“We celebrate and commend the Imbrians of Australia, for despite the challenges and persecution they faced, they not only survived but thrived, bringing to their new homeland the rich culture, dignity, values, and piety of the Greek community. They have faithfully preserved their heritage and passed down the treasures of faith, with reverence and devotion, to the younger generations.”
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew addressed his fellow Imbrians of Sydney and New South Wales during a dinner held in his honor on Friday, October 11.
The heartfelt event was held in the Parish-Community Hall of Saint Euphemia, located in the Bankstown suburb of Sydney. Upon the Ecumenical Patriarch’s arrival at the church of Saint Euphemia, he was warmly greeted by the young men and women of the Parish-Community, who presented him with a bouquet of flowers while chanting his polychronion.
Initially, the Ecumenical Patriarch, accompanied by Archbishop Makarios of Australia, entered the church where he venerated the holy icon of Saint Euphemia the Great Martyr and a fragment of her holy relic, which had been brought from the Phanar and donated by Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras a few years after the Parish-Community’s founding in the 1960s.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew then proceeded to the community hall, where he was warmly received by Marinos Paronis, President of the Association of Imbrians in Sydney and New South Wales, along with many of his compatriots and expatriate Imbrians.
The event, coordinated by Fr. Panagiotis Mavrommatis, opened with a performance of traditional Greek dances, presented in honor of the Ecumenical Patriarch. Following the performance, greetings were delivered by Christos Spyropoulos, President of the Parish-Community of Saint Euphemia, Nikolaos Madouris, representing the Association of Imbrians, and Eleni Chrysostomidou, President of the Association of Greeks of Constantinople and Asia Minor NSW. During the event, Christos Spyropoulos and Nikolaos Madouris announced generous donations of $10,000 and $5,000, respectively, to support the operation of Greek schools on the island of Imbros.
The Ecumenical Patriarch spoke with deep emotion about the “special blessing” of the reopening of Greek schools on Imbros after nearly half a century. He proudly noted that, for the first time in the island’s history, a Lyceum is now operating, and the total number of students for the current school year has surpassed 50.
At the same time, he expressed his paternal interest in the younger generation of the Imbrian Diaspora, stressing the importance of immersing them in the Imbrian spirit, customs, traditions, and the values of their ancestors. “We urge you all,” he emphasized, “to continue the noble struggle for the preservation of our Greek heritage — the faith, the language, the ethos, and the enduring memory of Imbros.”
At the same time, he encouraged his compatriots to remain close to the Church, describing it as “the spiritual mother and nurturer of our Nation,” while also offering high praise for their Shepherd, Archbishop Makarios. “I know you loved him deeply, because he was the first to extend his love to you,” he remarked, among other heartfelt sentiments.
Finally, the Ecumenical Patriarch expressed his deep emotion at having the opportunity to visit Saint Euphemia of Sydney for the second time after 28 years, and to be reunited with his compatriots who reside in this distant land.
He concluded his speech with an exhortation and invitation: “Come to the Phanar whenever the opportunity arises, and return to our island of Imbros, for by your presence, you actively affirm that you have not forgotten it. Come, and encourage your children to come as well, so they can connect with their place of origin.”
He then gave the floor to Metropolitan Kyrillos of Imbros and Tenedos, as well as to Konstantinos Delikostantis, Archon Teacher of the Nation and Director of the First Patriarchal Office, both of whom hail from the island. The Ecumenical Patriarch also introduced Themistocles Karanikolas, a descendant of Imbros and an employee of the Patriarchate, to the attendees.
In addition to the aforementioned guests, the dinner was attended by members of the Patriarchal entourage, including Metropolitan Philotheos of Thessaloniki, Grand Protosyncellus Gregory, Grand Ecclesiarch Aetios, Director of the Private Patriarchal Office, Patriarchal Deacon Eulogios, Nun Iakovi, Abbess of the Holy Monastery of the Honorable Forerunner of Akritochori, Archon Teacher of the Church Theodoros Giagkos, Professor at the Theological School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and Nikolaos-Georgios Papachristou, Director of the Patriarchal Office of Press and Communication. Also present were Metropolitans Ezekiel of Dervi and Seraphim of Sebasteia, bishops of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, and the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis.