On the morning of Monday, October 14, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew had a warm and cordial meeting with the Premier of Victoria, Jacinta Allan, in Melbourne.
The Premier was accompanied by a number of Greek members of state parliament including Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Steve Dimopoulos MP; Member for Northcote, Kat Theophanous MP; Member for Bentleigh, Nick Staikos MP; and Member for the South Eastern Metropolitan Region, Lee Tarlamis MP.
His All-Holiness was joined by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, Metropolitan Philotheos of Thessaloniki, and Grand Ecclesiarch Aetios, Director of the Private Patriarchal Office.
During the discussions, Premier Allan conveyed her appreciation for the Ecumenical Patriarch’s presence in Melbourne and reiterated her commitment to supporting the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia (GOAA) and its community.
The Ecumenical Patriarch expressed his gratitude for her interest and backing of the GOAA, recognising the importance of the state’s continued support for the local Orthodox community.
The visit further strengthened the ties between the Greek Orthodox Church and the state, reflecting the mutual respect and cooperation between religious and governmental institutions.
