

It received global condemnation from religious communities worldwide, including Archbishop Makarios as a representative of Greek Orthodox faithful in Australia.

In a statement, Archbishop Makarios said the Paris Olympics opening ceremony “featured scenes of irreverence that were offensive to Christianity and the Church.”

“Everyone has the right to be an atheist, but no one has the right to mock or ridicule my faith, especially the truth of the Gospel for which blood has been shed,” Archbishop Makarios said.

“You have the freedom to live as you choose; you have the right to be homosexual, but you do not have the right to impose your way of life on our society.”

last supper
Archbishop Makarios of Australia has condemned a scene that mocked Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper during the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony.

The Archbishop added that whilst people should be proud of their achievements, hard work, education, success, history and culture, they should not take pride in their sexuality.

“What you do in your sexual life is not a reason for pride,” he said.

“We are tired of this. The dignity of the human person is being mocked. Reality is being distorted. Our (sense of /or: ability to) reason is being challenged.

“We pray that God will enlighten those who seek to undermine the value of faith, and we assert that it is unacceptable for such ideologies to be promoted in institutions as prestigious as the Olympic Games.”

The global criticism has forced the opening ceremony’s artistic director Thomas Jolly to apologise for the scene. He denied taking inspiration from the Last Supper, saying his idea was to do “a big pagan party linked to the gods of Olympus.”

“My wish isn’t to be subversive, nor to mock or to shock… I wanted to send a message of love, a message of inclusion and not at all to divide,” Mr Jolly said.

greek film festival sydney new

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Back to Greece: Four journeys, one shared return

As the Back to Greece series closes, what remains is more than a collection of travel diaries - it’s a mosaic of memory and identity.

Mytilenian Brotherhood of Sydney to hold memorial marking 113 years since Lesvos’ liberation

The Mytilenian Brotherhood of Sydney will honour the 113th anniversary of the Liberation of Lesvos with a series of commemorative events.

Film Review: ‘Athens Midnight Radio’ is Haralambidis’ nocturnal love letter to Athens

The 30th Greek Film Festival opened last week and featured a screening of Renos Haralambidis’ Athens Midnight Radio (2024).

Elena Pappas honoured with the 2025 Stephen Myall Award

At the Law Institute of Victoria’s annual awards ceremony in October 2025, Elena Pappas was recognised with the Stephen Myall Award.

‘Fertility and Filoxenia’: Empowering conversations on fertility and IVF options

The Hellenic Medical Society of Australia and Greek Community of Melbourne invite everyone to attend a free educational event on fertility.

You May Also Like

GCM announces inaugural summer cultural camp in Northern Greece for young Greek Australians

The Greek Community of Melbourne have announced a summer camp program for young adults from Australia in Thessaloniki this year.

George Fountas: Renowned actor from Greece’s Golden Age of cinema

On this day in 1924, Greek actor George Fountas was born. This is Fountas' reign during the golden age of Greece’s film industry.

King’s Birthday 2024 Honours List: Greek Australian achievements celebrated

At least seven Australians of Greek heritage have been recognised today in the King’s Birthday 2024 Honours List.