Early Wednesday morning, September 24, the members of the Patriarchal Delegation arrived at Sydney Airport. They will participate in the proceedings of the 2nd Pan-Australian Clergy Synaxis, which will take place from September 29 to October 1, 2025.
The delegation includes Metropolitan Apostolos of Miletus, abbot of the Patriarchal and Stavropegial Monastery of Saint Anastasia the Pharmakolytria in Halkidiki, and Patriarchal Deacon Fr. Photios Poulopoulos.
In addition to the representatives of the Mother Church and the Ecumenical Patriarch, the following individuals arrived: Metropolitan Ignatios of Demetrias and Almyros; Metropolitan Grigorios of Cameroon (Patriarchate of Alexandria); Metropolitan Damaskinos of Aetolia and Acarnania; and Archimandrite Ignatios Mourtzanos, Chancellor of the Holy Metropolis of Larisa and Tyrnavos.
They were all warmly received by Archbishop Makarios of Australia, accompanied by members of the Holy Eparchial Synod: Bishop Elpidios of Perth, Bishop Silouan of Adelaide, Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne, Bishop Evmenios of Khoris, and Bishop Bartholomew of Brisbane. Also present were Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis, Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia, Bishop-Elect Athenagoras of Canberra, Bishop-Elect Christophoros of Kerasounta, a large number of clergy, Consul General of Greece in Sydney George Skemperis, Director of the Greek Welfare Center Stylianos Magdalopoulos, and a youth delegation from the Lyceum of Greek Women of Sydney. The delegation welcomed the visitors with flowers as a gesture of love and respect.
Archbishop Makarios expressed his heartfelt thanks to the visiting hierarchs and clergy for undertaking the long journey and wished them a pleasant and fruitful stay in Australia.
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou
