Australia Welcomes Patriarch Bartholomew, the First of the Orthodox Church

Australia is preparing to welcome the leader of the Orthodox Church, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. 

The Primate of Orthodoxy, often referred to as the “Peacemaker Patriarch” due to his peace-making initiatives and his dedication to the peaceful coexistence of peoples, will visit the cities of Sydney and Melbourne from Friday 4th October to Saturday 19th October 2024, and will participate in a series of commemorative events marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia. Among the key events will be the Patriarchal Divine Liturgies, which will take place in Sydney and Melbourne on 6th and 13th October 2024, respectively. 

The Holy Archdiocese invites its devout faithful to participate in this great celebration of the local Church, to receive the blessing of our Ecumenical Patriarch, and at the same time, to express their filial love and respect toward His All-Holiness and, through him, to the Mother Church of Constantinople. 

In his message, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia notes: “The current generations of our community have a rare opportunity to welcome, in the land where they have built their second homeland, the Patriarch of our Nation, the guardian of the Orthodox faith, and the history and traditions of our ancestors. In the venerable person of His All-Holiness, as well as in the exalted institution he represents, we see our past, present, and future. I urge our devout and Christ-loving people to take full advantage of the forthcoming blessed presence of the Ecumenical Patriarch among us as an opportunity for spiritual renewal, strengthening, and inspiration in light of the many challenges we face in the second century of life and journey of our local Church.” 

For more information on the events and seat reservations, where necessary, those interested can visit the website: https://patriarchvisit.org.au/](https://patriarchvisit.org.au/