His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew made a special visit to St. Basil’s Aged Care Randwick to meet their residents and staff as part of his ‘once-in-a-generation’ visit celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in Australia (GOAA).
Well known for his decades of peace advocacy across the globe, and given the moniker “the Patriarch for Peace,” this recent visit to Australia was his second in history and came almost three decades after his last visit.
St. Basil’s Randwick NSW/ACT was honoured to have been specially selected by His All-Holiness as a featured event on his itinerary and to be recognised as one of the most important organisations of the GOAA and the largest Greek aged care provider in Sydney.
The visit also included a short liturgy at the Chapel of Saint Paisos and an official dinner attended by residents, staff, and prominent dignitaries, including His Eminence Archbishop Makarios, His Eminence Metropolitan Kyrillos, His Eminence Metropolitan Filotheos, the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis, and all Bishops of the GOAA.
To mark the significance of the occasion, a plaque was unveiled, and an olive tree was presented, symbolising the lasting impact of his visit on St. Basil’s and the broader community.
James Jordan, Chairman of St. Basil’s NSW/ACT, said, “We were honoured that His All-Holiness’ found time in his very busy schedule to visit the residents at St Basil’s, blessing them and us as an institution, with his paternal love. For many residents at St. Basil’s, the visit represented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet a revered spiritual figure.”
The selection of St. Basil’s Randwick in His All-Holiness’ Australian itinerary reflects St. Basil’s excellence in fostering a community of love and respect, and celebrates the enduring values that unite everyone involved in its mission.
St. Basil’s Randwick caters to a diverse range of needs in the aged care community, offering a full scope of services including day centres, independent living and full aged care experience. St. Basil’s Randwick is the only aged care provider offering 100% Greek services and promotes premium and quality care to all members of its community.
