The I.A.O Secretariat has paid a visit to Chicago and
New York of the United States at the end of October
of 2003. From the I.A.O International Secretariat, deputies
from Greece, Russia, Cyprus, Albania, Ukraine, as well
as, a member of the I.A.O from Palestine, participated
in this visit. The visit to the United States gave the
opportunity to politicians, Orthodox in faith, from
Chicago, as well as, New York, to be informed of the
objectives and activities of the I.A.O, in its decennial
course. During their visit in Chicago (29 October -
2 November), the members of the Secretariat met with
the Orthodox communities, with deputies, as well as,
with political authorities of the city. In addition,
a seminar was realized, with the participation of academics,
politicians, as well as, representatives of the Orthodox
communities of Chicago. ?he delegation of the I.A.O
also visited New York (2 - 5 November), where they met
with the Archbishop of the United States, Mr. Dimitrios,
as well as, with New York political personalities
The I.A.O Secretariat realised
a visit to Australia last March of 2003. From the I.A.O
International Secretariat, deputies from Greece, Russia,
Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania and Poland, participated
in this visit. The entire I.A.O, as well as the Secretariat,
considers the realisation of this visit to Australia
of particular importance as it presented the Orthodox,
in faith, deputies of the State Parliaments in Melbourne
and Sydney and the Federal Parliament in Canberra, the
opportunity to be informed of the objectives and activities
of the I.A.O, in its decennial course. In addition,
this visit, gave the opportunity to the broader scientific
society of this continent to familiarise with the reflections
developed in the gulfs of the I.A.O activities. The
Orthodox communities had the opportunity to be informed
of the I.A.O activities, to present their reflections
on the international political developments and on the
responsibility of the citizens of the world, who reside
and develop their living activities under the cultural
influence of the Orthodox tradition.
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| Commemorative photograph of the I.A.O delegation with members of the Parliament of Australia at the entrance of the State |
The members of the I.A.O Secretariat had the opportunity to contact the political leadership of Australia, the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr John Howard, the President of the Major Opposition Party, Mr. Simon Creen, the Chairmen of the State Parliaments and the Federal Parliament, Chairmen of Parliamentary Committees, exchange with them views on the international political situation and pinpoint the need for peace, security and international law and order.
During their visit in the city of Melbourne, the members
of the I.A.O Secretariat had the opportunity to attend
a seminar on the subject: The Cultural Aspect of Orthodoxy.
In this seminar, interventions were presented by:
1.
Prof. Α.Μ.Τamis,, La Trobe University
Subject: Synopsis
of the Australian Orthodoxy
2.
Dr. Adrian Jones, La Trobe University
Subject: Church
and State: a historical perspective
3.
Prof. Mary Kalanzis,RMIT University
Subject: Orthodoxy
in a Cultural Diverse Society
4.
Prof. Treavour Batrouny, RMIT University
Subject: The
Orthodoxy in Australia some issues
5.
Dr. Oleg A. Donskikh, Monash University
Subject: Orthodoxy
and the Problems of Inner Freedom
6.
Dr. Rowen Ireland, La Trobe University
Subject: Religion
and Democracy in a Multicultural Society
7.
Dr. Jonathan Clarke, Monash University
Subject: The
Cultural dimension of Orthodoxy in relation to Language
and Literature
8.
Mr. Stathis Tsangalidis, La Trobe University
Subject: The
Relationship between: Orthodoxy, Culture and Politics
The Orthodox communities
of Australia fruitfully contributed in the realisation
of this visit with the excellent hospitality they provided
the members of the I.A.O Secretariat with.
The success of this visit was decisively based, on the
contribution of the deputy of New South Wales, Mr. James
Samios, who was responsible for the political organisation
of this visit, as well as, University La Trobe of Melbourne,
with professor Mr. Anastasios Tamis and his collaborator,
Mr. Stavros Petrou, who had the organisational responsibility.
The initiative of this visit resulted in the programmed
accession and participation of the Orthodox deputies
of Australia in the I.A.O, who are participating in
this year's Annual General Assembly, in Vilnius. Deputies,
Orthodox in faith, from Latin America will also participate
for the first time, in the Annual General Assembly.
The visit to Australia
was realized, roughly 20 days before the USA attack
in Iraq. The members of the I.A.O Secretariat, during
their stay in Australia, expressed their concern for
the imminent then attack, with the following text, which
was sent in all directions: "The I.A.O expresses its
concern for the persistence of the American President
to declare war in Iraq, against opposition in a number
of countries, Christian Churches and millions of people,
expressed around the world. This war is conflicting
with the fundamental principles of our faith, ethics
and law, which all have been preserved by civilized
humanity, during its historical course. In addition,
it employs direct, as well as, indirect grave consequences
of an enduring peace and stability in the entire world
and more specifically in the wider belligerent region.
The I.A.O, calls the Council of Safety of the United
Nations, to proceed to all necessary actions, in order
to deter the inevitable and governments of all states,
to proceed accordingly, so that they serve as a screen
and put a stop to the warlike frames of mind, emanating
from anywhere. Finally, calls citizens of the whole
world, who believe in peace, to actively oppose materialization
of threats of war ".
THE PROFILE OF THE GREEK ORTHODOXY IN AUSTRALIA
Over the last two millennia Orthodoxy has been a religious cultural and social symbol for the people of eastern European countries, the Balkans and the Levande. Orthodox Christianity as a faith and cultural legacy became fundamental for their national and cultural identity.
The expansion of Orthodoxy in Australia was result of migration of Orthodox from Greece, Balcans, Russia, East Europe and Middle East.
The official establishment of the Orthodox Church in Australia commenced in 1897 with the arrival of the Rev. Athanasios Kantopoulos, appointed in Melbourne by the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem in order to serve the religious and spiritual needs of all Orthodox Christians. The first Orthodox church was built in Sydney in May 1898 and was dedicated to the Holy Trinity.
One of the earliest public services for Greek, Romanian, Russian Orthodox worshipers conducted by the Greek Orthodox priests in the presence of Australian Parliamentarians, outside the State Parliament House of NSW, circa 1933.
Nevertheless, the first Orthodox service was taken place several years before, at Easter of 1820, off the Australian shore, on board a Russian ship, which at that time was exploring the Antarctic. In early 20th century, many refuges from Russia came to Australia, because of the Russo-Japanese War (1905) and the Russian Revolution (1917). Today, their descendants are under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Moscow. As expected, with the arrival of Orthodox people from various countries, each ethnic group became attached to the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Church from which its faithful came.
In 1922, the first regular Russian Orthodox priest arrived in Australia, and four years later the first Russian church, dedicated to Saint Nicolas, was built in Brisbein.
The Greek Orthodox Church, which is under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople since 1924, for regulatory, historical and demographic reasons (Greek Orthodox comprise almost 64% of the total number of the Orthodox Christians in Australia), Keeps the coordinated role among all Orthodox ethnic groups in Australia, with its Archbishop presiding over commonly organized ecclesiastical matters.
According to the 2001 Census
and following cross tabulations involving the variable
of ancestry, place of origin and language, it was established
that the actual number of Orthodox followers in Australia
is approximately 760,000 (4.3% of the total population).
Over the last one hundred
years a total of 213 churches organized by Orthodox
Communities, Orthodox Parishes and other, non-canonical
Orthodox ecclesiastic entities (Old Calendarists, The
Autocephalous Church of America and Australia) were
established in Australia.
This text is based upon the iweb pages http://www.rocor.org.au/and http://www.home.it.net.au/~japsas/pages/and
with the help of La Trobe professor mr. Anastasios Tamis,
Director of the National Center of Greek Studies and
Research.
The IAO chose the Throne
celebration of the First called Apostle Andreas on November
30 in order to make an official visit to the First-throne
Patriarch ate in Constantinople and His All Holiness
The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The memory of
St. Andreas, founder of the Church of Constantinople,
is honored with particular splendor and with the presence
of a delegation from the Church of Rome.
The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the delegation of IAO Secretariat upon their visit to Constantinople. The IAO delegation consisting
of the President of the General Assembly, deputy from
Russia, Mr. V. Zorkaltsev and the Secretary General,
deputy from Greece, Mr. S. Papathemelis along with the
Alternate Secretary, deputy, Mr. N. Katsaros, visited
His All Holiness The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
and conversed with him for more than one hour. His All
Holiness expressed his satisfaction for the work the
IAO carries out and his fatherly interest for the activities
the Secretariat is preparing for the future. The delegation,
in which the advisors of the Secretariat, Mr. V. Alexeev
and Mr. K. Mygdalis, participated as well, observed
the Patriarch ate Divine Liturgy and had the opportunity
to meet with visitors, who participated in the festivities.
A delegation of the IAO Secretariat, headed by the Deputy
Secretary, Greek Member of Parliament mr. Katsaros and
mr. Vladimir Medvedev, along with the Secretariat advisors
Mr. V. Alexeev and the Secretariat person- in charge
Mrs Miliou, visited in autumn the seat of the European
Commission and of the European Parliament in Brussels.
There, the delegation had contacts and discussions with
the Commissioner in charge of cultural issues Mrs. Viviane
Reding and the Greek Commissioner Mrs. A. Diamantopoulou.
Moreover, the delegaiton met and discussed with the
Vice President of the Committee on Culture of the European
Parliament Mr.Gracamoura and the member of the European
Parliament Mr. Manicko, member of the same Committee.
Finally, a meeting took place with the member of the
Committee on Ecclesiastic and Religious issues Dr.M.Weninger
and the representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
to the European Commission , Bishop Rigiou Emmanuel.
Discussions focused on the terrorist acts in the USA,
which have been overtly condemned by the Secretariat,
the European Union enlargement towards countries whose
great parts of population experience the Orthodox tradition
and pursue the IAO objectives.
The delegation then visited Geneva, where it had contacts
and discussions with members of the World Council of
Churches and representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
of Constantinople and of the Moscow Patriarchate. The
delegation also met with the Reverend Rudiger Noll,
Secretary of Committee on Church and Society of the
European Church Council. Moreover, it visited the Orthodox
Centre of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambesy, Geneva
and met its director Mr. G. Tsetsis and members of the
Orthodox Center. Finally they had a meeting with Mr.
Georgios Lemopoulos, Deputy Secretary General of the
World Council of Churches and the Reverend Dwain Epps,
Director of Public Affairs Program.
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