Archbishop Makarios of Australia awarded Honorary Doctorate by University of Athens

·

His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia has been conferred an Honorary Doctorate by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), in recognition of his contribution to the Church, theology, and public discourse.

The honour was jointly awarded by the NKUA’s Department of Theology and the Department of Social Theology and Religious Studies.

The official ceremony took place on the evening of Wednesday, May 7, in the packed Great Hall of the University of Athens. Among those in attendance were His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, senior clergy, members of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia (GOAA), dignitaries, academics, and representatives from the Greek and Australian governments, including Australian Ambassador to Greece Alison Duncan.

archbishop makarios athens university

Rector Professor of Medicine Gerasimos Siassos welcomed Archbishop Makarios to the university, describing him as a figure who “embodies the combination of faith and knowledge, tradition and progress, humility and greatness.”

“We hope that the wisdom, virtue and dedication that characterise your journey will always constitute a shining example and a springboard of hope for the future of Orthodoxy and Hellenism,” he added.

Professor Emmanuel Karageorgoudis, Dean of the Theological School, praised the Archbishop’s ability to bridge theology with lived experience, saying: “In his person, academic Theology meets tangible liturgical mystagogy as the logical entity of science partakes of the apophatic language of experience.”

Following the presentation of official texts and the ceremonial investiture, Archbishop Makarios expressed gratitude for the distinction.

archbishop makarios athens university

“I accept [it] as a special distinction that reflects towards the Apostolic and Ecumenical Throne of Constantinople, to which I belong, towards the highly respected person of our Patriarch and towards the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, which with the grace and mercy of God I shepherd,” he said.

The Archbishop then delivered a keynote address titled “Vox Populi (Voice of the People) on the Internet: The contemporary threat of the corruption of ecclesiastical and democratic thought.”

archbishop makarios athens university

In his speech, His Eminence explored the challenges posed by digital discourse, particularly on the internet, arguing that the so-called “voice of the people” online can be misleading.

“We cannot accurately detect the ‘voice of the people’ on the internet, because there is more noise coming from the shouting minority than the truth that is not expressed by the silent majority,” he noted.

He encouraged engagement with the silent majority to combat online toxicity, misinformation, and hate speech: “The people tell us that evil rages when good people do nothing… The inaction of the silent majority is ultimately what allows the few on the internet to form an image of the Church and Democracy, which, however, is not true.”

A dinner was later held in the Archbishop’s honour at the Grande Bretagne Hotel in Athens.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

‘Better than a daughter’: Scarlett rewrites the Greek mother-in-law story

The trope of a bad Greek mother-in-law has been completely rewritten in the Richmond home of Scarlett Athanasia Bauwens and Niki Papageorgiou.

Hospital ICU transformed so yiayia Freda Razos could join granddaughter’s wedding day

When yiayia Freda Razos became too unwell to attend her granddaughter's wedding, her family brought the wedding to Epworth Richmond instead.

Mark Bouris reflects on identity, family and legacy at Fronditha Care event

Fronditha Care hosted its first fundraiser, “In Conversation”, with Mark Bouris, Executive Chairman of Yellow Brick Road Home Loans.

Pharos Alliance holds public meeting to discuss plan for Greek language education

On Wednesday, May 28, 30 people braved the cold and windy weather to meet with the Pharos committee and debate the challenges ahead. 

Bridging the gap: Advocating for better brain cancer care in regional NSW

On Tuesday, 27 May 2025, The Brain Cancer Group (TBCG) hosted its 8th Annual Awareness Event at the NSW Parliament House.

You May Also Like

Melbourne bayside suburb to commemorate Imbros and the ANZAC connection

Sunday, March 23 will witness the unveiling of a special plaque in Hampton in recognition of the role of Imbros in the Gallipoli campaign.

Top 7 tips on how to stay safe during a flash flood

Here’s some advice from two emergency professionals on what to do when you see flood waters coming right at you.

Tsitsipas and Sakkari exit Cincinnati Masters both defeated

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari have been defeated by opponents in the Western and Southern Open Cincinnati Masters tournament.