As the impressive Centennial Hall of Sydney Town Hall opened its doors on Friday night, March 25, to welcome more than 2,000 guests to the concert entitled “Authentis – 30 years at the helm” -dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the ascension of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the Throne of the Mother Church – only a few of those entering the room were able to imagine the pandemonium of sounds they would enjoy and the intensity of the emotions they would experience.
It was undoubtedly a long-awaited musical event, organized by the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, under the spiritual guidance and supervision of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, and, therefore, the members of the Australian National Metropolitan Choir, founded in 2020, were sure to give their best in order to touch the hearts of the spectators and to honor His All-Holiness in the best possible way.
However, the artistic result of the evening exceeded all expectations, even of the most optimistic of the concert organizers and performers, and gave an unprecedented experience of spiritual uplift and musical intoxication to those who were lucky enough to be in the crowded Sydney Town Hall.
During the concert, which marked the maiden appearance of the Australian National Metropolitan Choir, the song “Glory be to You, O Lord – Doxa Soi, Kyrie”, dedicated to the Ecumenical Patriarch, was performed for the first time, which was composed by the Director of the Choir, distinguished composer and conductor, Mr. Themos Mexis.
It is recalled that the National Metropolitan Choir was a vision of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, and received “flesh and bones” in December 2020, during which time it was officially founded by the Archbishop, with the aim of further upgrading the cultural life of the Greek Diaspora and attracting the new generation to church music and the Greek music tradition in general.
The Initial ambition was for the first concert of the Choir to take place in the historic church of Saint Irene in Constantinople, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the ascension to the Throne of His All Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew.
Although the ongoing pandemic and the subsequent restrictions did not allow this ambition to succeed, the concert was not canceled but was hosted in a historic building, Sydney Town Hall, on the day of the celebration of the Anniversary of the Greek Revolution and the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos.
In fact, the concert was offered free of charge to the faithful of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, as a sign of gratitude for the love they have for the seventh Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and in the person of the Patriarch. Bartholomew.
In fact, the concert was offered free of charge to the faithful of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, as a sign of gratitude for the love they have for the venerable Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and in the person of Patriarch Bartholomew.
More than 230 musicians, choirs, and instrument players appeared on stage at Sydney Town Hall on Friday night, including some 80 members of the Australian National Metropolitan Choir, accompanied by the Sydney Youth Orchestra, artists Sarantis Konstantopedos, Tassos Lambrou, and Antonis Petrantonakis, the Sydney Thistle Highland Pipe Band and the Youth of the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney.
Everyone, with their skill and professionalism, managed to cause widespread excitement in the room, eliciting the frequent and warm applause of the audience.
During the concert, a recorded message of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was shown, who addressed heartfelt thanks to Archbishop Makarios of Australia and to those who contributed to the organization of the event, while he also referred to the important role that the venerable Center of Orthodoxy plays throughout humanity.
This special evening ended with a short greeting from Archbishop Makarios of Australia, who, taking to the podium, first asked the audience to stand up for a brief moment, to join all together in prayer for peace in Ukraine.
His Eminence then spoke with feelings of filial love, respect, and admiration for the Primate of Orthodoxy. Speaking of a huge ecclesiastical and leading personality, he noted that the Ecumenical Patriarch “combines scientific knowledge, theological education, Christian morality, and administrative ability.”
“And all this, in connection with the deep piety that distinguishes him, modesty, meekness, the virtue of simplicity and especially his selfless and generous love, create the model of the perfect ecclesiastical leader,” he added.
Elsewhere, valuing the 30 years of his ascension to Patriarch of Patriarch Bartholomew, the Archbishop distinguished, among other things, that “he is a gift from heaven to the world and to modern man.”
“That is why the anniversary of his election is no longer a personal or local event”, he underlined, “but first and foremost it is a cause of praise for all of us, clergy and laity, to God for ” the excessive Grace of God given to us, and this unspeakable great gift”
His Eminence pointed out that the event in Sydney Town Hall, with the full participation of the clergy and the people of the local Church, demonstrated in practice the respect of all for the person of the Patriarch and for the Mother Church.
“The bridge that connects Australia with the shores of the Bosphorus is gaining more and more explorers every day.”
His Eminence pointed out characteristically, “who, in one way or another, march towards the City, the Queen of all Cities, to venerate the sanctuaries, the Holy and the Sanctified and to receive the blessing of our Great Patriarch”.
In closing, the Archbishop congratulated Themos Mexis and all the participants of the concert, while expressing his optimism for the future of the National Metropolitan Choir of Australia, while also thanking the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for his heartfelt message, assuring that the pilgrimages from Australia to the City of Constantinople will continue and announcing in advance that the Ecumenical Patriarch himself will visit the fifth continent in 2024, for the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the local Church of Australia.
It is noted that among the large audience that attended the event of the Holy Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia at Sydney Town Hall, Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolos, Bishop Emilianos of Meloa, Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia, and Bishop Bartholomew of Charioupolis, the High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus to Australia, Martha Mavrommatis, the Consul of Ukraine in Sydney, Yaroslav Douma, and Konstantinos Giannakodimos, representative of the Greek Consulate in Sydney.
