LAST UPDATE: 12.15, 8/5/2025
By Efi Efthymiou
In a ceremony marked by great dignity and historical significance, Archbishop Makarios of Australia was conferred the title of Honorary Doctor by the Department of Theology and the Department of Social Theology and Religious Studies of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA). The event is taking place in the university’s Grand Hall on Tuesday, May 7, in the presence of prominent ecclesiastical and political figures.
The conferral ceremony was honored by the presence of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, numerous Metropolitans from the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Church of Greece, and distinguished guests from public life.
Rector Gerasimos Siasios opened the event by warmly welcoming the dignitaries and highlighting the university’s deep respect for the Ecumenical Patriarch and the institution of the Patriarchate. Addressing the audience, he stated:
“Today, with deep honor and emotion, NKUA welcomes His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia and bestows upon him the highest distinction—the title of Honorary Doctor of the Department of Theology and the Department of Social Theology and Religious Studies of our Faculty of Theology.”
In his remarks, Rector Siasios also referred to Archbishop Ieronymos as “flesh of our flesh,” recalling that the Archbishop is an alumnus of the university’s Faculty of Philosophy.
Present at the event were the former President of the Hellenic Republic, Ms. Katerina Sakellaropoulou; the former Prime Minister of Greece, Mr. Panagiotis Pikrammenos; University Professor and former Deputy Prime Minister of the Greek Government, Mr. Evangelos Venizelos; the President of the Supreme Civil and Criminal Court of Greece (Areios Pagos), Ms. Ioanna Klapa; and the President of the Council of State, Mr. Michail Pikrammenos. Also in attendance was the Minister of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports of Greece, Ms. Sofia Zacharaki, representing the Greek Government and the Prime Minister, Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, along with several Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament, and representatives of local government.
The Ambassador of Australia to Athens, Ms. Alison Duncan, was present as the official representative of the Australian Government and the Prime Minister, Mr. Anthony Albanese. Also attending were the Consul General of Greece in Istanbul, Ambassador Mr. Konstantinos Koutras; the Civil Governor of Mount Athos, Mr. Alkiviadis Stefanis; Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; the Archbishop’s parents, Mr. Emmanouil and Mrs. Fotini Griniezakis; members of the academic community of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA); among others.
A more extensive presentation of the personality and work of the Archbishop was delivered by the Dean of the School of Theology, Professor of Theology Mr. Emmanouil Karageorgoudis. “The honorary conferral of the title of Doctor Honoris Causa of the School of Theology upon Archbishop Makarios of Australia is an act that acknowledges the triune interpenetration of Science, Church, and the World, which is embodied in his ministry,” Mr. Karageorgoudis noted, adding: “In his person, academic theology encounters tangible liturgical mystagogy, as the rational nature of science partakes of the apophatic language of experience.”
This was followed by the reading of the official documents: the Resolution, the Conferral Decree, and the Doctoral Diploma. Subsequently, the honoree was vested with the academic gown of the School.
The ceremony concluded with a speech delivered by the Honorary Doctor, Archbishop Makarios. At the outset, the Archbishop expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the University’s Rectoral Authorities, the Deanery of the School of Theology, and the Presidents and Professors of its two Departments, for the highest honor bestowed upon him, which he stated he “accepts as a distinguished distinction that reflects upon the Apostolic and Ecumenical Throne of Constantinople, to which I belong, upon the deeply revered person of our Patriarch, and upon the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, which I shepherd by the grace and mercy of God.”
He also extended sincere thanks to all those present at the ceremony, especially to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
Archbishop Makarios of Australia then delivered a lecture on the topic: “Vox Populi on the Internet: The Contemporary Threat to Ecclesiastical and Democratic Ethos.” Beginning with an engaging historical overview, he offered a well-documented and vivid analysis of the notion of “voice of the people,” delving into the criteria by which the Church discerns the authentic expression of the people’s conscience.
He then focused on the ways public discourse is shaped in the modern era—an era dominated by the internet—and outlined the background and consequences of digital toxicity, which manifests through aggression, hate speech, and misinformation. Alongside the negative aspects of online toxicity, the Archbishop also presented encouraging data from studies showing that so-called “haters” make up only a small fraction of total internet users. He highlighted the fact that the majority of users remain silent—emphasizing that “we cannot accurately detect the ‘voice of the people’ on the internet, because it is the noise of a vocal minority that dominates, not the truth that remains unspoken by the silent majority.”
According to the Archbishop, the appropriate response to toxic behavior is to turn our attention to this “silent majority,” with the aim of mobilizing it and amplifying a healthy voice in the digital sphere. “Our people say that evil thrives when good people do nothing,” he stressed, adding: “It is ultimately the inertia of the silent majority that allows the few online to shape public perception of the Church and Democracy—perceptions that are not true.”
It is worth noting that following the conclusion of the conferral ceremony, a dinner in honor of Archbishop Makarios was hosted at the Hotel Grande Bretagne.
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas & Ioanna Georgakopoulou
