“This day is inscribed in my heart and in my life as a precious and unique day […] From today until the end of my life, I belong to Australia.”
These were the heartfelt words of Archbishop Makarios of Australia on June 18, 2019, expressing his deep commitment to serving the Christ-loving people of Australia. This statement, made just minutes after his arrival at Sydney Airport, marked his first official address on Australian soil.
Facing hundreds of enthusiastic believers who gathered to welcome him, the newly elected Archbishop was visibly moved, unable to hold back tears of emotion. His sincere and heartfelt words resonated deeply with the crowd, who were eagerly anticipating the arrival of their new spiritual leader.
“Blessed moments! Blessed communication between father and children through the eyes of the soul! An ideal foretaste of the blessed path of spiritual uplift and rebirth of our Holy Archdiocese, which officially began a few days later, on June 29, 2019, with the solemn enthronement of the 6th Primate of the Orthodox Church in Australia,” reported greek.vema.com.au.
These initial moments set the tone for Archbishop Makarios’ dedication and visionary leadership, which has profoundly impacted the Orthodox community in Australia over the past five years.