During his visit to Melbourne, Archbishop of Constantinople and New Rome, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew visited the Pancretan Association of Melbourne.
An event was held at Cretan Village on Friday October 18 which was attended by more than 500 people who all had the opportunity to greet him and receive his blessing.
The night included traditional Cretan music performed by George Sevastakis, George Vardakis, Tony Iliou as well as dance performances by the Pancretan Junior Dance Group, Pancretan Intermediate Dance Group and the Cretan Brotherhood & Pancretan Senior Dance Group who performed in honour of the patriarch.
The Cretan youth also had the opportunity to receive his blessing and take a commemorative photo.
Accompanying the patriarch was Archbishop of Australia Makarios, Metropolitan of Thessaloniki Filotheos, Metropolitan of Imvros Kyrillos, three priests from other states of Australia, Sister Iakovi and the Consul General of Greece in Melbourne Emmanual Kakavelakis.
In her welcome speech, the President of the Pancretan Association of Melbourne Aggie Mihelakis gave her gratitude to the patriarch for including a visit to the Cretan Village as part of his busy schedule.
Mihelakis also mentioned that the Pancretan founders felt a sense of pride knowing that the leader of the Orthodox faith visited the Pancretan Association.
Archbishop Makarios proudly spoke about his Cretan heritage and how he felt a sense of belonging by being at the ‘home of compatriots’.
The Ecumenical Patriarch during his address shared his delight in being able to share the evening amongst many Cretans of Melbourne and also referred to the positive relationship that exists between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Holy Archdiocese of Crete.
He also referred to his first ever visit to the island of Crete as the Patriarch as well as the support and participation of Cretan Hierarchs in the Holy Synod.
The Pancretan Association then presented him with a gift, a custom-made hand carved traditional Cretan knife made in Chania, to commemorate the evening and to display their gratitude for his visit.
