Last week, St George Greek Orthodox Church in Thornbury, Melbourne, welcomed His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia for a pastoral visit — the first visit by an Archbishop to the parish in close to half a century.
Accompanying the head of the Greek Orthodox Church in Australia were Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne and Bishop Evmenios of Chora.
The evening service on Thursday, 14 August, marked the renewed connection between the Church and the local community. It was also a celebration of the eve of one of the most significant dates in the Greek Orthodox calendar — the Feast of the Dormition (Koimisi) of the Virgin Mary.
The Dormition commemorates the falling asleep (death) of the Panagia (Virgin Mary) and her assumption into heaven. In Greece, the feast is marked with major liturgies, processions, and festivals, often referred to as the “summer Pascha.”
The pastoral visit underscored the strengthening relationship between the Church and the Greek community, and a shared commitment to preserving faith, culture, and intergenerational connection.
In attendance were President of the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM), Bill Papastergiadis OAM, GCM Secretary Associate Professor Marinis Pirpiris, and board member Nick Koukouvitakis.
“We welcomed Archbishop Makarios and Bishops Kyriakos and Evmenios to St George Church,” said Papastergiadis.
“The pastoral visit and service was the first attendance in 49 years of an Archbishop to our church.”
Papastergiadis highlighted the spirit of collaboration and unity within the Greek diaspora. He noted that while divisions between secular communities and the Church in Victoria were healed in the mid-1980s, the schism remains in South Australia, where the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia (GOCSA) recently failed to achieve the two-thirds majority needed among its members to reconcile with the Archdiocese.
He said members of the Hellenic Parliament had pointed to a lack of cohesion in parts of the global diaspora.
“Hence, it’s important we work collectively, collaboratively, and our relations with the Archdiocese and the Archbishop are strong.
“We welcome the Archbishop’s visit to our Church and his presence was welcomed by our parishioners,” Papastergiadis said.
He went on to thank Father Haralambos and the church committee for their hospitality and dinner following the service.
“Everyone was made to feel welcomed, and this is at the essence of our Hellenic values and faith.”
Nick Koukouvitakis echoed the sentiment of unity, “It’s important that the Community and Church work collaboratively where needed.”
Associate Professor Marinis Pirpiris reflected on the significance of the visit and said, “The Archbishop’s presence was a blessing to our parishioners and highlighted the partnership between Community and Church.”
