Greece will undertake a carefully planned mission to safely transport the Holy Light from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre via a government flight under strict restrictions imposed by Jerusalem police.
According to Deputy Foreign Minister Ioannis Loverdos, a detailed operational plan has been finalised, with Greece prepared to undertake this mission under the strict security measures put in place.
A flight will depart early on Holy Saturday morning for Tel Aviv before the Greek delegation will travel by road from the Ben Gurion Airport to Jerusalem.
The delegation will participate in the Holy Light ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre before the Patriarch of Jerusalem will officially hand over the Holy Light. The delegation will then retrace its route before departing for Greece in a government aircraft.
The Holy Light is expected to arrive at Athens International Airport at approximately 7:00pm on Holy Saturday where Greek airline SKY Express will transport the Holy Light from Athens to Alexandroupoli, Iraklio, Corfu, Hania, Mytilini, Rhodes and Santorini.
Adhering to this timeline is crucial for distributing the Holy Light nationwide through coordinated airline efforts. Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasised that the goal is to ensure the Holy Light reaches every parish nationwide in time for the Resurrection service.
The White House is reportedly considering ways to punish members of the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) alliance that US President Donald Trump believes were unhelpful in supporting the US and Israel during the Iran war.
The proposal would involve removing US troops from NATO countries deemed unhelpful and stationing them in countries that were more supportive. This proposal comes after Trump’s threat to fully withdraw the US from the alliance which by law he can’t do without Congress.
NATO members including Spain, Germany, Italy, and France, have clashed with Trump since his return to power and have recently angered him by criticising or refusing to support the Iran war. Whereas countries viewed as supportive such as Greece, Poland, Romania and Lithuania, could benefit from this proposal.
Senior European officials argue they were never consulted on the war which made it difficult to coordinate a military response in the initial days of the conflict.
The proposal is still in its early stages and is one of several ideas aimed at retaliating against NATO. The discussions highlight increasing tensions between the Trump administration and its European allies, especially after the president’s decision to initiate conflict with Iran.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “It’s quite sad that NATO turned their backs on the American people over the last six weeks when it’s the American people who have been funding their defence.”
There are approximately 84,000 US troops stationed across Europe which serve as an integral hub of global US military operations. It has yet to be confirmed which countries would have their troops removed.
A day after Israel’s deadliest attack on Lebanon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed in a call with US President Donald Trump to “low-key it” with Lebanon.
This comes after Netanyahu ordered his ministers to begin direct talks with Lebanon where they pushed for Hezbollah’s disarmament.
A statement released from Netanyahu’s office read, “In light of Lebanon’s repeated requests to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed the cabinet yesterday to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible.”
A Lebanese government official responded to Netanyahu’s announcement saying that Beirut “wants a ceasefire” to be declared before any negotiations start with Israel.
Meanwhile, a latest message from Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei said “Iran is not seeking war but will not forfeit its rights and considers all resistance fronts as a unified entity.”
He added, “We will certainly demand compensation for each and every damage inflicted, and the blood price of the martyrs and the compensation for the wounded of this war.”
Sydney Olympic FC has confirmed a change of venue for its upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM), with the meeting now set to take place at St George Leagues Club on Tuesday, 21 April at 6pm.
In a notice to members, the club said the venue had been upgraded to accommodate increased attendance, citing record membership sales this season.
The latest update follows the club’s earlier decision to postpone the AGM from its original date of 24 March to 21 April, allowing additional time for the completion and review of externally audited financial statements, as well as other governance-related matters.
The AGM comes at a time of heightened interest among members, with ongoing discussions around the club’s governance, financial position and future direction.
In recent weeks, sections of the membership have called for greater transparency and reform, including the establishment of a member-authorised Steering Committee tasked with seeking further information and exploring governance changes.
The club’s board has also issued an open letter urging unity and defending its approach, stating it remains focused on stability, financial sustainability and long-term reform.
With strong member engagement expected, the move to a larger venue reflects both growing participation and the significance of the upcoming AGM for the club’s future.
In my observance of Easter this year, I must admit that I’m finding it challenging not to be overwhelmed by cynicism. This originates from fear, confusion and an accelerating distrust of governing institutions – institutions which many of us once considered almost foolproof. We relied on them (with our votes and taxes) to provide stability and safety, believing that our comfortable lives were ‘untouchable’ or unchangeable within our “Western civilisation”.
Now living in a world at war in the Middle East, there is a sense of anticipation and trepidation towards impending doom, including here in Greece, where I live.
My angst led me to reach out to an ‘expert’ to help enlighten me and others regarding keeping ‘the faith’ at Easter within these warring times. I was very fortunate to discover Professor George Kalantzis – Professor of Theology and an authority in early Christian studies, whose many areas of related expertise include “War and military service”. Also an author, his latest book is aptly titled: Caesar and the Lamb: Early Christian Attitudes on War and Military Service (second edition, 2025).
In response to my perhaps fervent questions and suppositions, Professor Kalantzis responded calmly and patiently. Questions such as: “How can our Christian Orthodox faith this Easter help us deal with a smothering sense of hopelessness in our materialistic, corrupt, individualistic, now warring Western societies?”
He replied: “War, economic uncertainty, threats, and death have been constants of the human experience – indeed of Greek history in particular,” stressing that the last couple of generations have incorporated an “innocent telling” of modern history.
I take this to mean that many of us are perhaps easily ‘shell-shocked’ (no pun intended) – easily forgetful of the harsh realities faced by our ancestors, to the point of even denouncing our faith when confronted with difficulty.
Professor Kalantzis reminds us: “For Christians, Easter reveals God’s presence with us – that God does not stand against us but is for us (John 3:16). Easter is the divine assurance of victory over death and violence, and therefore a foretaste of the promised renewal of all things. When Christians surrender to cynicism, we reveal how captive we have become to the illusion of unqualified optimism – believing that progress, achievement, or security will inevitably lead to happiness – and we betray the core of our faith, which is hope: the certainty that even in suffering God is with us, making all things new.”
Furthermore, and perhaps controversially so, Professor Kalantzis says: “Holy Week reminds us that the disciples also misunderstood Jesus. They sought a revolutionary who would free them from Roman oppression, a political leader who would place them at the centre of power, a sovereign who would secure their safety and prosperity. When Jesus was arrested, he failed to meet their expectations; when he was crucified, their dreams were crushed – and they abandoned him. The disciples’ optimism turned into fear and cynicism.”
“You [referring to me] note that, accustomed to our modern comfort zones, we fear being tortured, killed, or ridiculed if we sacrifice our lives for the Kingdom of God rather than the ‘kingdom’ or ‘democracy’ of our nation. Yet Lent reminds us that God has not promised us safety, but rather participation in an adventure that is God’s making all Creation new (Revelation 21:5). This is the proclamation of the Anastasis: God is making all things new, despite all evidence to the contrary,” he added.
In response to my ‘brainstorming’ as to whether the only thing left to bring about peace – short of a Jesus-like sacrifice when faced with direct threat – is peaceful protest, Professor Kalantzis explains: “Jesus did not call us to be passive but to be active peacemakers (eirēnopoioí, Matthew 5:9). If Christian non-violence becomes mere passivity, indifference, or is limited to occasional social media outrage, it loses its scriptural grounding and ignores Jesus’ call to active peacemaking.”
“This posture of peacemaking must be embodied publicly and socially, giving concrete form to the command to love the enemy. That is why Christians engage in non-violent resistance as a first step in peacemaking. Non-violent resistance names injustice, refuses to respond in kind, and absorbs violence to break its cycle and bring it to an end,” the Professor added.
We certainly seem to be absorbing violence at present. Yet who among us is willing to stand up and refuse to obey the government, refuse to join the military, to live and openly declare allegiance only to the Kingdom of God through Jesus, rather than to the Caesar-like governments of our time, as the early Christians did?
Professor Kalantzis addresses this by stating: “The Christian’s identification with Christ is the basis on which they are called to love their enemies and pray for their persecutors (Matthew 5:44). This love is neither innate nor easy. It contradicts our instinct for self-protection. Yet its difficulty does not render it impossible or merely ‘idealistic’. Holy Week teaches us what ‘love of enemy’ looks like in the person of Jesus, who ‘laid down his life for us’ (1 John 3:16)… rooted in the Resurrection and the recognition of God’s imminent presence revealed in Jesus.”
…A ‘tall order’, but essentially the only one that offers true peace, now and beyond.
CommBank Junior Matildas Head Coach Michael Cooper has named the 23-player squad set to compete in the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026™, running May 1-17, 2026 in Suzhou.
Cooper has selected a well-balanced squad, enabling the team to play its style of football and provide a variety of options across the games. Many of the selected players have gained valuable experience with the CommBank Junior Matildas and their clubs over the past twelve months, which will be key to the tournament and demonstrates exciting prospects for the future of Australian football.
Australia has been placed in Group B, alongside Japan (Pot 1), India (Pot 3) and Lebanon (Pot 4).
The AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026™ also serves as the qualification pathway for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026™, with the top four teams earning a place at the global event. Australia will be pushing to claim one of those coveted qualification spots and, in doing so, secure the CommBank Junior Matildas’ first-ever appearance.
CommBank Junior Matildas Head Coach Michael Cooper said the squad are excited to embrace the challenge of the upcoming tournament.
“This group represents a strong blend of players who have consistently demonstrated resilience, adaptability, and a real appetite to learn. The squad reflects the growth we’ve seen over time, not only in individual performances, but in how these players have embraced the demands of international football and responded to challenges together,” Cooper said.
“There’s a clear sense of purpose within the team heading into this tournament. The opportunity to compete at an AFC Asian Cup, alongside some of the strongest nations in the region, is significant and the squad are eager to prove themselves. The players understand what’s at stake and are committed to preparing thoroughly, competing with intent, and giving themselves every chance to be part of something special.
“Beyond the tournament itself, this experience is a valuable part of the players’ journey. Competing in an environment like this helps accelerate their development and prepares them for the demands of international football as they progress through the pathway toward senior representation.”
The parish of Saint Haralambos in Mount Gambier has now marked its first Palm Sunday and Paschal cycle, embedding the permanent liturgical presence for Orthodox faithful in the South Australian regional city.
Proceedings began on Saturday evening, April 4, with Vespers at 6pm, followed by a Bible study session, “Explore Orthodoxy,” at 7pm. The gathering provided both a liturgical introduction to the weekend and an opportunity for catechesis, reflection, and engagement with the foundations of Orthodox faith.
Proceedings continued Sunday, April 5, with the Palm Sunday Divine Liturgy commencing at 8am, marking the parish’s first observance of one of the most significant feasts of the liturgical calendar.
Presiding over the services was Father Armando, Parish Priest of St Andrew’s, Noarlunga, who delivered a sermon situating the moment within the broader historical and spiritual experience of the Greek diaspora.
“Out of longing for our homeland, and to maintain our connection with the country we left behind, we established, alongside communities and associations – churches as well,” Fr Armando said.
“All these beautiful things that Hellenism created became places where Greeks gather, where we commune in Christ, and where we come together and find our godparents, our cousins, our friends, our relatives, [and] everyone.”
From this historical foundation, Fr Armando cautioned against a subtle drift within diaspora communities.
“…[G]radually, there is a danger that we begin to adopt a more Protestant mentality and drift away from Orthodoxy, creating additional “Greek” structures rather than remaining rooted in the true life of the Church. The Church of Christ is not merely an institution. It is the house of God, in which all Orthodox Christians pray,” he said.
Turning to the newly established parish of St Haralambos, he acknowledged the strong local support and spiritual hunger evident among the faithful.
“Here, in [the parish of] St Haralambos, as we begin these first steps, I can see… there is great enthusiasm and eagerness for this church. There is a deep longing for Orthodoxy,” he said.
Fr Armando stressed that what must be established in Mount Gambier is an Orthodox spiritual centre under the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.
“Please, I urge you, do not fall into the illusion of creating yet another ‘club.’ … There is already a strong Greek community… and I can see there is great love and support for this work. I am certain there will be harmonious cooperation and progress for both the community and the Church,” he said.
Fr Armando concluded by articulating the theological core of Orthodox faith, particularly in the context of Holy Week.
“…God became incarnate, became human, suffered, was humbled, was crucified, and rose again. That is faith… It is not an ideology. It is not a philosophical system. It has nothing to do with human achievements or abstract theories. It is our unwavering faith in the one true God. And this is what we must live here, from the very beginning, and what we must dedicate ourselves to,” he said.
The weekend concluded with a communal Palm Sunday luncheon held at Metro Café on Commercial Street, where parishioners gathered in shared fellowship and Easter celebration.
Melbourne Victory’s Head Coach Arthur Diles has been named Coach of the Month in the Isuzu UTE A-League for March after receiving nominations from Football Coaches Australia (FCA).
Diles has taken out the fifth coaching honour of the Isuzu UTE A-League 2025-26 season.
During the March eligibility period, Rounds 20-22 of the Isuzu UTE A-League season, Diles led Victory to two wins and a draw. The team have kept themselves firmly in the race for a spot in the Finals Series.
Victory currently sit fourth on the Isuzu UTE A-League ladder and are five points behind second-placed Auckland FC and five points clear of Wellington Phoenix in seventh position.
In 2022–23, the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) teamed up with FCA to formally acknowledge exceptional coaching achievements in both the Isuzu UTE A-League and Ninja A-League.
The FCA assembled a seasoned panel responsible for selecting the monthly nominees and ultimately choosing the winners for Coach of the Month in each league.
Meanwhile, Diles and his team have maintained strong form, recording back-to-back 4–1 victories against Central Coast Mariners and Macarthur Bulls, and also securing an exciting 2–2 draw against rivals Sydney FC in the Big Blue clash.
Greek Cypriots were threatened on Wednesday by former Turkish defence minister and current Turkish parliamentary defence committee chairman Hulusi Akar that the coming Easter may be their last.
In a social media post, Akar wrote, “In the homeland of the Turkish Cypriots, those dreaming of Easter… This will be your last Easter.” The post was accompanied by a map of Cyprus with its northern third overlayed with the flag of the self-proclaimed ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ (TRNC).
The post is the latest Cyprus-related social media activity on Akar’s account. He had previously posted a gif image of the flags of Turkey and the ‘TRNC’, accompanied with the text, “rely on your common sense,” “the genie is out of the bottle,” and “the lesson given out by the Turkish soldiers will be harsh.”
Last week, Akar met Turkish Cypriot representative in Ankara Ismet Korukoglu and wrote that “Cyprus is not a Greek island” and that “the island is the homeland of the Turkish Cypriots, watered with the blood of martyrs.”
He added, “Today, two sovereign, equal states are inevitable. We are one, we are together, we are determined, we are resolute.”
In social media posts, he refers to the “Turkish Republic of Cyprus,” having declared in 2024 that “there is no Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, but a Turkish Republic of Cyprus.”
Last month, he visited Cyprus, meeting Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman, the occupied north’s ‘prime minister’ Unal Ustel, ‘parliament speaker’ Ziya Ozturkler, the chiefs of staff of the Turkish armed forces in Cyprus, and Turkey’s ambassador in Nicosia Ali Murat Basceri. He also visited Varosha.
Akar is a retired four-star general who previously served as chief of staff of the Turkish armed forces and as defence minister between 2018 and 2023.
In Sydney, Australia, Filippos Fortomas, New Democracy MP and Chair of the Special Permanent Committee of the Hellenic Parliament for the Greek Diaspora, recently celebrated the national anniversary of 25 March 1821 alongside the city’s Greek community.
Fortomas participated in an Interparty Parliamentary Delegation on an official visit from 24 to 30 March 2026, which included Maximos Charakopoulos, Secretary of the Parliamentary Group of New Democracy, Stavros Michailidis from PASOK, and Konstantinos Barkas from SYRIZA.
During the visit, Fortomas met with representatives of the Greek diaspora to discuss issues of concern, highlighting the importance of strengthening ties between Greece and Greeks abroad, particularly with the large and dynamic community in Australia.
He held a personal meeting with His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, emphasising the Church’s crucial role in preserving national identity, language, and cultural continuity among Greeks in Australia.
Fortomas also focused on Greek-language education, visiting All Saints Grammar School and the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW Schools, engaging with students, teachers, and administrators, and recognising the high educational standards of both institutions.
He engaged in discussions with Greek Australian media, organisations, and academics, gathering input to help shape modern and effective policies for Greeks abroad.
A key highlight was his participation in an event with Sydney’s business community, attended by over 100 representatives, where opportunities to further develop economic, trade, and investment ties between Greece and Australia were discussed, along with the diaspora’s role as a bridge for cooperation.
As part of the annual March 25th celebrations, Fortomas attended religious and commemorative ceremonies, including a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and Thanksgiving Service, and later participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the ANZAC Memorial in Hyde Park and the moving parade to the Sydney Opera House.
Finally, as Secretary for Greeks Abroad of New Democracy, Fortomas, together with Charakopoulos, attended a special session with the two ND regional party committees of Australia and Oceania, discussing party functions and the broader needs of the diaspora.
Reflecting on the visit, Fortomas said:”I leave Sydney deeply moved and proud of such an active and dynamic Greek community and our people.”
“The Greeks abroad in Australia are a vibrant part of Hellenism, who, on the other side of the world, keep Greece high in their hearts and raise their children with the values of the Greek family,” Fortomas added.
“They are the most worthy ambassadors of Greek hospitality, tradition, principles and values, and the Greek language.
“Our Government, as a small token of gratitude, for the first time gave them the right to be actively engaged citizens through postal voting in the next elections. In subsequent elections, they will be able to participate in the tri-member party lists of their chosen party. We want a strong, active, and participatory diaspora, and Sydney showed us that it is worth striving for much more.”
