The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese paid tribute to the outgoing Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis, with a farewell dinner, showing their appreciation for the diplomat’s work in the past three years.
The dinner was held on Monday evening (28 July) in the Great Hall of St Andrews Theological College, and was hosted by Archbishop Makarios.
The evening was filled with emotion as everyone present recognised the impact Mallikourtis had during his three years.
The dinner culminated in the Archbishop presenting Mallikourtis with the Medal of the Order of the Christ-loving, one of the Holy Archdiocese’s highest distinctions.
The Archbishop praised the Greek diplomat for his integrity, courtesy, strong sense of duty, and tireless work ethic, thanking him for his excellent cooperation with the Consulate General and the Holy Archdiocese of Australia.
He also acknowledged Mallikourtis’s unwavering personal presence at all major events of the local Church, while also paying tribute to his late father, Ambassador Stylianos Mallikourtis, who served in Constantinople and worked in cooperation with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Archbishop Makarios closed by offering his best wishes for Mallikourtis’ future diplomatic career, assuring him that he would always be a beloved member of the Greek Orthodox family on the fifth continent.
The outgoing Consul General responded with equally warm words, first expressing his gratitude to the Archbishop for their harmonious and fruitful collaboration during his time in Sydney.
He expressed admiration for the Archbishop’s character, leadership, and multifaceted work, stating his belief that realising the Archbishop’s noble vision will ensure a promising future for Orthodoxy and Hellenism in Australia.
In addition to the Archbishop, the Consul General and his wife Christiana Stavrou, the dinner was also attended by Bishops Bartholomew of Brisbane, Iakovos of Miletoupolis and Christodoulos of Magnesia, Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne Father Christophoros Krikelis, clergy from Sydney, Vice President of the Archdiocesan Council Theodosios Penklis, secretary general of the Archdiocesan Council and archon Nikolaos Papanastasiou, and representatives of parishes, communities, and organisations of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia.
