Archbishop Makarios of Australia paid an official visit to the island of Kastellorizo, in order to perform the Sacrament of Marriage of expatriates from the fifth continent and, at the same time, to welcome the presence of more than 200 Greek-Australians originating from Kastellorizo, who are currently on the island.
Upon his arrival on Friday, September 2, Archbishop Makarios was welcomed at the port by the island’s civil and military authorities, the Police Commissioner, the Vice-Chairman of the Consolidated Trust of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, Mr. Theodosis Penklis, and the Secretary of the Archdiocesan Council, Mr. Nicholas Pappas, as well as by a number of expatriates and locals, while the representative of Metropolitan of Symi, Tilos, Halki and Kastellorizo, Fr. Georgios Maltezos, was present.
During his three-day stay on the beautiful and historic island, Archbishop Makarios had the opportunity to communicate with many expatriates from distant Australia, while he visited some of the island’s churches and monasteries, toured its museums and, finally, had the joy and blessing of performing the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, September 4, in the historic Holy Church of Saints Constantine and Helen.
During his speech in the church, the Archbishop thanked Metropolitan Chrysostomos, and warmly praised his successful and God-satisfying archieratical and pastoral work. At the same time, he thanked the local political and military authorities, and the simple and pious people of the island, for the welcome they extended to him and for their presence at the worship gathering.
It is worth noting that the permanent residents of Kastellorizo are about 200, while the number of Greeks originating from this small island, who live in Australia, exceeds 50,000.
Archbishop Makarios, who was accompanied by his Archdeacon, Fr. Athenagoras, departed from Kastellorizo moved and delighted by what he experienced during his stay there, close to the hospitable people of the border island of Greece.
On his return, passing through Rhodes, Archbishop Makarios had the opportunity to meet briefly with Metropolitan Kyrillos of Rhodes, with whom he has been ecclesiastically linked since they both served in the Holy Archdiocese of Crete.
