Ecumenical Patriarch welcomes 250 pilgrims from Australia to the Phanar

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew welcomed a delegation of 250 pilgrims from Australia to the Patriarchal Church of St. George at the Phanar in Constantinople on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, as part of celebrations marking the 35th anniversary of his election to the Ecumenical Throne.

The pilgrimage is led by Archbishop Makarios of Australia, accompanied by hierarchs, clergy, monastics and lay faithful of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, who travelled to Constantinople to participate in the anniversary celebrations.

Among the participants are the members of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese of Australia: Bishop Elpidios of Perth, Bishop Silouan of Adelaide, Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne, Bishop Evmenios of Chora, Bishop Bartholomew of Brisbane and Bishop Athenagoras of Canberra.

The pilgrimage forms part of a series of commemorative events taking place in Constantinople to celebrate the anniversary of the Ecumenical Patriarch’s election in 1991.

Photo: greek.vema.com.au