On Saturday, July 20, Archbishop Makarios of Australia visited Port Pirie, a regional city in South Australia located approximately 220 kilometers north of Adelaide. Port Pirie holds historical significance as the site where the state’s first Greek Orthodox Parish-Community was established in 1924.
The Parish-Community of Saint George has served, and continues to serve, as an “ambassador” of the Orthodox faith and spiritual heritage within the multicultural community of Port Pirie.
In celebration of the Parish-Community’s centenary, an official dinner was organized on Saturday night. The event was honored with the presence and blessings of Archbishop Makarios.
Bishop Silouan of Adelaide, along with clergymen of the Holy Archdiocese including Fathers Achilleios Karamanidis, Panagiotis Fotakis, and Stavros Psarommatis, who have all served in the celebrating Parish, attended the festive dinner. Federal MP Rowan Ramsey, State Representative Geoff Brock, and Mayor of Port Pirie Leon Stephens were also present.
The joyful atmosphere of the evening was momentarily tinged with deep emotion as Archbishop Makarios, in his address, paid extensive tribute to the pioneers who established the Parish-Community and emphasized the importance of continuing their legacy in the coming decades. He recalled that in the mid-1920s, there were about 500 Greek immigrants living in Port Pirie, most of whom worked in the city’s famous smelter, one of the largest in the world.
“With simplicity, but with deep faith in God, determination, and hard work, with a sacrificial spirit and ecclesiastical ethos, they fought for the establishment of the blessed Parish and Community of St. George,” noted the Archbishop.
“It was an effort that God richly blessed,” he pointed out, “because it was an expression of their desire to remain close not only to their Greek traditions and customs, but also to their Creator and the source of their inner strength.”
Reflecting on the modern history of the Greek Orthodox Parish-Community of Port Pirie, he expressed deep gratitude for the late clergymen, Fr. Ioannis Limogiannis and Fr. Emmanouil Zaikis. Fr. Limogiannis served with devotion and self-sacrifice in the early 1960s, while Fr. Zaikis dedicated 33 years to the community from the mid-1970s onwards.
Additionally, he extended his gratitude to Bishop Silouan for his care for the Parish, the recently retired Fr. Achilleios, and Fr. Panagiotis, who currently serves its needs. He also thanked Fotios Seindanis, the President of the Parish-Community, along with all his associates for their dedicated efforts.
In conclusion, the Archbishop emphasized that the development and progress of the Parish-Community of St. George were made possible by the enduring spirit of love and unity that has bound its members together over the years. He stated, “When we are united, both with each other and with Christ, who is the head of the Church, we truly witness miracles unfolding.” He concluded by urging, “I call upon you to preserve this bond of unity and love, remaining steadfastly close to Christ and the Church.”
