His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew made a historic visit to the Greek Consulate in Melbourne, following a Divine Liturgy hosted at Margaret Court Arena and a youth parade celebrating the centenary of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.
Accompanied by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, the Ecumenical Patriarch received a warm welcome from Greece’s Ambassador to Australia, Stavros Venizelos, Consul General of Greece in Melbourne Emmanuel Kakavelakis, Adelaide’s Consul General Alexandra Theodoropoulou, and other staff members at the Melbourne Consulate.
Later, the Patriarch blessed a dinner hosted in his honour by Bishop Silouan of Adelaide.
The Patriarch reflected on the historical struggles for unity within the Church in Adelaide. He recognised the efforts of both the government and the Church, emphasising the ongoing work of Archbishop Makarios and Bishop Silouan to restore harmony.
“It is well known that Archbishop Makarios has a special love and sensitivity for the former Archdiocesan District, now Diocese of Adelaide. We fully share these sentiments, as Adelaide has suffered from divisions and schisms within the Church since the establishment of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia,” His All-Holiness stated.
“The Ecumenical Patriarchate recognises the dedication of Archbishop Makarios and Bishop Silouan, who have initiated a dialogue of love, unity, and reconciliation with the community. We express our gratitude for this blessed initiative and offer our prayers for its success.”
Concluding with prayers, the Patriarch extended a heartfelt invitation to those who have distanced themselves from the Church to return and embrace a spirit of mutual understanding and unity.
