Update: The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia has announced that the Parish-Community will elect a new Administrative Committee, following the apology and resignation of all the members of the outgoing, contravening Administrative Committee.
The Greek Orthodox Parish of Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene will be open for Sunday service following the recent resolution of internal committee disruptions.
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia announced on Wednesday that the Church would be closed to parishioners until the the president and Committee members of the Parish-Community of Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene stepped down.
Announced via the Church’s Facebook page, it’s stated that His Eminence Archbishop Makarios “intervened and solved” the issue that “plagued our parish”.
“We feel grateful that a few days after His Resurrection, we are being counted worthy to experience the joy of our own resurrection, free from the shackles that have gripped us for eight whole years,” the Parish said in the Facebook post.
It was later confirmed that the Parish will be open this Sunday for service, with newly introduced COVID-19 restrictions in place.
READ MORE: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia shuts doors of Liverpool Greek church
“Please be aware that COVID rules do apply and that masks must be worn whilst in church,” the Church stated.
A later statement released by the Archdiocese said members of the outgoing Administrative Committee held a meeting with His Eminence Archbishop Makarios on Thursday afternoon, 6 May.
“The declared intention of everyone for cooperation and unity is expected to be solemnly sealed next Sunday, 16 May, when His Eminence will go to the Holy Parish of Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene and will officiate in the presence of all the members of the Parish-Community,” the statement reads.
See the full statement from the Archdiocese below:
The Holy Archdiocese of Australia is in the pleasant position to announce that from today, the Holy Parish of Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene in Liverpool, Sydney, is open for the faithful as the chronic issues that have divided the Parish-Community for the last eight years have been resolved.
After the intervention of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia and his efforts to bring about the reconciliation between the Administrative Committee and the Trustee Committee, the divisive climate within the Parish-Community is now a thing of the past. A new page has been turned with the scheduling of the prescribed procedures for the convening of the General Meeting and the election of a new Administrative Committee, following the apology and resignation of all the members of the outgoing, contravening Administrative Committee.
The beginning of this new journey, which is now being etched in a harmonious spirit of peace and unity by the Parish-Community of Liverpool, was the meeting of the members of the outgoing Administrative Committee with His Eminence Archbishop Makarios on Thursday afternoon, 6 May. The meeting took place in the central offices of the Holy Archdiocese, in Redfern, in an atmosphere of concern and cooperation. The declared intention of everyone for cooperation and unity is expected to be solemnly sealed next Sunday, 16 May, when His Eminence will go to the Holy Parish of Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene and will officiate in the presence of all the members of the Parish-Community.
Given this, another chronic wound that has beleaguered the body of the Greek community in Australia has been healed. His Eminence Archbishop Makarios continues to work diligently to achieve this sacred purpose in every wounded member in the body of the local Greek community.
