The Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand of the Serbian Orthodox Church (Metropolitanate) has made several attempts to resolve the litigation against the Free Serbian Orthodox Church Diocese for Australia and New Zealand Property Trust and its management over the St Sava Monastery in the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

On Sunday, 1 December 2013, a lecture about St Philaret of Moscow will be presented at the St Lazarus Serbian Orthodox Church, Alexandria, NSW.

With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, the forty-ninth annual Orthodox Conference (“Syezd”) will be held at Camp Manyung, Mt Eliza, just south of Melbourne. Beginning on Thursday, 19th December, the Syezd will be held over six days and five nights ending on Tuesday, 24th December, 2013.

What is Syezd?

Melbourne Syezd 2013

Melbourne is delighted to host Syezd 2013, especially as there seems to be somewhat of a resurrection of interest and yearning for guidance in living an Orthodox lifestyle!

In response to people’s renewed interest, Syezd 2013 will focus on workshop-style discussions relating to more controversial topics where attendees will have a chance to explore the choices that are available to them in uplifting their own lifestyles, worldview, and shedding light on their future direction. In the fast-paced and scrambled world we live in today, Orthodox Christians, more than ever, are seeking ways to rise above declining moral and living standards, and are reaching for support in their endeavours to create a brighter future for themselves and their loved ones.

From feedback gathered by people in our parish communities, the topics of greatest interest include: Science and Nature, Morals and Conscience, Family and Values, and Atheism and Apathy. Clergy from around Australia, New Zealand and abroad will be joining the discussions, providing guidance and support, and sharing ways of overcoming trials and tribulations. Delegates will have the chance to socialise with the clergy and to see them as friends and mentors. Most of all, delegates will feel reassured that we are all in this together, and can reach out to each other for comfort, encouragement and support.

Due to the mature content of the topics to be covered, Syezd is open to anyone over the age of 18.  All the information about Melbourne Syezd 2013 including registration is on the official Syezd website: www.syezd.com.au

The Monastery – PART A

We are pleased to present the location, the first buildings and future plans for the completion of the first Orthodox Christian Monastery in New Zealand. One can ask, what is the reason for the existence of a monastery? We Orthodox Christians can very easily answer that such a monastery is necessary for one is the Holy and Catholic Church which supports, provides spiritual shelter and center for every feeble soul. In this idyllic environment Levin, AN estate owned 104 acres, will serve God first, soon THE FIRST holy male monastery of the Holy Metropolis of New Zealand, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, in the name of the Synaxis of the Archangels (9×5) AND THE adjacent church of St. Basil (6×2.5) WILL cost about 60,000 euros, or $130,000 N.Z.

We kindly ask you if you can donate whatever you can in this account:
Bank Westpac: Branch, 2 Devon St. East, New Plymouth, New Zealand
Name: Amfilochios Tsoukos
Full account number: 03-1566-0068447-00
Swift code: WPACNZ2W
Thank you for your support. May the Archangels be of help to you and your families and may you have the blessings of Saint Basil the organizer of Orthodox Monasticism.

† Archbishop of New Zealand Amfilochios

The Monastery – PART B

Sacred Monastery of the Holy Archangels and St. Basil – Neo Tharri Levin, New Zealand.

Our revered Elder Metropolitan of New Zealand Amphilochios from the beginning of his presence in this beautiful country was searching for a suitable location for establishing a male Monastery.

Upon investigation and in a wonderful way, the required was found in an idyllic setting on the North Island of New Zealand outside the town of Levin: a piece of earthly paradise on 104 acres, crowned by New Zealand bush of silver fern on the top and with a large Makahika river swirling like a giant snake at his feet, making its prostration.

Amidst the “Eden”, the presence of God, wonderfully harmonized with the environment a church of the Grand Commanders of the Heavenly hosts with a chapel of St. Basil, has become a pole of attraction, as believers are coming from everywhere to relax and spiritually rejuvenate.

In this ‘‘spiritual lung’’ many New Zealanders as well are approaching to be edified and included within our Holy Orthodoxy

The Church of the Archangels has dimensions 9mx5m and the adjacent Chapel of St. Basil 6mx2.5m. The construction work began less than two years ago and the opening service of the two churches were
on May 1. 2010.

Alongside a Baptistery in the shape of cross was built, and so far there have been several baptisms.

The assistance of any kind for the continuation of this God blessed work is welcome and also blessed by God.

Date: 22 December

Time: 5:00pm – 8:30pm

Venue: Festival Hall

Address: 300 Dudley St, West Melbourne

Cost: All are welcome to attend and entrance is free

Refreshments: Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase at the Hall.

Concert Presentation Programme: A variety of traditional Christmas Carols in Greek, English and other languages for all ages. This is a combined Christmas celebration for all Parishes and Communities in Melbourne.

Sponsor: Delphi Bank

Brief Commentary about Event

For the 30th year running, the Second Archdiocesan District of Victoria and Tasmania of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia is convening once again the Orthodox Christmas Carols Concert at Festival Hall in West Melbourne. Over the years this event has grown, developed, and in more recent times, slowly become a Pan Orthodox Christian event involving differing Eastern and some Oriental Orthodox cultural traditions. For many, this event has become a welcome respite and counter-cultural event to the usual commercialised and secularised Christmas carols that one is bombarded with in Australia around the time of Christmas. Many of the carols that are usually on offer to the wider public are steeped in emotional sentimentality or de-christianised content, that do not express true Christian thought or spirituality regarding the import of the Faith or the feast to which people are gathering to celebrate. For the Orthodox, the frustration is given greater weight since Christmas within the Australian context only revolves around the Feast of the Nativity or the worldly New Year, while ignoring the other 11 days of Christmas, especially the all important feast of Theophany. Within Orthodox Christian lands there are carols and dances that are specific to the various days of the feast of “Dodecaimeron” (the 12 Days of Christmas), varying in expressions according to regional customs. The Orthodox Christmas carols concert at Festival Hall often showcases these differing songs and dances that revolve around “Dodecaimeron”, which are often accompanied by liturgical hymns from the Church services of the 12 day feast.

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2013 

STYLIANOS

By the grace of God Archbishop of Australia to all the Reverend Clergy and devout faithful of our holy Archdiocese

Brother concelebrants and beloved children of the Church,

Once again, we are preparing to celebrate Christmas and the other Feasts of the sacred Twelve Days following.

Yet, the phenomena of international violence, together with crime of every kind and materialistic hysteria, do not allow us to experience the joy of the Incarnation in a sincere and God-pleasing manner. We cannot even chant the angelic hymn of peace with ‘untainted lips’ and with a clear conscience.

If, after the passage of so many centuries, the Incarnation of God has not made our world more loving, this is due not so much to the non-Christians as perhaps to the Christians of East and West, whose conduct not only fails to provide a good example, but instead provokes the non-Christians in particular.

When Mahatma Gandhi – that renowned pacifist political leader of India – was asked why he did not adopt Christianity, his reply was overwhelming: “I would have become a Christian long ago, if so called Christians followed the teaching of Christ 24 hours a day!”

It is unfortunately true that, neither the public nor private lives of Christians could be an example for non-Christians to follow, as they rightly evaluate us based on the criterion of the Gospel of Christ.

If we take into account how many ‘treaties’ and ‘protocols’ of peace have been agreed to internationally, introduced mainly by Christian peoples, we will admit that the dream of “peace on earth” still remains distant and unfulfilled. Since, of course, true peace is not simply the absence of war, but respect for the human person, which is an image of the invisible God. And in saying the ‘human person’, we do so regardless of race, gender, colour, religion or age.

With the Birth of Christ, God becomes our neighbour and our neighbour becomes God. And all of this is not due to some blind necessity of nature, but rather to God’s immeasurable mercy and love for all humankind.

To Him be the glory and power and veneration unto all ages. Amen!

With fervent prayers to Him

Archbishop STYLIANOS

Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in Australia

Egypt’s Muslims attend Coptic Christmas Liturgy, serving as “human shields”

Yasmine El-Rashidi, Friday 7 Jan 2011

Muslims turned up in droves for the Coptic Christmas liturgy Thursday night, offering their bodies, and lives, as “shields” to Egypt’s threatened Christian community

Egypt’s majority Muslim population stuck to its word Thursday night. What had been a promise of solidarity to the weary Coptic community, was honoured, when thousands of Muslims showed up at Coptic Christmas eve liturgy services in churches around the country and at candle light vigils held outside.

From the well-known to the unknown, Muslims had offered their bodies as “human shields” for last night’s liturgy, making a pledge to collectively fight the threat of Islamic militants and towards an Egypt free from sectarian strife.

“We either live together, or we die together,” was the sloganeering genius of Mohamed El-Sawy, a Muslim arts tycoon whose cultural centre distributed flyers at churches in Cairo Thursday night, and who has been credited with first floating the “human shield” idea.

Among those shields were movie stars Adel Imam and Yousra, popular Muslim televangelist and preacher Amr Khaled, the two sons of President Hosni Mubarak, and thousands of citizens who have said they consider the attack one on Egypt as a whole.

“This is not about us and them,” said Dalia Mustafa, a student who attended liturgy at Virgin Mary Church on Maraashly Street. “We are one. This was an attack on Egypt as a whole, and I am standing with the Copts because the only way things will change in this country is if we come together.”

In the days following the brutal attack on Saints Church in Alexandria, which left 21 dead on New Year’ eve, solidarity between Muslims and Copts has seen an unprecedented peak. Millions of Egyptians changed their Facebook profile pictures to the image of a cross within a crescent – the symbol of an “Egypt for All”. Around the city, banners went up calling for unity, and depicting mosques and churches, crosses and crescents, together as one.

The attack has rocked a nation that is no stranger to acts of terror, against all of Muslims, Copts and Jews. In January of last year, on the eve of Coptic Christmas, a drive-by shooting in the southern town of Nag Hammadi killed eight Copts as they were leaving Church following liturgy. In 2004 and 2005, bombings in the Red Sea resorts of Taba and Sharm El-Sheikh claimed over 100 lives, and in the late 90’s, Islamic militants executed a series of bombings and massacres that left dozens dead.

This attack though comes after a series of more recent incidents that have left Egyptians feeling left out in the cold by a government meant to protect them.

Last summer, 28-year-old businessman Khaled Said was beaten to death by police, also in Alexandria, causing a local and international uproar. Around his death, there have been numerous other reports of police brutality, random arrests and torture.

Last year was also witness to a ruthless parliamentary election process in which the government’s security apparatus and thugs seemed to spiral out of control. The result, aside from injuries and deaths, was a sweeping win by the ruling party thanks to its own carefully-orchestrated campaign that included vote-rigging, corruption and widespread violence. The opposition was essentially annihilated. And just days before the elections, Copts – who make up 10 percent of the population – were once again the subject of persecution, when a government moratorium on construction of a Christian community centre resulted in clashes between police and protestors. Two people were left dead and over 100 were detained, facing sentences of up to life in jail.

The economic woes of a country that favours the rich have only exacerbated the frustration of a population of 80 million whose majority struggle each day to survive. Accounts of thefts, drugs, and violence have surged in recent years, and the chorus of voices of discontent has continued to grow.

The terror attack that struck the country on New Year’s eve is in many ways a final straw – a breaking point, not just for the Coptic community, but for Muslims as well, who too feel marginalized, oppressed, and overlooked by a government that fails to address their needs. On this Coptic Christmas eve, the solidarity was not just one of religion, but of a desperate and collective plea for a better life and a government with accountability.

Woman claims she was denied committee membership because of her gender

 Helen Velissaris Reporting

25 Feb 2014 – Neos Kosmos English Edition

A Greek woman in the Victorian town of Mildura has taken the local Orthodox Church committee to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), arguing her application to join the committee was rejected because of her gender.

Maria Bakopoulos says her application to join the 30 plus member committee was unfairly dismissed and internal pleas to review the decision fell on deaf ears.

She says the lack of communication and wiggle room from the community on the matter pushed her to eventually get a hearing heard by VCAT last Thursday.

Based on the church’s constitution, everyone is free to apply to become a financial member but approval rests at the committee’s discretion.

Bill Stamation, a financial committee member who fronted the tribunal, told Neos Kosmos the decision to reject Ms Bakopoulos’ application was “unanimous by the committee” and was not “based on gender”.

He declined a number of times to say what exactly contributed to the application’s rejection to Neos Kosmos. The committee took the same stance at the tribunal, saying they do not need to disclose the reasoning behind the decision.

Out of the 30 plus financial committee members currently elected, not one is female.

Mr Stamation says he hasn’t received an application from a female member of the Greek community because he believes they are happy being a part of the philoptochos women’s society of Mildura.

The women’s society has no say in how the committee spends its funds or what they do with their property.
Ms Bakopoulos was compelled to become a financial committee member after she was denied access to the church for her father’s memorial, which she had booked months in advance.

She says they argued there was no one available to open the church and hall because the committee was too busy preparing for a paniyri at the time.
“Let me become a member of the committee and I will open it if it’s just a technicality,” Ms Bakopoulos remembers telling Bill Stamation when the incident happened.

She says he said to her “No, no, no way, you can’t open it and I’ll let you know about it.”

“It was just the usual round the bush,” she tells Neos Kosmos.

Ms Bakopoulos had to travel more than 100km to the nearest Orthodox Church in South Australia to have her late father’s six month memorial.

She was told by family not to take the matter further lest the committee choose to close the church again at the year anniversary of her father’s death.
“If they’ve done this then they will not let us have a funeral or something,” she says.

Despite the church in Mildura not having a permanent parish priest, it gets by from a roster of travelling nearby priests who fill big dates and when they’re needed for baptisms, weddings and funerals.

Ms Bakopoulos says she had a priest organised and ready for her father’s memorial dates, but the committee wouldn’t budge in opening the church.
For anyone trying to get in contact with the church, its number listed on the Greek Orthodox parish directory is not connected and the phone number listed for its hall rings out.

Ms Bakopoulos was told the committee would be in touch but that never happened.

“It’s a closed shop… [they] never advertised about meetings,” she says.

“I feel like they’ve locked us out for too long.

“Enough is enough, it’s about time that we progressed with the times.”

At the tribunal last week, Ms Bakopoulos says many members of the Greek community of Mildura packed the room to support her.
The tribunal will release a final ruling in the coming months.

Dear sister and brothers,

The anniversary of the 25^th March always had a special resonance in the conscience of the Greek people and the Church.

The double Annunciation that announces the redemption of all people through the incarnation of God, but also the liberation of the enslaved Greek nation through the sacred uprising of our heroic ancestors, became the “Magna Carta” of modern Hellenism. All actions or omissions, all successes or failures of modern Greeks, whether as a nation or society or as individual citizens, must be seen in relation to this unique measure.

Freedom on the one hand, then, and piety on the other, are the two concrete criteria by which we authentically weigh up either our progress or regression.

For the modern Greek, the free person must also be pious. Without this, freedom becomes disorder and lawlessness which inevitably leads to enslavement towards blind passions, in which case the supposed freedom degenerates into the worst kind of bestiality and slavery.

By the same token, the pious person cannot be someone who is not free. Because piety demands the highest degree of freedom, so that the human person is at every moment in a position “to obey God rather than any human authority” (see Acts 5:29).

However just as freedom is not compatible with disorder and anarchy, in the same way piety is not compatible with legalism and fundamentalism. These fundamental concepts were crystal clear and deeply rooted in the consciences of the fighters of 1821. That is why they could achieve great things, not through their negligible numerical strength or with their very rudimentary level of organisation, but through the truth they held. The national poet of Greece, Dionysios Solomos, was following in the exact same footsteps of those exemplary figures, when he taught us the highest lesson: that we should consider “national only what is true”.

This message has a particularly bitter timeliness in recent years when Greek people both inside and outside Greece are being tested concerning their most sacred characteristics, namely their Orthodox faith and their national phronema.

May this message be note by any leaders of our people – whether political or ecclesiastical. For, if on the one hand our national cohesion is thrown to the wind by selfish factional infighting or unproductive internationalism, and on the hand by a weakened Orthodox Church through internal persecutions and plundering, then the nation will not survive, except as a ghost in a haunted house.

The European Union and any other forms of international protection will not be able to save us from that subjugation. Because any financial assistance and any safeguarding of territorial integrity will not only prove to be ineffective supports; rather, these will be the rope with which they will hang us, if ethical values are missing from the modern Greeks.

It was for these values that the Greeks always sacrificed their lives, and it is only natural that with these values they will once again be able to live.

May we recall these simple truths once again, before it is irreparably too late. Amen.

In Sydney,

With paternal wishes and love,

Archbishop STYLIANOS

Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in Australia

23 Apr 2014

PENNI PAPPAS

Prokopios Kanavas, former Bishop of St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Adelaide, and Bishop of the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia (GOCSA), has resigned. The resignation follows three attempts to quit this position that weren’t accepted by the GOCSA. Yet Friday nights resignation was final and now, Mr Kanavas is no longer serving the parishioners of St Nicholas.

Since being ordained as bishop in August 13, 2013, he says that there has been a distinct lack of communication between himself and the executive committee of GOCSA.

“I’ve tried hard to solve many issues since my ordination,” Bishop Prokopios tells Neos Kosmos.

“I was trying to build good relationships between myself and the executive committee and to have a better understanding of the ecclesiastical issues and how we can work together.”

He says he felt as though he was treated as “an employee” and not as a Christian leader of the Orthodox church.

“[GOCSA] think the priests, the bishops are employees which is against the Orthodox church standards, a bishop or a priest can not be an employee,” he says, adding that a priest comes to this role as a divine calling and not the work of man.

“All the time they tried to push me aside and make their own decisions.”

Mr Kanavas says that when he’d try to mentor a priest, and instruct them on how to serve, he would notice they would do the opposite to what he told them, and that the priests would in fact follow the instructions and advice given to them by the president of GOCSA, Mr John Lessos, or someone else from the board.

“[GOCSA] don’t understand how a church works,” he says, “they think the employee should obey the employer.”

Mr Kanavas says in his 14 years of serving the church he had never felt like “an employee” until being employed by GOCSA.

“I serve the office of church and I think I have made the right decision because as a bishop, cleric, as a Christian Orthodox we have to protect our faith and what our church says and our church says to serve the people and Jesus Christ and to follow his commandments – not an employer.”

When asked about his parishioners and how they’ve taken the news to his resignation, he says that they are all “very sad”. But he is standing by his decision so as to not bring any further scandal to the church during Holy Week.

Mr Kanavas says he may pursue another role with the church in a year, but whether that will be in Adelaide or whether it will be with the Greek Orthodox Community of SA or the Archdiocese, he says he isn’t sure.

“‘I haven’t had an offer at the moment,” he says.

Mr Kanavas was previously sacked as an SA Police chaplain. Allegations have also been raised about discrepancies over his tertiary qualifications.

Neos Kosmos contacted the Greek Community of South Australia’s president Mr John Lesses but by the time this article went was published, Mr Lesses or any members of GOCSA had not responded to the interview requests.

Mary Bakopoulos will continue to fight her case with the help of the Archdiocese

15 Apr 2014

HELEN VELISSARIS

“I’m very disappointed with this. I’m not giving up, I’m determined to explore my options,” a passionate Mary Bakopoulos told Neos Kosmos this week.
After The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) denied giving a ruling on the discrimination case she brought against the Greek Orthodox Parish of Mildura, Ms Bakopoulos isn’t backing down on getting a membership in the committee recognised.

Ms Bakopoulos claims the church’s financial committee, made up of more than 30 men, denied her application for membership because of her gender.
The committee has never elected a female to its committee, instead pushing those interested to take up a role in the Women’s Philoptochos Auxiliary that has no administrative or financial power in the church.

Based on the church’s constitution, everyone is free to apply to become a financial member but approval rests at the committee’s discretion.

Ms Bakopoulos’ application was unanimously rejected by the committee, and was given no reason for the decision.

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal didn’t proceed with the hearing after finding the church committee isn’t considered a club in the eyes of the law.

VCAT states that the church must have a liquor license to be defined as a club under the Equal Opportunities Act; but the church has only had temporary liquor licenses for social events and didn’t currently hold a license.

While the case might have been derailed by a small technicality, the issue has drawn the attention of the Archdiocese and the media.
“The church is not cleared, it’s inconclusive,” Ms Bakopoulos says.

Ms Bakopoulos might have an ally in Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis who has voiced his concern over the matter.

He told Neos Kosmos that he hopes to get in touch with Ms Bakopoulos and the committee in the hopes of mediating a resolution.

He says the Archdiocese respects that the parish has its own constitution and they have their independence, but like other churches, it is still governed by the rules and regulations of the Archdiocese and will be answerable to them.

He says the church will be in contact after Easter to amicably help the parties reach a resolution.

Without a solid time-frame in place, Ms Bakopoulos is still uncertain she can fully rely on the church to find a solution and will exhaust all options available to her.
“I’m happy if the Archdiocese comes down and they can resolve all this, but I can’t wait forever, because I have an elderly mother, I have elderly relatives and there are people that need Holy Communion on their death bed, I can’t wait any longer,” she says.

She was compelled to become a financial committee member in 2012 after she was denied access to the church for her father’s memorial which she had booked months in advance. She says they argued there was no one available to open the church and hall because the committee was too busy preparing for a paniyiri at the time.

Ms Bakopoulos had to travel more than 100km to the nearest Orthodox Church in South Australia to have her late father’s six month memorial.

In the tribunal statement, Ms Bakopoulos was described as wanting to “play an active role” in the parish community after she had “spent a lifetime cleaning and cooking for the parish”.

Bishop Ezekiel of Dervis, who supplied a statement in the case said the Archdiocese has “always encouraged publicly the inclusion of women in such committee and feels that such appointments enrich and balance the pious endeavours of the few who seek to serve the many”.

IRINEJ

By The Grace of God

Bishop of The Metropolitanate

of Australia and New Zealand of The Serbian Orthodox Church

Beloved monastics, clergy, all sons and daughters, faithful spiritual children of our Holy Church in Australia and New Zealand, from a paternal heart overflowing with Paschal joy, We greet all of you on this great and most radiant Feast of Feasts exclaiming in the inspired words of the Holy Damascus:

O Christ, great and most holy Pascha,
O Wisdom, Word and Power of God!
Grant that we may more perfectly partake of You
in the never-ending day of Your Kingdom.
(Paschal Canon—Song 9)

CHRIST IS RISEN!

Truly, beloved, let us rejoice exceedingly, for today, in the never-ending day of His Kingdom, the Risen Lord offers us the unique ability to come into touch with Him. He, the pre-eternal Wisdom and Word of God, Power and Love, grants us the opportunity that with Him we may commune and partake of the victory in which he defeated the last enemy of humanity – death – having destroyed death by His death and is risen from the dead!

Pascha is the Feast of Feasts! It is the crown of all feasts and indeed, their very meaning. Without Pascha and the Paschal truth – that fills us all with hope and gives meaning to our life – in the words of the Apostle Paul, “our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain” (I Cor. 15:14). Precisely because of this the great Apostle wrote to the first Christians: “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile . . . Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all persons most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep” (I Cor. 15:17-20).

Only those who refuse to believe in the reality of the Resurrection of Christ fall away from His grace. According to the Holy Apostle: “If therefore you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you shall be saved” (Rom. 10:9). For every Orthodox Christian this is not merely a given pledge rather the source of our joy in the Resurrection of Christ which we receive as the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The joy of faith, therefore, means rediscovering life itself. The joy of faith also means discovering a pure heart in which God can be seen and in which one will recognise the other in the community of Christ’s love.

Persons that distance themselves from God distance themselves from their very self and their salvation, for they simply lose sight of how to order their relation with their brother, with their neighbour. Therefore, as noted the Elder Nikanor of Chilandar, the old folk saying renders itself applicable: “Who will not have his brother as brother, desires a foreigner as master.” Every human discord comes from those who separate brother from brother, sister from sister, those who separate us from our unity and community of faith.

There lies the response to the question why do believers finds it easier to bear life’s temptations, for their faith inspires strength, hope and love, knowing that they are never alone or left by themselves. The core of our faith is the Risen Christ, who is amongst us and is always present, personally bound by His love for each of us. Therefore, for us believers, directing our gaze toward Him also means a deeper understanding of our very existence.

In just the opposite, hopelessly rushing about in darkness without the light of the Resurrection of the Lord, nowadays many experience tremendous terror, pain and suffering from violence that spreads with the speed of light pulling into itself the rest of the world which helplessly stands by and watches. How will we show our care for those people, for those brothers and sisters and children when we are so far removed from them and their crisis? It is natural to despair about our inability to help the victims of distant conflicts; however our human solidarity is the way that follows God’s commandment to love one another. And here it is good to begin by our personal encounter with the people around us, with our neighbours, to love one another even as He loves us.

For, we are all pilgrims searching for truth in this life which is filled with enormous misery. Faith in Christ assumes that we have trust and that we allow Him, who is Truth, to direct us on the path toward His full revelation. “For now we see as in a mirror – dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully . . .” (I Cor. 13:12), stated the wise Apostle. The Risen Saviour does not belong only to the past; He is there for us every day. In His name the Father sends the Holy Spirit, who gives us to live life in abundance teaching us all things (cf. John 14:26). Thereby we pray “that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you – and you in Him – by the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” (II Thess. 1:12).

Therefore, with the fullness of Christ’s Holy Church, our firm community and sure source of our faith, hope and love, let us from all our heart exclaim:

CHRIST IS RISEN!
TRULY, HE IS RISEN!

Given in Sydney, at Pascha in the Year 2014

Your fervent intercessor before the Risen Christ,

+IRINEJ

Bishop of the Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand

STYLIANOS

By the grace of God

Archbishop of Australia

To all the Reverend Clergy and devout faithful of our Holy Archdiocese

Brother concelebrants and beloved children of the Church,

“Pascha, the sacred feast, today shines forth for us

Pascha that has opened the doors of Paradise to us

Pascha that sanctifies all faithful”.

These three concise verses of the Pascal Canon of Hymns are sufficient to impress upon us the meaning of Christian Pascha (Easter/Passover) as the only Absolute in history.

Pascha – as the ‘feast of feasts’ – is not an anniversary. Pascha is not a past event that should be forgotten simply. It is eternity within time, the sacrosanct and ceaseless presence of God.

We celebrate the entire week of the Passion and Resurrection of Christ once a year, in order to remind ourselves of the historical sequence of events. Yet, this does not mean that we have Pascha only once a year.

Pascha is our every Sunday, our every Liturgy. Because Pascha for the Christians is not an anniversary, which is to say an historical memory, but rather a liturgical event. It is a daily holy offering “in every way and for everything”. Our Pascha is Christ Himself.

The Hebrew word Peshah, from where ‘Pascha’ derives, means a ‘passover’, a ‘passage’, which for the Jews marked a certain unrepeatable time in their history: the passage through the Red Sea.

For us, the passage and the Passover is not one of time, but rather a manner of existence. It is Christ Himself, as constant obedience to the will of the Father: “For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7).

Our Pascha, therefore, is not time, but our manner of living, which is Christ Himself. The manner is the possibility of freedom for the human person, which is guaranteed by God.

To be a “child by adoption” amidst increasing apostasy, to be a “light in the darkness”, “life in the tomb”, “broadened in sorrows” is another order of things that this world does not understand, nor is it taught by time.

This order of things was shown by Christ through His Passion and Resurrection, having become “the firstborn of all creation” (Colossians 1:15).

To Him be all glory and worship to the ages. Amen!

Pascha 2014

With fervent prayers in the Risen Christ

Archbishop STYLIANOS

Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in Australia

The members of the 4th Episcopal Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of Oceania welcomed the opportunity to meet in Sydney on Monday 28th April, 2014, under the chairmanship ex officio of His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos of Australia.

Present were: His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos (Ecumenical Patriarchate); His Eminence Archbishop Paul (Antiochian Church); His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion (Russian Church – Australia & New Zealand); His Grace Bishop Irinej (Serbian Church); His Grace Bishop Mihail (Romanian Church); His Eminence Metropolitan Amphilochios (Ecumenical Patriarchate – New Zealand); His Grace Bishop Ezekiel (Assistant Bishop); His Grace Bishop Seraphim (Assistant Bishop); His Grace Bishop Nikandros (Assistant Bishop) and His Grace Bishop Iakovos (Assistant Bishop).

The Bishops continued the work of the Third Assembly, held in Sydney in October, 2012, attentively listened to the pastoral and other issues confronting our respective Churches  and heard several Reports of the relevant Committees:

*1. The Assembly reaffirmed its position opposing same-sex marriage. A discussion followed regarding the children adopted into these relationships and related consequences.

*2. As in other nations, so also in Australia and New Zealand, Orthodox Hierarchs from time to time, both nationally and locally sign statements for the common good of their faithful and the public in general with regard to the ethical dimension of pending and existent legislation. More concretely, the following two issues were raised:

*(A.) Taking into consideration the various existent statements, it was decided to promulgate a common statement on Organ and Tissue donation; and

*(B.) Considering the potential ramifications of anti-discrimination legislation, it was decided to assist those in Government to properly couch the language of such legislation while preserving the Constitutional precepts of religious freedom.

*3. The Assembly decided to explore common projects for our Youth.

*4. In light of the 100th Anniversary of the beginning of World War I (1914 – 2014), the Assembly decided to plan various Pan-Orthodox celebrations to commemorate those Orthodox faithful who gave their life in World War I. It was proposed that these take place in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra.

*5. After the resounding success of the first Pan-Orthodox Clergy Synaxis in Melbourne, 2012, it was resolved to undertake the same in different capital cities of our respective regions, beginning with Sydney.

*6. The official website of the Assembly will soon be launched that will inform our faithful of its work and provide a source of information on the ongoing work and projects of the Assembly and;

*7. The Assembly reviewed a draft set of rules outlining its constituency, terms of reference and structure. Once completed it is anticipated that it will be registered with the proper Government authorities and presented to the public on our website.

A discussion ensued concerning the Assembly’s ongoing concern regarding the unlawful imprisonment of Archbishop Jovan of Ochrid and Metropolitan of Skopje. The discussion was broadened to include Metropolitans Paul and John from Syria and the continued persecution of the faithful in the respective Churches. The Assembly once again calls for their restoration and freedom. In light of this discussion, concern was also expressed for the human rights and dignity of monk Irenaeus (former Patriarch of Jerusalem).

Dated 28th April, 2014.

His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos (Ecumenical Patriarchate – Australia)

His Eminence Archbishop Paul (Antiochian Church)

His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion (Russian Church)

His Grace Bishop Irinej (Serbian Church)

His Grace Bishop Mihail (Romanian Church)

His Eminence Metropolitan Amphilochios (Ecumenical Patriarchate – New Zealand)

His Grace Bishop Ezekiel (Assistant Bishop)

His Grace Bishop Seraphim (Assistant Bishop)

His Grace Bishop Nikandros (Assistant Bishop)

His Grace Bishop Iakovos (Assistant Bishop)

BI-PARTISAN SUPPORT FOR CYPRUS REUNIFICATION

Federal Parliament passes motion by Maria Vamvakinou, reaffirming its support for a fair and just resolution to the Cyprus problem

21 Jul 2014 – Neos Kosmos Newspaper

HELEN VELISSARIS

As the world prepares to mark the 40th anniversary of the Cyprus invasion by Turkey, Australia has reaffirmed its position, calling for the demilitarisation and reunification of the island.

Greek Australian MP Maria Vamvakinou spearheaded a motion in Federal Parliament this week, calling for bi-partisan support in aiding peace processes for the reunification of Cyprus.

The motion was passed without debate, with Labor MP Anthony Albanese and Liberal MP Matthew Williams showing their support in parliament.

“We’ve secured ongoing continuing bi-partisan support both from the government member, Matt Williams who spoke, and our side, that we continue to support a resolution for Cyprus,” Ms Vamvakinou told Neos Kosmos.

Flying to Cyprus this weekend, Ms Vamvakinou will be in the country to witness anniversary commemorations, while also reiterating Australia’s support.
She believes peace is at its final stages, and is hopeful for a workable resolution that will benefit both parties.

“I think a resolution is achievable, and I think all the work that’s been done brings the situation to a point where it just needs one final push.”

That final push is down to the political sides of the Greek and Turkish run Cyprus reaching an agreement.

Recently there has been growing internal and international support for the reunification.

Both interfaith leaders, Greek Archbishop Chrysostomos and the Mufti of the Turkish Cypriots, Dr Talip Atalay, have voiced their views that Cyprus would benefit being reunited.

US vice-president Joe Biden said in his recent visit to Cyprus that “peace should be the Cypriots’ legacy to their children”.

But after 40 years of no solution, many have abandoned the idea that Cypriots will live in a unified country.

“It’s been painstakingly slow at a political level,” Ms Vamvakinou says.

Australia plays a vital role in showing that both sides can live harmoniously thanks to its migration legacy.

Thousands of Turkish and Greek Cypriots live side by side all around Australia, with more than 22,000 Australians tracing Cypriot ancestry.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says Australia has been aided by the migration of Cypriot Greeks for years.

“Successive waves of newcomers eager for a better life, including many of Cypriot and Greek heritage, have enriched our culture and added a heroic dimension to our national story,” he said in a message to the community through Neos Kosmos.

MP Anthony Albanese, who supported the motion, said in his constituency of Grayndler he sees Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots living in harmony.

“The Cyprus Community Club in my electorate has brought together people of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot backgrounds to recognise the cultural benefit that comes from mutual respect and understanding,” he said in his speech.

Ms Vamvakinou has seen that first hand in Cyprus, with divided communities uniting under the Cypriot flag and promoting a unified identity.

“I’ve met with people from the other side, the Turkish Cypriots, and one of the things that struck me always was that Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots
have a lot of things in common,” she says.

“They are Cypriots, pushing that citizenship and identity is really important.”

Currently the Australian Federal Police is taking on its 50th year stationed at the buffer zone, serving continuously as part of the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus.

The AFP has had thousands of officers stationed in Cyprus, with three policemen, Sergeant Llewelyn John Thomas, Inspector Patrick Hackett and Sergeant Ian Donald Ward tragically losing their lives alongside 181 other peacekeepers in their role.

STILL OCCUPIED, 40 YEARS ON

Greek Australian Cypriots will march all around the country to mark the 40 year anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus

18 Jul 2014 – Neos Kosmos Newspaper

For many Greek Cypriots living in Australia, the wounds created by the Turkish invasion of Cyprus have never healed.
40 years on, and Cyprus is still occupied and divided. Greeks who had homes in the Turkish occupied part of the island have no way of knowing if their fig tree still blooms, if the walls still hold their family photos, or if their grandparents graves aren’t overgrown.

Over a third of Cyprus’ population was forcibly removed in 1974 and almost 300,000 settlers from Turkey were brought over to colonise the area.
Houses were taken, business gutted new buildings built to house a Turkish community on Greek land.

The illegal sale of property and land owned by Greek Cypriots still continues today.

Small reprieves over the years to let Greeks through to the 37 per cent of the land now in Turkish hands have created more bad memories than put people’s minds at rest.

For many Australian Cypriots who settled in Australia after the invasion, they have never returned to their homes. Their passion is still as strong as it was 40 years ago, and this weekend, and throughout next week, thousands will take to the streets to protest against the illegal occupation.

Most major cities will be hosting events, with the Secretary of the Council of Ministers of Cyprus, Theodosis A. Tsiolas and the High Commissioner of Cyprus to Australia Ioanna Malliotis attending most events around the country.

Commemorations started in Melbourne on Thursday, with young and old braving the icy and rainy weather to stand vigil outside the Turkish Consulate, demanding an end to the occupation and the withdrawal of troops.

Last night, a sombre group gathered to host a candlelight vigil and human chain outside the Parliament of Victoria, aiming to remind the government of the plight of Cyprus.

A supper was also held in the memory of the Cypriot refugees who were forced to leave their homes.

Sunday 20 July marks the day of the invasion, and Melbourne and Western Australia will both host a church service, with WA continuing on to a wreath laying service and Melbourne organising a city march to the steps of Parliament.

Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney will follow on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday respectively, hosting their own vigils with Mr Tsiolas and Ms Malliotis attending.

THOUSANDS RALLY FOR CYPRUS

Candlelight vigils, protest marches and church services marked the 40th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. States will continue this week to remember victims and call for a peaceful solution.

21 Jul 2014 – Neos Kosmos Newspaper

Marking the 40th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus on the weekend, thousands of Cypriot Australians marched calling for the demilitarization and reunification of the island.

In Victoria, commemorations started earlier in the week, with a small group of Cypriots standing outside the Turkish Consulate of Melbourne with signs calling for Turkish troops to exit Cypriot land.

Friday saw a sombre group gather to host a candlelight vigil and human chain outside the Parliament of Victoria, aiming to remind the government of the plight of Cyprus.

A supper was also held in the memory of the Cypriot refugees who were forced to leave their homes.

On the day of the anniversary, both Melbourne and Western Australia held church services and commemorations.

Melbourne Cypriots took to the streets and marched from the Lonsdale Street Greek precinct to the steps of the Victorian parliament, many holding photos of their loved ones who were killed or are still missing from the invasion.

Speaking at the service was the Secretary of the Council of Ministers of Cyprus, Theodosis A. Tsiolas, the High Commissioner of Cyprus to Australia, Ioanna Maliotis, the Consul General of Greece to Melbourne, Christina Simantirakis and the Greek Community of Melbourne and Victoria’s president, Bill Papastergiadis.

Perth also marked the anniversary with a wreath laying service at the war memorial in Kings Park, hosted by the Cypriot Community of Western Australia.
Events are yet to be hosted in Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney, which will continue commemorations this week.

Adelaide:
Wednesday 23 July:
7.00 pm: Commemorative service at the Cypriot community of South Australia, 8 Barrpowell St, Welland, SA, with Theodosis A. Tsiolas and Ioanna Malliotis to attend.

Brisbane:
Friday 25 July:
6.00 pm: Church service at Greek Orthodox Church of Saint George
Followed by laying of wreaths and commemorative reception at Cyprus House, 2 Vulture Street, West End, QLD.
Mr Theodosis A. Tsiolas and Mrs Ioanna Malliotis will address the crowd.

Sydney:
Sunday 27 July:
10.00 am: Memorial service at Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. Redfern
Theodosis A. Tsiolas to meet with Archbishop Stylianos
1.30 pm: Wreath laying at Martin Place, followed by protest march through George Street
3.30 pm: Speeches and cultural program by the Cypriot Community of Sydney and NSW

In line with the directives and consensus of the Episcopal Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of Oceania; Greek, Antiochian, Russian, Serbian and Romanian Orthodox clergy gathered together at Axion Estin monastery complex in Northcote, on 19^th July 2014, to serve a Pan-Orthodox Divine Liturgy and Memorial service to commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the beginning of World War I.

A multitude of faithful, who had gathered from the diverse Orthodox Christian communities of Melbourne, followed the service with great joy and piety, while many of amongst the youth, had dressed in the various cultural and national costumes of their respective communities. And as the service progressed, the clergy and the various choirs, took it in turns to chant and liturgise in their respective languages alongside the use of English. The various bishops and representatives of Church jurisdictions, were afforded the opportunity to speak on the importance of this auspicious occasion.

After the conclusion of the Liturgy, the clergy and laity proceeded to the Cenotaph of Axion Estin for the Memorial service and the laying of wreaths. Present amongst the dignitaries, were the Consul General of Greece for Melbourne, Ms Christina Simantirakis who was joined by local MP Jenny Mikakos and members of the Australian defence force who laid wreaths for the fallen at the Cenotaph.

The significance of the beginning of World War I, is that it marks a turning point and beginning of one of the most brutal periods for Orthodox Christians, who became part of the centre-stage victims for some of the worst tragedies and inhumanity of the 20^th century. Many of Orthodox faithful died during the Great War in places like the Eastern and Salonikan Fronts or in the Middle Eastern campaigns against the Ottomans, and the subsequent reprisals.

But the greater significance of this catastrophic legacy, became manifested and was felt in the War’s aftermath till our present time, as borders were redrawn, the development and imposition of left-right wing divides within political culture, with the corresponding imposition of materialistic and secular ideologies causing great socio-economic divisions. The rise of Communism, Fascism, Zionism and Islamism, coupled with the aforementioned reorientation from Orthodox Christian ethos towards secular political culture, has witnessed countless multitudes perish through torture, imprisonment and genocide; whether in the Gulag prison system, the Palestinian “Nakba”, the Asia Minor Catastrophe, World War II, the Invasion of Cyprus, the rise of Gamiyya Islamiyyia, the dissolution of Yugoslavia, the attempted dissolution of Syria, the strife in the Ukraine, the collectivisation of private farmland, the confiscation of private homes and so forth.

And as we look to today’s situation in Eastern Europe in this post-Communist era, or the conflicts that are taking place within the unravelling of the post-Ottoman Middle Eastern order, or the so-called financial crisis in a forcibly Western-oriented Greece and Cyprus, we can see that World War I marks the beginning of the immense upheaval and suffering that Orthodox Christians have and are continuing to suffer till this day. And as we witness current developments in this vast region that constitutes the Orthodox Christian commonwealth, we can only ponder that the faithful are at the centre-stage for the remaking of the existing global order that will be catastrophic for all of humanity in every corner of the globe.

Father Eleftherios Tatsis tells Neos Kosmos his version of events before a brazen robbery saw $100,000 of donated jewellery stolen at the Holy Monastery of Panagia Kamariani

By Maja Jovic – Neos Kosmos, Saturday 26 July 2014

Jewellery worth more than $100,000, donated by Greek Orthodox faithful, has been stolen from the Holy Monastery of Panagia Kamariani, in Red Hill Victoria.

Gold jewellery and valuable ornaments that adorned the icon of Virgin Mary was seized when offenders broke into the Mornington Peninsula church at 3.20 pm on Wednesday afternoon, police reported.

A sealed glass box which contained an icon of the Virgin Mary was smashed and rings, chains, bracelets, bangles and crosses stolen. It is believed the value of the stolen jewellery is around $100,000.

Parishioners had left the jewellery as offerings to the Virgin Mary, starting from 1987.

In disbelief, Reverend Father Eleftherios Tatsis from the Holy Monastery of Panagia Kamariani told Neos Kosmos that the burglary took no more than six minutes.

“As we understand after police investigation, the offender walked in the church, while another person most probably waited for him in the car further away.

“It was me here and our cleaner, who has been maintaining the church for last 28 years.”

Some time around 1.30 pm to 2 pm, a group of few regular faithful visited the church, alongside a doctor from Greece, on his visit to Melbourne for the AIDS conference.

“The visitors left just before 3 pm. I went inside the church to put out some candles. I returned to my office, just to realise I had forgotten my keys inside the church.

“The offender, as the police believes, probably at that point broke the glass, and took the jewellery in his pockets.

“As I went back to church, I kissed the Icon and saw the glass broken and jewellery missing,” Father Tatsis told Neos Kosmos.

Grateful that the miraculous icon of Panagia Kamariani hasn’t been stolen, Father Tatsis said the police suspects the offenders were drug addicts.

“They also said it’s people who have come to the church before and knew where the icon and the jewellery was.

“30 years here, with the doors wide open, day and night, nothing like this has ever occurred. We never put the cameras in. Now they took it all in front of my eyes,” Father Eleftherios told Neos Kosmos in disbelief.

“I feel sorry for those who did it, but they won’t see any good.”

The stolen offerings carry sentimental importance for those who donated it and can’t be valued in dollars, Father Tatsis said.

“It’s offerings to Our Lady of believers – Greek Orthodox and non. Panagia has united the Greek people here.”

The news of the burglary at Panagia Kamariani caused disbelief and anger of numerous Neos Kosmos readers. Maria Evangelakos Gogov wrote on Neos Kosmos Facebook page:

“We are truly living in dark times….Each piece of jewellery that adorned that icon was given to the Virgin Mary, along with many prayers, removed from a sick or dying person for The Panagia to help them in their time of pain. So many miracles have happened and so many people lost… Whoever’s hands stole this jewellery is yet to realise that in doing so…their souls have been stolen by the devil himself.”

There were many of those who, in the spirit of orthodoxy, showed their compassion for offenders.

“Being Christian we should show compassion. Panayia would want us to that. To do this deed they would have been desperate. Let us pray for their souls. Panayia would show compassion and pray for them,” Maria Calokerinos said.

Police are now appealing for public with information to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppers.vic.com.au

The rally in support of Iraqi Christians took place on 2 August 2014 at Melbourne’s Federation Square

The Greek Orthodox Church, along with the Pontian and Epirotic community, rallies in support of Christian rights

JOHN PYRROS – Neos Kosmos – 13 Aug 2014

A rally was held last week at Melbourne’s Federation Square demonstrating for action against the persecution of Iraq and Syria’s Christian minority.

Around 3,000 people took to the rally, which was a means of pressurising state and federal parliaments into taking unequivocal action against the plight of Christians facing endless persecution at the hands of the Islamic State (IS) (also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)). One of the suggested means is to open immigration borders and allow those persecuted to seek refuge in Australia.

Dean Kalimniou, a Panepirotic Federation of Australia spokesperson, said that Greeks and Iraqi Christians, for the most part Assyrians, have shared a rich history spanning over thousands of years, and that connection remains strong.

“There are many Assyrians who lived in Greece and who migrated to Australia and speak Greek and they are integrated within the Greek community, so those contacts are there,” Kalimniou says.

“People have become sensitised to this issue, which is a terrible humanitarian catastrophe and they want to do something about it, and the easiest way to do that was to turn up to the rally and voice support for the plight of the Christians in Iraq.”

Those present at the rally included Victorian Coalition MP Bernie Finn, Victorian Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Scrutiny of Government Frank McGuire, Bishop Suriel of the Coptic Orthodox Church and Father Emmanuel Lykopantis of the Greek Orthodox Church.

Mr Kalimniou said that the historical and cultural connections between the Assyrian and Greek communities is one that builds on the fabric of multiculturalism, shared experiences “and providing solidarity when that’s required”.

“If you notice some of the Greeks that were there, like the Pontian group, they feel very strongly about this issue because they’re united with the Assyrian community in campaigning for the recognition of the genocide (of Greeks, Assyrians and Armenians by the Ottoman Turks).

“So they feel that in many ways they’re a kindred community, that their faith has been the same one, so there are historical and social ties.”

Mr Kalimniou believes that further rallies are needed to put greater pressure on governments, both in Australia and internationally, as the plight of Iraqi Christians worsens. He also noted that the Islamic State is also persecuting moderate Muslims.

Father Lykopantis, who represented the Victorian Greek Orthodox Church, held similar views to Mr Kalminiou and told Neos Kosmos that Australian governments, at state and federal levels, needed to do more for Iraqi Christians.

“They (Assyrians) were very appreciative that we as a church were there to show support on their behalf. It’s very hard because this is a conflict where people are fighting with guns and to be quite honest there’s not really much that we can do, we can only put pressure on politicians and say ‘look, you have to somehow intervene in this matter and bring a result to it’,” Fr Lykopantis says.

He said that the Greek Orthodox Church, in conjunction with the Victorian Council of Churches, a conglomerate of Christian churches in Victoria, continues to support causes that are non-Greek in nature, but serve a distinct purpose for the general wellbeing of the greater community, and this was no exception.

“The other thing that we’re actually doing as a whole group of Christian churches is we’re trying to get a response from the Islamic Council to see where they stand with these groups, because this ISIS group is also killing moderate Muslims as well.

“It’s not just the Christians they’re chasing after, they’re chasing their own. So we’re asking them to take a stance, are they supporting this?”

But the Islamic Council is yet to respond.

He said that whilst the Greek Orthodox Church in Australia, with reference to Victoria, is very restricted in a political and legal sense, the Church of Greece, with the help of the Greek government, is doing all it can to help persecuted Christians.

“This is where the filoxenia comes in, (the church) has decided with the Greek government to take on some refugees, some persecuted Christians, and to sort of bring them into Greece and look after them whilst they’re getting kicked out of their homeland.”

“The Greek Orthodox Church is standing side-by-side with those that are suffering in Iraq and as a church we sympathise. We pray that these debacles that are happening in north Africa all the way through to Syria, including in Gaza, will cease and we can all live together harmoniously.”

He said that he and the church would continue to pray for the plight of Iraqi Christians as well as for the sanity of the rebels who are persecuting innocents.

THE NEXT RALLY AS THE ADVERT SHOWS WILL BE HELD THIS SATURDAY 6TH AUGUST 2014