The 3rd Northcote Festival was held at the Holy Diocese of Chora, and it also served as the culminating anniversary event marking 35 years since the election and enthronement of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (1991–2026).
Archbishop Makarios of Australia, who declared the opening of the Festival’s events, spoke with gratitude about the Ecumenical Patriarch and his 35 years of service, emphasizing, among other things, that “we are blessed by God to have our Patriarch. Especially here in Australia, we have much to say about Patriarch Bartholomew and the Ecumenical Patriarchate. If it weren’t for our Patriarch, we wouldn’t have the Dioceses, nor the Constitution. We owe everything to our Patriarch.”
He then spoke about the journey and contribution of Hellenism in Australia, stressing that “our parents and grandparents came to Australia, bringing with them the Orthodox faith, their traditions, memories, and hopes. Through hard work and sacrifice, they built families, churches, schools, and communities. They did not simply preserve their heritage here; they themselves also helped shape the Australia we know today. We are the ones who inherit this responsibility.”
The Archbishop expressed his satisfaction that the vision that inspired the organization of the Northcote Festival is now taking shape: for the Holy Cathedral of Panagia “Axion Estin” to become not only a spiritual home for the Greek Orthodox community, but also a place of encounter and communication with the wider Australian society. “The Northcote Festival,” he noted, “is a celebration of our Greek Orthodox heritage, our traditions, music, dance, cuisine, and culture. At the same time, however, it also expresses something deeper: our desire to share with the country we have the privilege of calling our homeland everything we received from our ancestors. We do not preserve our heritage by keeping it locked within the boundaries of our own community. We preserve it by living it and sharing it with others. For this reason, I am especially pleased to see among us today so many people from different backgrounds.”
It should be noted that the 3rd Northcote Festival, held with great success on Sunday, August 23, brought together not only Greek and Cypriot associations and organizations but also delegations from other communities, Ukrainian, Romanian, Albanian, Turkish, Assyrian, and Korean, as well as other Australians, who shared elements of their traditions through music, dance, and cuisine.
Throughout the day, more than ten thousand visitors flocked to the Festival grounds, toured the stalls, watched and took part in its various events, and joined activities for all ages. Among those present were Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne, clergy from the Holy Dioceses of Chora and Melbourne, as well as representatives of political leadership and local government, including Ms. Katerina Theophanous, State MP for the Labor Party, who represented Mr. Paul Edbrooke, Victoria’s Minister for Multicultural Affairs; Ms. Emily Dimitriadis, Mayor of the City of Darebin; Liberal Party State MP Mr. Evan Mulholland; and Ms. Bernadette Khoury and Ms. Nathalie Moussi, members of the Local Liberal Council.
Archbishop Makarios thanked everyone for their presence at the Northcote Festival and expressed his gratitude to those who actively participated in the organization and contributed to its success. He made special mention of Bishop Evmenios of Chora, praising his devoted and fruitful ministry, and asked the clergy and laity of the Holy Diocese of Chora to work alongside him in a spirit of goodwill and harmonious cooperation. He also thanked and commended Fr. Philippos Papagiannopoulos, the priest in charge of the Holy Cathedral, calling him a young and devoted clergyman who “makes us proud every day.”
At the conclusion of the official part of the Festival, everyone stood together and chanted the “Fimi” (acclamation) of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
