Archdiocese opens door for unity in SA

The announcement last week that the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia (GOCSA) have severed ties with the Genuine Orthodox Christians (GOX) has sparked a sudden interest into whether or not unity is on the cards for the Greek Orthodox churches in South Australia.

In light of the agreement between the Greek Orthodox Community of New South Wales (GOCNSW) and the Archdiocese - ready to be rattified by the members of GOCNSW on the Sunday 3 July - the Archdiocese has extended a new invitation to the Federation of Greek Orthodox Communities of Australia to bridge the divide that currently exists.

As it stands, GOCSA are affiliated with the Autocephalic Church of America and Australia. This association does not solve the long standing problem that many people in the community face. The issue being that Greek Orthodox mysteries, such as baptisms and marriage, undergone in churches in South Australia under GOCSA are not being recognised by the Archdiocese and, subsequently, not recognised in Greece.

This has been a cause of frustration within the Greek community of South Australia when second generation Greek Australians find themselves having to get re baptised when they choose to marry after discovering they are not christened in the eyes of the Archdiocese. A unity between the community churches and the Archdiocese will ultimately end confusion and frustration felt throughout the community.

While Theo Maras, President of the Federation of Greek Orthodox Communities in Australia, denied any dialogue between the community and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese - during a recent interview with SBS radio on 26 May, his Grace the Bishop of South Australia, Nikandros of Dorileos, told Neos Kosmos this claim is untrue.

"The reality is that two such meetings have taken place at the offices of St George Church, Thebarton, between the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, and specifically between Mr Maras, Fr Diogenis Patsouris and myself. Whether Mr Maras remembers one or both of these meetings, neither of these were incidental, as Mr Maras mentioned in his interview on SBS radio - dated 22 October 2010 - but they were both pre-arranged, with the sole aim to discuss the ecclesiastical issue and try to find a solution," said his Grace Bishop Nikandros.

His Grace noted also that during those two recent meetings, and on behalf of His Eminence Archbishop of Australia Stylianos, he extended an invitation tthrough Mr Maras to discuss the return of the Federation's communities to the Archdiocese.

"As you know the reconciliation is a necessary step especially for the younger generation. Young couples who would like to get married have to agree prior in which church they will do so. If they get married in one of the schismatic churches, their marriage will not be recognised by the Helleni State, and as a result of that, many of them in the past had issues in dealing with Athens such as inheritance acceptance matters etc." said his Grace Bishop Nikandros.

During the two meetings mentioned above, the issue of community properties was also discussed.

"I repeated categorically that His Eminence Stylianos is not interested in the properties as only the people are the wealth of the Church," said his Grace Bishop Nikandros to Neos Kosmos. "It is a shame in a country like Australia, which is characterised by harmonious community relations, for the Greek community of South Australia to remain divided. The federation should change its attitude. They have a responsibility towards the community. The Greek community of South Australia is tired from the division as it creates unnecessary problems for everyone," stated his Grace Bishop Nikandros.

When the Bishop was asked if, in his opinion, current developments in New South Wales will have a positive affect on the federation's willingness to resume dialogue he said he was unsure but remained hopeful that they will. His Grace Bishop Nikandros added that if a future agreement eventuates within the South Australian Greek Orthodox community, it will be along the same lines with the agreement within the New South Wales community.

"I have to add that the attitude on behalf of Mr Maras really surprises us. I can't explain it, but with the utmost faith, I believe that God will enlighten him and the other Members of the Federation to realise that their persistence on maintaining the divisions is not productive and it only creates problems. I encourage the Federation to move on and make a new start. Ongoing dissension would only create more problems. I feel that a great deal of responsibility lays on the shoulders of the Members of the Federation, if the issue is not resolved. The Archdiocese, with its ongoing sense of responsibility towards the community, has and always will embrace dialogue so that this issue may be resolved" concluded the Bishop.

Neos Kosmos contacted Mr Maras in relation to this issue but on all occasions he was unavailable to comment.