By Ilias Karagiannis and Andriana Simos
With great anticipation and enthusiasm, hundreds of members of the Greek community in Australia welcomed His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on Friday, October 4 upon his arrival in Sydney.
This is his second visit to Australia, following his first visit in 1996. The Ecumenical Patriarch will participate in a series of celebratory events marking the centenary of the establishment of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.
Despite a delayed flight, Patriarch Bartholomew arrived in Sydney in good spirits and with a smile. He was warmly welcomed by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, Federal Assistant Minister for Immigration Matt Thistlethwaite, and Sophie Cotsis, NSW Minister for Industrial Relations and Work Health.
The three speakers, addressing the audience before the Ecumenical Patriarch, highlighted the significance of his visit and the contribution of the Greek Orthodox Church to the development and prosperity of Australia’s multicultural society.
Archbishop Makarios, in a particularly warm address, introduced His All-Holiness, saying: “Welcome to beautiful Australia, the land of contrasts and compositions. To a place justly characterised as a mosaic of cultures, languages, and beliefs. Welcome to the fifth continent, of which the Greek Orthodox faith and tradition form an integral part, flourishing and bearing spiritual fruits, which I am sure you will have the opportunity to enjoy during your apostolic visit. Welcome to Australia, welcome home.”
Following this, Mr Thistlethwaite, representing the Australian government, took the floor: “It is a great honour to welcome you on behalf of the Australian government, and I want to thank you for making this long journey to participate in the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.”
“Your presence here symbolises the deep bonds between the citizens of Australia and Greece. Our nations fought together in world wars. Greek migrants have been coming to Australia for over a century, significantly contributing to the economic and social development of our country. Simply put, Australia would not be the great nation it is today without the contribution of the Greeks. Thank you as the spiritual leader of the Greek Orthodox Church, and rest assured that faith in Australia is strengthened through the leadership of Archbishop Makarios,” Mr Thistlethwaite added.
Ms Cotsis, representing the NSW Premier Chris Minns, stressed the historical significance of the Patriarch’s visit: “It is a great honour and privilege to welcome His All-Holiness, especially in the year marking the centenary of the Archdiocese’s foundation. His first visit to New South Wales was pivotal, especially for the migrants who came to the country in the 1960s and 1970s.”
“It is a privilege for us to welcome His All-Holiness. There is great anticipation, especially among students and young people, for your presence,” she added.
Upon his arrival, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew expressed his gratitude to God for the opportunity to visit Australia for a second time, saying: “I am happy and grateful to Almighty God, who has once again guided my steps to this distant, yet very beautiful and hospitable country.”
“From our Ecumenical Patriarchate in Phanar, I bring love, blessings, affection, and encouragement for the century of our Church here on the fifth continent. I bless young and old with all my heart, on behalf of the Mother Church, which has very large arms that embrace everyone, all nations, and all peoples, as long as they believe in Christ the Saviour and accept the Orthodox doctrine. But even those who are not of the Orthodox family are embraced with affection, love, and solidarity. I hope we will spend these 15 days with unity, joy, enthusiasm, and love. Glory to God,” the Patriarch concluded, emphasising that this patriarchal visit is not only religious but also conveys a strong social message of unity, solidarity, and mutual understanding among people of all origins and faiths.
Warm reception from the faithful
Following the press conference, the Ecumenical Patriarch met with a crowd of faithful outside the reception area, where they eagerly awaited to receive his blessing. The Patriarch was welcomed by priests, forming a “guard of honour” before he proceeded to bless the gathered faithful.
Also present was the Greek Deputy Minister of Culture, Iason Fotilas; the Ambassador of Greece to Australia, Stavros Venizelos; the High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus in Australia, Antonis Sammoutis; and the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis.
Despite his efforts to reach as many as possible, many attendees were unable to greet him and receive his blessing after waiting for hours.
The Ecumenical Patriarch will remain in Australia for 15 days, during which he will visit various Greek Orthodox communities in Sydney and Melbourne, while presiding over numerous religious and cultural events. Among the highlights are the patriarchal service at the ICC Sydney Theatre and meetings with political and religious leaders of the country.
This historic visit is expected to further strengthen the ties between the Orthodox Church and the Greek community of Australia, marking a new era in their relations.
*All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.
