The Holy Archdiocese of Australia is organising in Sydney, from 29 September to 1 October 2025, the 2nd Pan-Australian Clergy Synaxis, with the timely theme: “Social Media and the Priesthood: The use of Social Media by the Clergyman.” The proceedings of the Synaxis, held under the auspices of the Holy Eparchial Synod, will be hosted at the facilities of the Parish–Community of the Resurrection of Christ in Kogarah.
Representing the Mother Church and the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will be Metropolitan Apostolos of Miletus, Abbot of the Patriarchal and Stavropegic Monastery of Saint Anastasia Pharmakolytria in Chalkidiki. The Patriarchal Delegation will also include Patriarchal Deacon Fr. Photios Poulopoulos.
In addition, the three-day Clergy Synaxis will be graced by the participation of distinguished Hierarchs, invited by Archbishop Makarios of Australia: Their Eminences Metropolitan Ignatios of Demetrias and Almyros; Metropolitan Gregorios of Cameroon (Patriarchate of Alexandria); Metropolitan Ioustinos of Nea Krini and Kalamaria; and Metropolitan Damaskinos of Aetolia and Acarnania. Also participating will be Archimandrite Ignatios Mourtzanos, Protosyncellus of the Holy Metropolis of Larissa and Tyrnavos, and Hieromonk Chrysostomos, Elder of the Kellion of Saint John Chrysostom of the Koutloumousiou Skete on Mount Athos.
The opening of the 2nd Pan-Australian Clergy Synaxis will take place on the morning of Monday, 29 September. After the Service of the Blessing of the Waters, Archbishop Makarios of Australia will offer words of welcome, and a recorded message of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will be presented. This will be followed by greetings from Metropolitan Apostolos of Miletus, as representative of the Ecumenical Patriarch; Bishop Elpidios of Perth, on behalf of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese of Australia; and Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne, Fr. Miltiadis Chryssavgis, on behalf of all the clergy of the local Church. Thereafter, the presentations of the distinguished speakers will be delivered.
On the third day of the Synaxis, Wednesday, 1 October, a Synodal and Poly-Hierarchical Divine Liturgy will be celebrated, presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios, with the participation of clergy from all the Holy Dioceses, at the Holy Church of the Resurrection of Christ.
Below follows the detailed program of the Synaxis:
2nd Pan-Australian Clergy Synaxis
29 September – 1 October 2025
“Social Media and the Priesthood.
The Use of Social Media by the Clergyman”
The 2nd Pan-Australian Clergy Synaxis is convened under the auspices of the Holy Eparchial Synod
Sydney
29 September – 1 October 2025
Patriarchal Delegation
Metropolitan Apostolos of Miletus, Abbot of the Holy Patriarchal and Stavropegic Monastery of Saint Anastasia
Deacon Photios Poulopoulos, Patriarchal Deacon
Organising Committee
President
Archbishop Makarios of Australia
Members
Bishop Elpidios of Perth
Bishop Silouan of Adelaide
Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne
Bishop Evmenios of Chora
Bishop Bartholomew of Brisbane
Bishop Athinagoras of Canberra
Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis
Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia
Secretary
Bishop Christophoros of Kerasounta
Scholarly Committee
President
Archbishop Makarios of Australia
Members
Bishop Silouan of Adelaide
Bishop Athinagoras of Canberra
Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne, Fr Eusebios Pantanassiotis, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Pantanassa
Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne, Fr Amphilochios Papantoniou
Associate Prof. Philip Kariatlis, Sub-Dean of St Andrew’s Theological College
Secretary
Bishop Christophoros of Kerasounta
Speakers of the Synaxis
Archbishop Makarios of Australia
Metropolitan Ignatius of Demetrias and Almyros
Metropolitan Gregory of Cameroon
Metropolitan Ioustinos of Nea Krini and Kalamaria
Metropolitan Damaskinos of Aetolia and Acarnania
Bishop Elpidios of Perth
Bishop Silouan of Adelaide
Bishop Evmenios of Chora
Bishop Bartholomew of Brisbane
Bishop Athinagoras of Canberra
Bishop Christophoros of Kerasounta
Archimandrite Fr Ignatios Mourtzanos, Chancellor of the Holy Metropolis of Larissa and Tyrnavos
Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne, Fr Eusebios Pantanassiotis, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Pantanassa
Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne, Miltiades Chryssavgis
Hieromonk Fr Chrysostomos, Elder of the Kellion of Saint John Chrysostom, Skete of Koutloumousiou Monastery
Protopresbyter Fr Christos Dimolianis
Presbyter Fr Panteleimon Toumbelekis
Deacon Photios Poulopoulos, Patriarchal Deacon
Media Office of the Synaxis
Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne, Fr Amphilochios Papantoniou
Archimandrite Stephanos Tinikashvili
Deacon Timotheos Mavromatis
Mr Markellos Petropoulos, Director of the Media Office of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia
Masters of Ceremonies
Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia
Archimandrite Irenaeus Trialonakis
PROGRAMME
Monday, 29 September 2025
PRELIMINARY WORK – COMMENCEMENT
Chairman: Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia
Chief Secretary of the Holy Eparchial Synod
9:00 – 9:25
Arrival and seating of the clergy in the Synaxis Hall (Greek Orthodox Parish and Community Hall of Kogarah, 20 Belgrave Street, Kogarah).
9:25
Arrival of Their Eminences and Their Graces the Holy Hierarchs at the Synaxis Hall.
9:30
Arrival of the representative of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Metropolitan Apostolos of Miletus, together with Archbishop Makarios of Australia, President of the Holy Eparchial Synod.
9:30 – 9:45
Celebration of the Service of the Blessing of the Waters (Agiasmos), marking the opening of the Clergy Synaxis, officiated by Metropolitan Apostolos of Miletus.
1st Session: 9:15 – 11:45
Greetings and Opening Address by Archbishop Makarios.
9:45 – 9:50
Welcome by Archbishop Makarios of Australia.
9:50 – 10:00
Video message from the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
10:00 – 10:10
Greeting by the representative of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Metropolitan Apostolos of Miletus, and the official proclamation of the opening of the Clergy Synaxis.
10:10 – 10:20
Greeting by Bishop Elpidios of Perth on behalf of the Holy Eparchial Synod.
10:20 – 10:30
Greeting by Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne, Fr Miltiades Chryssavgis, on behalf of all the clergy of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia.
10:30 – 11:30
Keynote address by Archbishop Makarios of Australia on the theme: “Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Church.”
11:30 – 11:45
Questions and discussion on the keynote address.
11:45 – 12:15
Break.
2nd Session: 12:15 – 13:00
Chairman: Metropolitan Apostolos of Miletus
Theme: “Social Media: A Theological Approach”
12:15 – 13:15
Address by Metropolitan Ignatius of Demetrias and Almyros on the theme: “Man as Priest of Creation: The Climate Crisis and Modern Means of Communication.”
Questions and discussion to follow.
13:15 – 13:45
Address by Bishop Silouan of Adelaide on the theme: “Priestly Ministry and Social Media: A Theological and Pastoral Response.”
Questions and discussion to follow.
13:45 – 14:00
Official commemorative photograph.
14:00 – 15:30
Lunch offered in honour of the participants by the Parish of the Resurrection of Christ, Kogarah.
3rd Session: 15:30 – 17:00
Chairman: Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis
Theme: “Social Media: The Witness of the Church”
15:30 – 16:00
Address by Bishop Evmenios of Chora on the theme: “Mission in the Contemporary Age: From Apostolic Paths to Digital Networks – Witness or Publicity?”
Questions and discussion to follow.
16:00 – 16:30
Address by Bishop Bartholomew of Brisbane on the theme: “The Responsibilities of the Clergyman in the Use of Social Media.”
Questions and discussion to follow.
16:30 – 17:00
Address by Archimandrite Fr Ignatios Mourtzanos, Chancellor of the Holy Metropolis of Larissa and Tyrnavos, on the theme: “The Clergyman: An Influencer of Souls.”
17:00 – 17:30
Break.
4th Session: 17:30 – 19:00
Chairman: Metropolitan Ignatius of Demetrias and Almyros
Theme: “The Transition from Ethos to the Power of Numbers”
17:30 – 18:30
Address by Metropolitan Grigory of Cameroon on the theme: “An Experience Without Spectators is Now Useless. I Have Followers, Therefore I Exist.”
Questions and discussion to follow.
18:30 – 19:00
Address by Hieromonk Fr Chrysostomos, Elder of the Kellion of Saint John Chrysostom, Skete of Koutloumousiou Monastery, Mount Athos, on the theme: “Priestly Ethos and Habits: A Spiritual Balancing Act.”
Questions and discussion to follow.
19:00
Dinner offered in honour of the participants by the Parish of the Resurrection of Christ, Kogarah.
Tuesday, 30 September 2025
5th Session: 9:00 – 11:00
Chairman: Metropolitan Gregory of Cameroon
Theme: “Fear of Social Media – A Pastoral Approach”
9:00 – 10:00
Address by Metropolitan Ioustinos of Nea Krini and Kalamaria on the theme: “A Mark on their Right Hand or on their Foreheads: The Fear of the End Times in Social Media.”
Questions and discussion to follow.
10:00 – 11:00
Address by Metropolitan Damaskinos of Aetolia and Acarnania on the theme: “Contemporary Pastoral Ministry and Social Media.”
Questions and discussion to follow.
11:00 – 11:30
Break.
6th Session 11:30 – 13:00
Chairman: Metropolitan Ioustinos of Nea Krini and Kalamaria
Theme: “The Possibility of the Church’s Digital Witness”
11:30 – 12:00
Address by Bishop Athinagoras of Canberra on the theme: “Statistical Models Describing Patterns of Behaviour on Social Media.”
Questions and discussion to follow.
12:00 – 12:30
Address by Bishop Christophoros of Kerasounta, Chancellor of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, on the theme: “The Priest as an Icon of Christ in the Digital Age: A Call to Authentic Witness.”
Questions and discussion to follow.
12:30 – 13:00
Address by Patriarchal Deacon Photios Poulopoulos on the theme: “The Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Digital Ministry on Social Media.”
Questions and discussion to follow.
13:00 – 14:30
Lunch offered in honour of the participants by the Parish of the Resurrection of Christ, Kogarah.
7th Session: 14:30 – 16:00
Chairman: Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne
Theme: “Social Media: A Spiritual Approach”
14:30 – 15:00
Address by Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne, Fr Euesbios Pantanassiotis, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Pantanassa, on the theme: “Watchfulness and Pastoral Life in the Age of Screens.”
Questions and discussion to follow.
15:00 – 15:30
Address by Protopresbyter Fr Chris Dimolianis on the theme: “Thoughts (Logismoi) and Social Media.”
Questions and discussion to follow.
15:30 – 16:00
Address by Presbyter Fr Panteleimon Toumbelekis on the theme: “The Priest as Guide in the World of Social Media: Leading the Flock from Screens to the Sacraments.”
Questions and discussion to follow.
16:00 – 17:30
Questions from clergy on the Presentations or on other matters of pastoral concern.
Close of the Clergy Synaxis and concluding reflections by Archbishop Makarios of Australia.
17:30
Departure from the venue to the La Montage Reception Centre.
18:00
Official Banquet marking the conclusion of the Clergy Synaxis, and also celebrating the 40th Anniversary (1986 – 2025) of St Andrew’s Theological College, at the La Montage Reception Centre.
Wednesday, 1 October 2025
Synodal and Poly-Hierarchical Divine Liturgy presided by Archbishop Makarios of Australia, at the Church of the Resurrection of Christ, Kogarah, with the participation of clergy from all dioceses.
7:00
Beginning of Matins.
7:30
Archbishop Makarios presiding.
9:00
Beginning of the Divine Liturgy.
12:00
Brunch offered in honour of the participants by the Parish of the Resurrection of Christ, Kogarah.
20.00
Dinner offered in honour of Metropolitan Apostolos of Miletus, Representative of His All-Holiness, of the esteemed Hierarchs, and of the other invited guests, at the Archiepiscopal Residence
Thursday 2 October 2025
06.00
Departure from Sydney Airport of Metropolitan Apostolos of Miletus, Representative of His All-Holiness, of the esteemed Hierarchs, and of the other invited guests
