With the striking words, “If the Church loses its Greek identity, then we are in serious trouble. We stand firm!”, Archbishop Makarios of Australia highlighted the deep bond between Orthodox liturgical life and the Greek language, especially within the Greek Diaspora, where the Church serves as a central pillar in preserving national identity and spiritual heritage.
“We do not forget who we are,” the Archbishop emphasized during his address, delivered at the conclusion of the Vespers of the Descent from the Cross on Holy Friday at the Church of Saint Nektarios in Fawkner, within the Holy Diocese of Chora.
More specifically, Archbishop Makarios stressed that the Greek language must remain at the heart of the sacred services, stating: “We are Greeks here. Who here does not understand Greek? I was not pleased to see the service divided half in Greek and half in English. We are Greeks, and we must preserve and uphold that. Because if the Church loses its Greek identity, then we are in serious trouble. We stand firm!”
At the same time, the Archbishop acknowledged the need for more chanters to serve on the analogia, as well as the importance of engaging young people in the life of the Church, while maintaining, with firm conviction, the non-negotiable priority of preserving the Greek language in worship. “We do have needs,” he noted, “but we will find chanters who can chant in Greek. And we can include some English for our children, to help bring them closer to the Church, but not half in Greek and half in English. We do not forget who we are. And I am pleased that you receive this positively and honor it.”
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou
