A great hierarch, a diverse and charismatic figure, who has marked the history of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, revived in the memory of those who attended the ceremony at the Hall of St. Andrew’s Theological College in Sydney, on Monday afternoon, December 14. During the event in honor of the late Archbishop fo Australia, Stylianos, the presentation of the honorary volume, entitled “Archbishop Stylianos – Pastor, Theologian, Poet,” and the screening of the documentary: “Colorful Opal: Archbishop of Australia, Stylanis Harkianakis (1935-2019)” took place.
The approximately 600 pages of the honorary volume, published by St Andrew’s Orthodox Press and the 70 minutes of the documentary, produced by the St. Basil’s Organization, adumbrate the spiritual greatness of the late hierarch and his great legacy.
During the event, the Archbishop of Australia Makarios noted: “With these events, which are a practical expression of our love and gratitude, we certainly do not conventionally attempt to honor the late Archbishop. We honor a discerning shepherd, who prudently and wisely led souls to Christ. We commemorate a strong theologian who left his indelible mark on theology and the Inter-Christian dialogue. We recognize a sensitive poet, who showed that tolerance, condescension, love for fellow human beings are proof of the love proclaimed by the Orthodox Tradition.”
The Archbishop announced the awarding of the Order of the Philokristos to Spyridon Mygiakis, nephew of the late Archbishop Stylianos.
The moving event ended with the distribution to the attendees of a copy of the honorary volume. The first to receive honorary the volume was Metropolitan Seraphim of Sebastia, who was a close associate of the late Archbishop for many years. Metropolitan Seraphim congratulated Archbishop Makarios and those who worked for the production of this tribute and for the publication of the volume, while he thanked the Archbishop, because, as he saw, he spoke so movingly about his predecessor.
The event was attended by the Protosyncellus of the Archdiocese, Bishop Emilianos of Meloa, the Archiepiscopal Vicar of Brisbane, Bishop Iakovos of Militoupolis, the Archiepiscopal Vicar of Adelaide, Bishop Siluan of Sinope, the Archiepiscopal Vicar of Canberra, Archimandrite Prochoros Anastasiadis, the Abbots of the Monasteries of Saint Georgios and Pantanassa, many clergymen and monks, the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Christos Karras, as well as laypeople from Sydney.