Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew visited the Parish of the Transfiguration of Christ the Savior, in the Holy Diocese of Chora, located in the suburb of Thomastown, Melbourne, on Thursday, October 17. Accompanied by Archbishop Makarios of Australia, the Ecumenical Patriarch was greeted with great enthusiasm, as rose petals were scattered and joyful bells rang. He was warmly welcomed by the Parish’s Hierarchical Head, Fr. George Frangos.
“We are proud to have you as our spiritual leader,” emphasized Fr. George during his address, highlighting that the visit of the Ecumenical Patriarch to Australia further strengthens the spiritual bonds between the faithful of the local Church and the Holy Center of Orthodoxy.
“You are the beacon that guides us with your wisdom, the voice of Orthodoxy that resonates across the world, calling for peace, justice, and love,” Fr. George said to the Ecumenical Patriarch, assuring him that “your presence among us will remain forever etched in our memory.”
He also expressed gratitude for the election of Makarios as Archbishop of Australia, noting that during his five-year tenure, he has spiritually revitalized the Holy Archdiocese, which has opened its “embrace” to both young people and the broader Australian society.
At the conclusion, Fr. George presented the Ecumenical Patriarch with an 18th-century icon of Saint Charalambos, as a symbol of the deep love and devotion of the Parish members to his venerable person and the Mother Church.
Taking the floor, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew expressed the mixed emotions he felt—what he described as “joyful sorrow”—as his visit to Australia was nearing its conclusion.
“Feelings of joy, because we have witnessed tremendous progress in the life, work, and ministry of the Archdiocese of Australia, and regret, because this visit is coming to an end, and, at least physically, we will be apart,” he explained.
“We are leaving, but we are leaving a part of our heart here,” he emphasized, before speaking with warm paternal words about the ministry of Archbishop Makarios.
He emphasized that since Archbishop Makarios assumed leadership of the local Church, its ties with the Holy Center have become closer and more heartfelt. He described Makarios as “a Hierarch devoted in both soul and body to the Mother Church, always eager to support its mission in various ways.”
“We deeply appreciate all of this, and we surround him with love and trust,” he added. Concluding his speech, he addressed the faithful, proclaiming: “We love you very much! And because we love you so much, we sent you the best Archbishop!”
At the request of the Ecumenical Patriarch, Metropolitan Philotheos of Thessaloniki also offered a brief greeting.
To express his joy over the experiences he had with the Orthodox faithful of the fifth continent, Metropolitan Philotheos began with a phrase the Disciples used when speaking to Christ during the Transfiguration: “It is good for us to be here.”
“Of course, this is not possible,” he noted, “but the hospitality and the experiences we have received during these days make us feel a deep connection with all the people here.”
Metropolitan Philotheos then turned his attention to the Primate of the Orthodox Church, emphasizing that, as in every place he visits, so in Australia, “he comes to carry out the work of an Evangelist.”
“Our Ecumenical Patriarch is an evangelist,” he explained, “and he fulfills this role in many ways: through his preaching, his ministry in the Great Church, his way of life, and through all that he generously offers for the sake of the Church and for all people.”
His work extends beyond the Orthodox Church, embracing the entire world. He proclaims the truth to the people of God. It provides all of us, through this evangelism, the opportunity to bear witness to the truth.”
In conclusion, he remarked that this work of evangelism is also carried out by the associates of the Ecumenical Patriarch, the Hierarchs of the Ecumenical Throne around the world. He extended his congratulations to Archbishop Makarios, the Bishops, and all the companions of the Ecumenical Patriarch in Australia.
Also present during the Patriarchal visit to the Parish of the Transfiguration of the Savior were Metropolitan Kyrillos of Imbros and Tenedos, Grand Protosyncellus Gregory, Grand Ecclesiarch Aetios, Director of the Private Patriarchal Office, Patriarchal Deacon Eulogios, Nun Iakovi, Abbess of the Holy Hermitage of the Honorable Forerunner in Akritochori, Archon Teacher of the Nation Konstantinos Delikostantis, Director of the First Patriarchal Office, Archon Teacher of the Church Theodoros Giagkos, Professor at the Theological School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Themistoklis Karanikolas, a staff member of the Patriarchate of Melbourne, as well as the Metropolitans Ezekiel of Dervi and Seraphim of Sevastia, Bishop Eumenius of Chora, and the other Bishops of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, the Consul General of Greece in Melbourne Emmanuel Kakavelakis, Archons of the Ecumenical patriarchate, His Holiness’ brother, Nikolaos Archontonis, and the parents of the Archbishop of Australia, Emmanuel and Fotini Griniezakis.
