Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew gave Archbishop Makarios of Australia a “vote of confidence” on the occasion of the three-year anniversary of his election.
At today’s meeting of the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, it was decided that all Ukrainian communities and parishes of the Archdiocese of Australia, which until today had been under the jurisdiction of Metropolitan Anthony of Hierapolis, will henceforth be under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Australia.
They will now commemorate Archbishop Makarios of Australia as their canonical shepherd. In the announcement of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, it is stressed that both Metropolitan Bartholomew and the Holy Synod congratulate him on his “successful pastoral work and ministry on the fifth continent”.
With this move, the Synod recognized the administrative capacity and the love of the Archbishop of Australia for the Ukrainian parishes, in order to strengthen them and ensure their progress.
Also, the jurisdiction of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia passes to the other Ukrainian communities in Australia, since the Autocephalous Church of Ukraine does not have canonical jurisdiction in the Diaspora.
Also, the Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate clarifies that “the Great Church of Christ never recognized Metropolitan Filaret as “Patriarch of Kyiv” or the existence of a “Patriarchate of Kyiv”.
For this reason, the establishment of a Vicariate in Australia under the self-proclaimed “Patriarch” “is non-canonical, unacceptable, and not recognized by the Orthodox Church.”
Finally, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate announces that the self-proclaimed “Archimandrite” Nektarios Alexandratos, allegedly the “President” of the pseudo-vicariate is not a canonical clergyman. Therefore, all his services are unsubstantiated.
Also, the certificates issued by him are not recognized by any canonical Orthodox Patriarchate and no canonical Autocephalous Church.
