The Holy Archdiocese of Australia wants to express its gratitude and appreciation to whoever communicated with the Archbishop, to express support and help for the leaders, the clergy and the people of our local Church during the Fire crisis.
In a communique the Archdiocese thanks Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for the telephone communication he kept with Archbishop Makarios of Australia immediately from the moment news was released about the destructive fires. He maintained a deep and paternal concern throughout the whole period of crisis.
At the same time, it expresses the gratitude of the leaders, the clergy and the people of Australia towards the Ecumenical Patriarch for his letters of support and solidarity which, the Archdiocese had announced to the public on his behalf.
Likewise, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia also expresses its gratitude to the Patriarchs Theodoros of Alexandria, and Theophilos of Jerusalem, the Archbishops Chrysostomos of Cyprus, Ieronymos of Athens and Anastasios of Albania, as well as Metropolitan Stephanos of Tallinn, who all communicated with Archbishop Makarios and expressed their love and support for the suffering that the Australian people bore as well as the loss that the land incurred.
A special mention is made in the communique to Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, who “together with his constant telephone communication with the Archbishop of Australia, also contributed by donating $75,000.00 American dollars towards the appeal that our Archdiocese made for the fire victims.”
The Archdiocese of Australia also thanks the Metropolitans Nicholaos of Mesogeia and Lavreotiki, and Nathanael of Chicago who together with their prayerful support donated 50,000.00 Australian dollars and 20,000.00 American dollars respectively. “For the brotherly and philanthropic gesture made by Metropolitan Nicholaos of Mesogeia our people were especially touched because we know that his locality had recently suffered the same tribulation.”
Finally, the Archdiocese feels the need, as it points out, to “gratefully and sincerely remember our most respected Hierarchs, for their written or oral communication with Archbishop Makarios. They showed their love and support during the trying times we had faced. Especially we thank the Archbishops Irinaios of Crete, Sotirios of Canada, Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain; the Metropolitans Elder Apostolos of Derkoi, Apostolos of Miletus, Meliton of Philadelphia, Seraphim of Sevastia, Sotirios of Pisidia, Chrysostomos of Myra, Emmanuel of France, Theoliptos of Ikonion, Ephraim of Hydra, Spetses and Aegina, Nikandros of Irinopolis, Andrew of Arkalochori, Kastelli and Viannos, Ierotheos of Zichni and Neurokopion, Athenagoroas of Belgium, Chrysostomos of Patra, Eugenios of Rethymno and Avlopotamos, Seraphim of Kythira and Antikythira, Ambrosios of Korea, Dasmaskinos of Kydonia and Apokoronas, Arsenius of Austria, Athenagoras of Kydonies, Amphilochios of Adrianople, Chysostomos of Mani, Maximos of Switzerland, as well as the Bishops Paisios of Apamea and Eirinaios of Evmenia. We also thank all our brother and sisters, clergy and laity, Greeks and non-Greeks, Orthodox and non-Orthodox, who supported us morally or materially in our struggle and in our anxiety.
We bring it to your attention that the amount that was gathered in the appeal raised by the Archdiocese for the Fires was: $707,208.91
This money will be given to:
• $325,000 to Bega Valley Shire Council in NSW, that was most affected by the Fire
• $200,000 to Country Fire Authority (CFA) VIC
• $125,000 to South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS)
• $57,208.91 to Port Macquarie Koala Hospital in NSW
The list of names as well as the amount donated by everyone is already up on the webpage of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia.
The Holy Archdiocese of Australia and His Eminence Archbishop Makarios thank you again for responding to your fellow citizens and for the sensitivity which you have shown, and they wish all benefactors the grace and blessings of our Lord Jesus Christ.”