"Years lot!», wished "En EMI oral and miᾷ kardiᾳ" the 1.300 invited His Eminence Archbishop Australia. Makarios, at the reception he gave for his namesakes………
They attended the archdiocesan bank, including, the Metropolitan of Korea Mr.. Ambrosios, who represented the Ecumenical Patriarch Mr.. Bartholomew, the Metropolitans of Sevastia Mr.. Seraphim, Hong Kong Mr. Nectarios, Singapore Mr.. Constantine, New Zealand Mr. Myron, Mr. Magadaskaris. Ignatius, and Chicago Mr.. Nathaniel, the Protosyncle of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, Bishop of Meloi Mr.. Emilianos, the Bishops of Derby Mr.. Ezekiel, Militoupoleos Mr.. Jacob, Κυανέων κ. Hope, and Sinope Mr.. Σιλουανός, the Governor of New South Wales Mr. Margaret Beazley and her husband Mrs.. Dennis Wilson, the representative of the Prime Minister of Australia Mr. Scott Morrison, New South Wales Senator, K. Andrew Bragg, the president of the official opposition Mr.. Anthony Albanese, as well as the High Commissioner of Cyprus to Australia, K. Martha Mavrommati, the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, K. Christos Karras, and his wife, Commercial Follower, K. Katia Gikiza.
During dinner, choirs sang the National Anthems of Australia and Greece, while dance groups danced traditional Cretan dances, birthplace of the Archbishop, who cried with emotion when a video was shown with wishes of his relatives and loved ones from his special homeland. also, The wish of the Ecumenical Patriarch was shown on tape. Bartholomew, which intensified the emotion of His Holiness.
In his speech, the Archbishop Mr.. Makarios made a soul deposit on the one hand, on the other hand in an account of the work of the Archdiocese to date, "Work of the Holy Spirit", as noted, which includes completed and ongoing projects for the benefit of the flock, with the assistance of donors, such as:
- the forthcoming creation of the National Camp Center for young people, on Bribie Island, for which donations were even offered by those present at the end of the dinner.
- the planning of the establishment of two Detox Centers in Sydney and Melbourne, with the name "Hope".
- the establishment of the Australian National Metropolitan Choir, which will make its first appearance in Istanbul in 2021, in the context of completion 30 years of Patriarchate of the Ecumenical Patriarch Mr.. Bartholomew.
- the planning of the writing of a Volume on the history of the Greeks of Australia and the Holy Archdiocese.
- the decision on the creation of new buildings for the Theological School of Agios Andreas.
- four more Elderly Care Centers under construction.
- the renovation of the Archdiocese, with the aim of launching 2024, one hundred years since the founding of the Archdiocese, by the Ecumenical Patriarch Mr.. Bartholomew and the political leadership of the country.
- the establishment of the School of Byzantine Music last September.
- the approval for the participation of women in the sacred psalms.
- the establishment of English-speaking parishes.
- the planned construction of a male Monastery in honor of the Virgin Mary outside Melbourne, in the area "Mount Mela".
The realization of 2021 at the Sydney Clergy Assembly in view of the completion of two hundred years since the Greek Revolution, with the general motto "For Faith and Homeland".
The conduct of 2021 of the National Youth Conference.
With his thinking on the victims of the deadly fires that hit Australia, His Eminence Archbishop Mr.. Makarios began his speech by inviting his guests to stand up and dedicate a minute, no silence, as is usual, but prayer: "Let each of us ask Christ to alleviate the pain of these people, to restore the destruction of the environment and the loss of animals, and especially to open the skies to rain and cool the Australian land ".
Then, looking back on the period of the last seven months from its 29th of June 2019, day enthroned as the 6th Archbishop of the fifth continent, warmly thanked the clergy and the people for the reception and support to his person, expressing the certainty that "what is happening lately here in Australia is not the work of people, but a gift from God Almighty ". And addressing the audience, he added: "Your presence here tonight, your love, your words and your prayers, they are a great spiritual support for me. Thank you very much for everything ".
Subsequently, His Excellency stressed the importance of the presence of the Orthodox Church in Australia, and praised the first immigrants and the ancestors of the Greeks, saying that "the presence of the Orthodox Church and the Greeks on the fifth continent is part of Australian national history", and asked those present "not to forget the spiritual legacy bequeathed to us by our first immigrants and ancestors". indeed, he added that "if necessary, to sacrifice our lives even for our new homeland, Australia ".
Then, Archbishop expresses gratitude to Australian political leadership, and specifically to the Prime Minister Mr.. Scott Morrison "for his full support to the Greek Orthodox", to the present Governor of New South Wales Mr. Margaret Beazley, to the present Senator Mr.. Andrew Bragg, as well as to the also present President of the official opposition Mr.. Antony Albanese "for his known love for the Greeks and the Orthodox Church".
Continuing, the Archbishop focused on the catalytic contribution of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Ecumenical Patriarch Mr.. Bartholomew in the evolution and progress of the Archdiocese of Australia, stressing: "Throughout the past hundred years, the Ecumenical Patriarchate played an important role in the life of the local Church, as evidenced by the records. That is why we turn our thoughts and prayers to the ruling and suffering Church of Constantinople, to our Ecumenical Patriarchate and to His Holiness the Patriarch Mr.. Bartholomew, and with gratitude we show our infinite respect and devotion ".
His Excellency also referred to the establishment by the Holy Archdiocese of Australia of the official emblem of the "Order of the Philocrists" - which was presented with a video projection - while proceeding with the award 22 persons, awarding them that medal. Specifically, awarded the medal of the "Order of Philochrist" to: Nikolaos Archontoni, Marina Konstantinou, Iordani Iordanidis, Ioannis Barboutis, Angelo Hatzatouris, Apostolos Salakas, Theodosio Pencli, Pavlos Nikolaou, Louka Tsougrani, Eugenia Kalogeropoulou, Kalliniko Charalambous, Ioannis Stamatis, Thomas Triantaphyllou, Ekaterini Giannopoulou, George Timotheou, Nikolaos Tassios, Amalia Santa, Vasiliki Fotiadou, Eleni Tzika, Chrysanthi Tsattaliou, Emmanuel Kallinikos and Georgios Amarantos.
Concluding, Mr.. Makarios called on those present to be in unity and oneness, to act exemplary and improve as people and members of society: "Please be united. Please also be loved. I want us Greeks and the Orthodox to be a model citizen. And finally, I ask you all to try with inner spiritual work to become better people every day ".
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