Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew visited the Saints Archangels Parish in Mentone, Melbourne on Saturday as part of his Apostolic visit to Australia. His arrival marked the first stop in Melbourne following his departure from Sydney.
Patriarch Bartholomew was warmly welcomed by a large gathering of parishioners led by their priest, Father Panagiotis Zoummpoulis. The event was also attended by Metropolitan Myron of New Zealand, the Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Emmanuel Kakavelakis, and the Consul General of Greece in Adelaide, Alexandra Theodoropoulou. Notably, among those present was Patriarch Bartholomew’s brother, Nikolaos Archontonis, as the Mentone area is home to many immigrants from the island of Imbros, the Patriarch’s birthplace.
During his address, Patriarch Bartholomew expressed deep emotion and gratitude for the warm reception, blessing the faithful who had gathered to greet him. He also took pride in witnessing the young members of the parish performing traditional Greek dances in his honour. In his brief speech, after being welcomed by Father Panagiotis, the Patriarch praised the remarkable progress of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia since his last visit. He spoke highly of Archbishop Makarios, describing him as a dynamic and active shepherd who has left a significant mark on the ecclesiastical affairs of the Archdiocese within a few short years.
The Patriarch emphasised that he expects much more from Archbishop Makarios in the coming years, urging the faithful to stand united in supporting his leadership for the continued progress of the Church in Australia.
Patriarch Bartholomew further expressed his love and pride for the Orthodox faithful in Australia, acknowledging the physical distance between them and the Ecumenical Patriarchate but emphasising their closeness to his heart.
“You are geographically far from our sacred center, but very close to our hearts. You always give us reasons for admiration and pride in the Lord,” he noted.
The Patriarch also highlighted the role of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the guardian of Orthodox faith and canonical order, mentioning its tireless efforts to maintain unity within the Orthodox world against the rising threat of “ethnophyletism”. He concluded by thanking Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who provided the prime ministerial aircraft for his and his delegation’s travel from Sydney to Melbourne.
This gesture, according to Patriarch Bartholomew, reflects both the respect for the Ecumenical Patriarchate as an institution and the personal friendship between the Prime Minister and Archbishop Makarios.
