His Eminence Archbishop Makarios will attend the first appearance of the National Metropolitan Choir in 2021 in Constantinople for the 30th anniversary of the Patriarch.
The celebrated Archbishop of Australia, Mr. Makarios, referred to his spiritual father, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, during the official dinner in Sydney on the occasion of his nominations.
“The Holy Archdiocese of Australia is moving forward,” said His Eminence, “and this is mainly due to the Mother Church of Constantinople, which has ensured that we are under its normal protection. In four years, we will celebrate 100 years since the founding of our Holy Archdiocese, with great commemorative events. For this purpose, the National Metropolitan Choir of Australia has been set up and headed by the outstanding music composer Mr Themos Mexis. Throughout the past 100 years the Ecumenical Patriarchate has played an important role in the life of the local Church, as evidenced by the archives. That is why we are now turning our thought and prayer to the ‘ruling and suffering of the Church of Constantinople’, to our Ecumenical Patriarchate and to His Holiness the Patriarch, etc. We are indebted and grateful for our infinite respect and devotion.”
Archbishop Makarios did not fail to thank the Ecumenical Patriarch’s spokesman for the official event, the Most Reverend Metropolitan Ambrosios of Korea. Addressing Metropolitan Ambrosios, he urged him to convey to the Patriarch the love and respect of the clergy and people of the Australian Archdiocese, and to assure him that “the greater the distance that separates us, the greater the distance we can share; that unites us. “
His Holiness noted that the National Metropolitan Choir of Australia will make its first appearance in Istanbul next year, on the occasion of the completion of 30 years of the Ecumenical Patriarch’s wishful and prosperous Patriarchate. Similar events in honour of the thirty-year anniversary of Patriarch Bartholomew will take place in all major Australian cities.
