250 Australians travel to Constantinople for Ecumenical Patriarch’s election anniversary

Around 250 Australians have arrived in Constantinople to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the election of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

In a surprise moment, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia welcomed the travellers at the airport on behalf of the Ecumenical Patriarch, currently visiting Bulgaria.

Archbishop Makarios warmly welcomed the delegation and thanked the faithful across the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia for their strong response to the trip.

The pilgrimage highlights the enduring ties between Greek Orthodox communities in Australia and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the historic centre of the Orthodox Christian world.

The pilgrims will participate in the programme of anniversary celebrations and, in particular, in the event entitled «Ἡ ζωή ἦν τό φῶς» (“In Him Was Life, and the Life Was the Light”), which will be presented on Thursday, 22 October, in honour of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, on the occasion of the completion of 35 years of his distinguished Patriarchal ministry.

The arrival of the large delegation from Australia marks the beginning of a historic and moving pilgrimage to Constantinople, centred upon the Venerable Centre of Orthodoxy and the person of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.