With the Blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, His Grace Bishop Bartholomew of Brisbane conducted a Trisagion service for the repose of the victims of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 and laid a wreath on behalf of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia at the Church of Saint George in Brisbane.
Following the service, His Grace along with the Reverend Fathers Dimitri Tsakas, Stavros Karvelas, Timothy Evangelinidis and Athanasios Athanasiadis attended a function at the Cypriot Community Association of Queensland Hall where speeches were delivered, traditional cypriot music and dancing were performed and a brief video was shown of people who were present during the tragic events of 1974.
In his speech His Grace Bishop Bartholomew spoke about 50 years of mourning, 50 years of grief, 50 years of reflection. The bishop continued by saying that we must continue fighting for the justice of Cyprus and more importantly continue and increase our prayers that God intervenes.
Moreover Bishop Bartholomew emphasised that the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios as well as himself at a local State level will continue to lobby the authorities for the justice of Cyprus.
Bishop Bartholomew thanked the organisers for a great event, in particular congratulating the youth in the video that was shown stating that we have a responsibility to keep the light of Cyprus in our hearts and our youth are doing this.
The event featured Mr. Panayiotis Palates, Commissioner for the Citizen of the Republic of Cyprus, His Excellency Mr. Antonis Sammoutis, the High Commissioner for Cyprus in Australia, Mr. Stathis Zambas, President of the Cypriot Community of Queensland and Ms. Freda Valassakis, President of the Greek Orthodox Parish-Community of Saint George, Brisbane.
