With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, His Grace Bishop Bartholomew of Charioupolis visited the Australian Capital and cut the traditional Vasilopita for the commencement of the new year 2024
In his brief address, His Grace emphasised the importance of commencing the new year with love and joy in our hearts, moreover, to make a genuine attempt this year to live our lives in accordance with the will of God rather than our wills.
Bishop Bartholomew then spoke about the many celebrations that we will be experiencing in 2024. Firstly with the upcoming visit to Australia of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and secondly with the 100 years anniversary of the establishment of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and for the first time in its history a Youth State Conference will be occurring in Canberra in September.
His Grace encouraged the Greek Orthodox faithful to participate in both the visit of our beloved Patriarch as well as in the many initiatives the Archdiocese will be organising.
The Bishop then emphasised the importance of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia stating that the Archdiocese is here to unite and serve and that in the words of St John Chrysostom, the Church is our Mother and our Archbishop is our Father.
Bishop Bartholomew then conveyed the love and blessings of our Spiritual Father and Shepherd, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia for a safe, healthy and prosperous new year.
Amongst those who attended the cutting of the Vasilopita were the High Commissioner of Cyprus His Excellency Mr. Antonis Sammoutis, the President of the Parish and Community of Saint Nicholas, Canberra, Mr. Panagiotis Tsironis, the President of the Hellenic Club of Canberra, Mr. Andrew Satsias and former President of the Parish and Community of St Nicholas, Canberra, Mr. John Loukadellis