His Grace Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne has welcomed Georgia Dimopoulou, the newly appointed Director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation in Australia, to the offices of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Melbourne, accompanied by Greece’s Consul General in Melbourne, Dimitra Georgantzoglou.
Opening the meeting, Bishop Kyriakos conveyed “the greetings, paternal blessings, and warm wishes of Archbishop Makarios of Australia,” expressing satisfaction at the strengthening ties between the Church, Melbourne’s Greek community, and officials of the Hellenic Republic.
He emphasised that the Diocese remains committed to cooperation that supports the spiritual growth and cultural identity of the faithful.
Discussions covered the spiritual and cultural links between Greece and Melbourne’s Greek Orthodox community, the Church’s role in preserving language, traditions, and faith, and the importance of collaboration with Greek governmental and community institutions.
For her part, Dimopoulou presented the GNTO’s plans to expand Greece’s presence in the region, pointing to new opportunities in cultural and religious tourism, including pilgrimages to monasteries, heritage sites, and locations of significant Orthodox tradition.
Consul General Georgantzioglou reaffirmed the Consulate’s commitment to supporting Melbourne’s Greek population and encouraging cultural initiatives in a city often described as the “second capital” of the Greek world.
Source: Orthodox Times
