A new statue, designed to evoke memories of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s historic visit to Australia, has been unveiled at the Holy Monastery of Panagia “Axion Esti” in Northcote, Melbourne.
The Ecumenical Patriarch’s presence will now be permanently celebrated within the heart of the Holy Diocese of Chora.
During the unveiling ceremony on Tuesday, October 15, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia articulated the vision behind the statue. He expressed the desire for a lasting reference point to commemorate His All-Holiness’ historic visit, emphasising that it would serve as a symbol for both current and future generations.
“We wish to remind everyone that the Patriarch of the Nation visited our land and blessed the people of our Archdiocese,” the Archbishop said.
The statue depicts the Ecumenical Patriarch seated with his hands resting gently on his knees, holding a book inscribed in Greek and English with the words “The Constitution of the Church.”
As the statue was unveiled, a board displaying construction plans for the Greek Cultural Precinct at the Holy Monastery of Axion Estin in Northcote was positioned in the background. Back in 2022, the Labor Party committed $10 million to the construction of the precinct.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by the host, His Grace Bishop Evmenios of Chora, along with Metropolitan Kyrillos of Imbros and Tenedos; Metropolitan Philotheos of Thessaloniki; members of the Patriarchal entourage; Metropolitans Ezekiel of Dervis and Seraphim of Sebastia, Bishops of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia; the Ambassador of Greece to Australia, Stavros Venizelos; the High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus in Australia, Antonis Sammoutis; the Consuls General of Greece in Melbourne, Emmanuel Kakavelakis, and in Adelaide, Alexandra Theodoropoulou; and Greek Australian Federal Member of Parliament, Maria Vamvakinou.
Source: Orthodox Times.
