On October 9, 2024, a day that will be etched in the memories of the devout faithful of the Parish–Community of the Resurrection of Christ in the suburb of Kogarah, Sydney, as a historic and unforgettable occasion, the parishioners had the joy and blessing of welcoming the leader of the Orthodox Church, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Their magnificent church had been “dressed” in its festive attire from early on, and leading the enthusiastic reception were the youth of the Greek Orthodox community of Kogarah.
“Your All-Holiness, we love you” was the message that greeted the Patriarch upon his arrival—spelled out in large letters on the shirts of Greek children who stood side by side on the church steps. The same message was echoed in the smiling—and at times emotional—faces of young and old alike, who had gathered to meet him, greet him, and receive his blessing.
Following the playing and singing of the national anthems of Australia and Greece by a student band and choir, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew delivered a heartfelt address from a podium in front of the Church of the Resurrection. He began, visibly moved, by recalling his previous visit to the Kogarah parish 28 years ago, and praised God for the blessing of returning to a place where the “heart” of Hellenism and Orthodoxy beats strongly. He also focused on the dedication to Greek Orthodox traditions by the immigrants who settled in Kogarah from the mid-20th century onward and built a thriving community. “The cornerstone of this flourishing community,” he noted, “was—and continues to be—the Greek Orthodox Church of the Resurrection of our Lord, which has played a vital role in preserving a cultural connection with the homeland and fostering a sense of belonging among Greek Orthodox believers.”
The Ecumenical Patriarch also emphasized the contributions of the Resurrection Parish to the wider community through its active involvement in charitable activities, support for schools and hospitals, and engagement in other community initiatives, as well as its cultural outreach to people from diverse backgrounds. On this occasion, he highlighted the important mission of the Orthodox Church in the modern world, as articulated in the documents produced by the Holy and Great Council of Crete in 2016. He reminded the gathered crowd that during the historic Council in Crete, the Orthodox Churches addressed many of the challenges of our time, including racism, poverty, and the widening gap of economic inequality. He stressed that “the mission of the Church must be to work toward strengthening solidarity and brotherhood.” He concluded with the wish that “the Church of the Resurrection of our Lord here in Kogarah may also be a ‘place of gathering,’ where we come together to become one body in Christ. United in this way, may we be strengthened to go out into society with this mission, for the good of humanity and the world at large. May the Church be a beacon and instrument of this hope, a beacon and instrument of the vision for a culture of sharing and giving, of existence as co-existence, and life as communion.”
After concluding his speech, the Ecumenical Patriarch proudly watched the younger generation of the Parish–Community perform and sing in his honor. Deeply moved, he then entered the church, accompanied by Archbishop Makarios of Australia, Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia, the Parish–Community President Mr. Nicholas Varvaris, and other dignitaries. Bishop Christodoulos addressed the Patriarch with words of filial love, respect, and gratitude on behalf of all, while the Patriarch, in response, fondly recalled memories of his visit to Kogarah in 1996. He also paid tribute to the humble personality of Elder Paisios of Mount Athos, later canonized as a saint of the Orthodox Church and the Patron Saint of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, and spoke of the 70 saints who have been added to the Church’s calendar during his Patriarchate, describing this as a blessing from God and an enrichment of our tradition and spirituality.
Among those present during the Patriarchal visit to the Parish–Community of the Resurrection of Christ were Metropolitan Kyrillos of Imbros and Tenedos, Metropolitan Philotheos of Thessaloniki, the Grand Archimandrite Gregory, the Grand Ecclesiarch Aetios, Director of the Patriarch’s Private Office, Patriarchal Deacon Eulogios, Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, Abbess Iakovi of the Monastery of the Forerunner in Akrithochori, Archon Teacher of the Nation Konstantinos Delikostantis, Director of the First Patriarchal Office, Archon Teacher of the Church Theodoros Giagkou, Professor at the Theological School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Nicholas-Georgios Papachristou, Director of the Patriarchal Press and Communications Office, Themistoklis Karanikolas of the Patriarchal staff, as well as several bishops and many clergy of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia.
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou
