On Monday, October 7, 2024, many believers gathered at Pantanassa Monastery, nestled in a lush forested area of Sydney, to welcome Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Upon arrival, the Patriarch was greeted by the Abbot, Archimandrite Eusebius, and the members of his Brotherhood, along with Abbots and Abbesses from five Holy Monasteries of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia. The Greek Ambassador to Australia, Stavros Venizelos, along with representatives of local associations, communities, and the Christian Youth Association, also welcomed the Patriarch.
In the Monastery’s Katholikon, a Doxology service was performed, during which Abbot Eusebius expressed his gratitude for the Patriarch’s visit, calling it historic. He also provided a brief history of the Monastery and presented Patriarch Bartholomew with an icon of Panagia Nikopoios, painted on wood from the local area.
The Patriarch shared his emotional response to visiting this Monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary and thanked the Abbot for the warm welcome. He also announced his decision to honor Archimandrite Stefanos for his significant contributions to the Church by bestowing upon him the Offikion of the Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne.
“The Holy Archdiocese of Australia is richly blessed by God, with not one but five Holy Monasteries that thrive spiritually thanks to the dedication of the monks and nuns and the paternal love of Archbishop Makarios. A shining example of such spirituality is Pantanassa Monastery, founded in 1975 by Elder Stefanos. Through his leadership and the grace of the Theotokos, the Monastery has flourished in this beautiful, verdant location,” said Patriarch Bartholomew.
Following the ceremony, the Patriarch inaugurated a new wing of the Monastery and blessed the aquaculture water tank, which will help meet the Monastery’s needs. He then presided over the Monastic Synaxis of the monks and nuns of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, where Archbishop Makarios also addressed the Patriarch.
In his address, Patriarch Bartholomew emphasized the importance of monasticism in the Orthodox Church and reflected on the lifestyle of those who choose this sacred path.
The visit concluded with a luncheon hosted in the Patriarch’s honor by the Abbot and the Brotherhood of the Monastery at a nearby Greek restaurant.
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas / Photos: Nikos Papachristou
