Meeting of the Archbishop of Australia with the Ambassador of Israel

A meeting was held between His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia and His Excellency the Ambassador of Israel to Australia, Mr Amir Maimon at the Archdiocesan Residence in Sydney.

The meeting, which lasted two hours, was warm and in a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation, the agenda of the discussions between the two men included issues of common interest. The Ambassador of Israel, who has recently been appointed in Canberra taking up his new duties, also expressed the desire to meet His Eminence, in order to exchange views on current issues of concern to Australia and the wider world community in general, such as the war in Ukraine.

In addition, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia had the opportunity to refer to the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the leading role of His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew as the head of the Orthodox Church, while he did not fail to mention the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, whose seat is in Israel.

At the same time, His Eminence described to the guest of honour, the structure and the operation of the Archdiocese as well as the contribution of the Greek Diaspora in the fifth Continent. The Ambassador, for his part, stressed the historical ties that unite Greece and Israel and characteristically underlined that “in Australia we all try to build bridges of unity and mutual support.”

The meeting ended with a dinner, which was offered by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios in honour of His Excellency Mr. Amir Maimon. It should be noted that the meeting was also attended by His Grace Bishop Bartholomew of Charioupolis, Archiepiscopal Vicar of Canberra, and the Chancellor of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, Very Rev. Father Christophoros Krekelis, Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne.