His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia welcomed a delegation from Panathinaikos Basketball Club to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese headquarters in Sydney on Saturday, September 20.
The group was led by Despina Giannakopoulou, widow of the late Panathinaikos owner and president Pavlos Giannakopoulos, and included current Club President Vasilios Parthenopoulos, General Director Stavros Dinos, and player Dinos Mitoglou.
They were received by His Grace Bishop Elpidios of Perth, Bishops-elect Athinagoras of Canberra and Christophoros of Kerasounta, and students from St Andrew’s Theological College before touring the Cathedral of the Annunciation and meeting Archbishop Makarios in a cordial atmosphere.
The Archbishop congratulated the club for staging the 7th International Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament in Australia, noting it offered “an additional opportunity to strengthen the bonds of the Greek diaspora with the motherland.”
Discussions also focused on the life of the Greek community in Australia and the work of the Orthodox Church. The Archbishop presented the delegation with commemorative centenary coins, while Panathinaikos gifted him a ring from the tournament.
