On the occasion of his visit to Victoria for the celebration of Christmas, Archbishop Makarios of Australia held a fruitful discussion, on spiritual and practical issues, with all the clergy who serve in the Greek Orthodox parishes of Victoria.
Present at the Hierarchical Assembly, which took place at the Holy Temple of Saint Efstathios, were Metropolitan Ezekiel of Derby and the Archbishopric Vicars of Melbourne and Northcote, Bishops Kyriakos of Sozopolis and Evmenios of Kerasous.
During his presentation, His Holiness referred to the Orthodox ecclesiastical ethos and wisdom, analyzing its content. He also referred to some of the most important events of the two-thousand-year course of the Church and presented the corresponding expressions of ecclesiastical ethos, as well as the consequences or their alteration. Concluding, he stressed the responsibility to “cultivate and enhance church spirit and wisdom” as a local Church in Australia and called on the clergy to maintain a spirit of unity, solidarity, and obedience.
Also, during the Assembly, the Archbishop officially introduced the two new Bishops, who are the heads of the Archdiocese of Melbourne and Northcote. Speaking of two worthy and capable Bishops, he urged the clergy of Victoria to have good and kind cooperation with them, while assuring that he remains available for personal communication with all of them.