On Friday, March 22, the newly appointed Ambassador of Greece to Australia, Stavros Venizelos, along with his wife, Larissa Tikaidis, and the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis, paid a visit to the headquarters of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia in Sydney.
They were warmly welcomed by Bishops Iakovos of Militoupolis, Christodoulos of Magnesia, and Bartholomew of Charioupolis, as well as by the Protosyncellus of the Holy Archdiocese, Archimandrite Christoforos Krikelis of the Ecumenical Throne.
Before their meeting with Archbishop Makarios of Australia, the Ambassador and his entourage visited the Cathedral of the Annunciation, where they lit candles, venerated the holy icons, and learned about the church’s historic significance.
Subsequently, they proceeded to the Archdiocesan Office, where Archbishop Makarios warmly greeted them. He congratulated Ambassador Venizelos on his new role at the Greek Embassy in Canberra and extended his best wishes for a successful tenure benefiting Hellenism in Australia.
During their discussion, various topics of importance to the Greek Diaspora were exchanged, with Archbishop Makarios providing insights into the ongoing work of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia and highlighting the upcoming 100th anniversary of the Archdiocese, as well as the forthcoming Apostolic Visit of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both parties reaffirmed their commitment to fostering strong cooperation between the Greek State and the Orthodox Church, emphasizing unity and mutual understanding as key principles.
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas