St Andrew’s Theological College openly expressed its support to Archbishop Makarios of Australia in the wake of reports regarding a property purchase by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia Consolidated Trust.
In it’s statement the College stresses that it expresses its undivided support to Archbishop Makarios of Australia “during this difficult and trying time when many irresponsible reports are being circulated with the intent of wanting to damage the good reputation of the Archbishop and the Church more broadly’.
It also underlines that “The Theological College knows fully well that many claims circulating in the media are both untrue and unsubstantiated; for this reason, we strongly believe that all those behind these publications are solely motivated by self-serving interests, which were disrupted when the Ecumenical Patriarchate unanimously elected Archbishop Makarios as Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia”.
It is characteristically highlighted that, “The Theological College gives thanks and glory to God for the fact that in less than a year, Archbishop Makarios has succeeded in: renewing the spiritual leadership of the Church with the election of three new assistant bishops; healing old wounds of division within the Greek community; transitioning the College into a new and exciting phase; organising youth conferences all around Australia and planning the completion of a youth centre in Bribie Island; broadening the scope of ministry to those less fortunate through increased programs of the Archdiocesan welfare centres; planning the establishment of drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres; strengthening the presence of monasticism; demonstrating his undivided commitment to Australia through his leadership in collecting funds for all those who suffered during the devasting effects of the fires in January 2020, and the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic; and all these are simply to name a few of countless other initiatives.
Together with the above, our Theological College stands behind and fully supports our Archbishop since in his person, the glorious reality of Christ is made present, and in this way the faithful are united to Christ—to the love of Christ—and by extension to one another with the message of reconciliation [τον λόγον της καταλλαγής] that he has brought to Australia.
May his tenure as our Archbishop be a long, rewarding and a fruitful one.”