Metropolitan Ezekiel of Dervis celebrated his nameday and the anniversary of 60 years of Church ministry in an emotionally-laden ceremony at the reception hall of the Cretan village on Sunday, 24 July.
The event was organised by Archbishop Makarios of Australia and realised by the bishops of the Archdiocesan districts of Melbourne and Northcote – Kyriakos of Sozopolis and Evmenios of Kerasounta, in collaboration with the Victorian Inter-Communities Council.
Following the Archbishop’s arrival alongside community and local government officials, the national anthems of the two countries were played and sang by former St John’s student, Sofia Frangou.
The program was opened by the dance group of the Central Pontian Association, “Pontiaki Estia”, rendering in a faithful traditional way dances of unforgettable Pontos. A video was then screened on the life of Metropolitan Ezekiel of Dervis, from his childhood days to present and included messages from loved ones overseas while masters of ceremony Mr Yianni Pilalidis and Ms Neroupou Rafaelia ensured the event speakers and festivities flowed in order.
Photo: Con Deves/Neos Kosmos
Photo: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia/Supplied
Photo: Con Deves/Neos Kosmos
Photo: Con Deves/Neos Kosmos
The Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Mr Emmanuel Kakavelakis began the short welcoming addresses, highlighting “the God-pleasing work of the venerable hierarch and emphasised his continuous and important contribution”.
Fr Charalambos Vezos also gave a short talk on behalf of the priests of Melbourne, and praised the work of the hierarch, outlining his characteristics and his achievements.
Fr Vezos passed the baton to the president of the Inter-Communities Council, Mr Tony Tsourdalakis who took to the podium to emphasize the “special love of the bishop for the second generation of Greeks and the youth”, while Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis referred to special moments they shared since they were fellow-travellers for at least twenty years.
As the keynote speaker, Archbishop Makarios of Australia presented the Metropolitan’s important milestones, thankingall the previous speakers for their heartfelt words and congratulated all the contributors.
He further described how he met the Metropolitan in 2015 and their various meetings, highlighting aspects of his personality focusing on his multi-faceted role in the spiritual and social life of his metropolis. He then awarded the Metropolitan with the highest distinction of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, the medal of the Order of the Christ-loving and said that “the Metropolitan is the first hierarch in Australia who is honoured with this title”.
Photo: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia/Supplied
Photo: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia/Supplied
Photo: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia/Supplied
Photo: Con Deves/Neos Kosmos
Photo: Con Deves/Neos Kosmos
Metropolitan Ezekiel of Dervis, warmly thanked the Archbishop and the Bishops as well as the Victorian Inter-Communities Council for organising the event.
“All that is done under the auspices of our Archdiocese are works of joint effort and are my very life,” he said while accepting the medal.
“This honorable distinction relates not only to me but, more broadly, belongs to our Church and community.
“I want to profess”, he continued, “that the arrival of Archbishop Makarios of Australia here in Australia brought a smile to all of us. I love and respect him, and I believe he will succeed in his ministry.”
Among the esteemed guests attending the event were Mrs Anna Urban, Principal of St John’s College in Preston; Mr John Nikolakakis, President of the World Council of Cretans; Mr Kostas Tseprailidis, Presidentof Central Pontian Association, “Pontiaki Estia”, Mr John Kostoulias, President of The Federation of Greek Elderly Citizen Clubs of Victoria; Mr Emanuel Starakis, President of the Pancretan Association of Melbourne; Mr Dimitri Grivokostopoulos, President of the Federation of Messinian Organisations of Victoria and many members of the Administrative Committees of Parishes and Communities.
The event closed with the members of the Byzantine Music Choir and chanters of various parishes chanting the “many years” of the Metropolitan and the Archbishop’s pheme.
