Makarios of Australia: "There is a lot of beauty in the world, but to see it, we must have peace within ourselves"translated

On Wednesday, October 28, 2026, the National Anniversary of "NO" and the Feast of the Holy Shroud of the Most Holy Theotokos were celebrated with splendor and emotion at the Holy Cathedral of Our Lady "Axion Estin", in Northcote, Victoria, in the Holy Diocese of Chora. The Orthros and the High Priestly Divine Liturgy were presided over by the Theophilous Bishop of Chora, Mr. Eumenios, who conveyed the fatherly wishes and blessings of the Most Reverend Archbishop of Australia, Mr. Makarios.

After the end of the Divine Liturgy, the established Doxology for the National Anniversary of October 28, 1940 was performed, in the presence of the Mayor of the Municipality of Darebin, Mr. Amalia Dimitriadou.

In his message, His Holiness referred to the historic "NO" of 1940, emphasizing that it was not just the rejection of an ultimatum, but a declaration of freedom, dignity and faith.

He particularly emphasized that "the greatness of 1940 was not that the Greek people were not afraid, but that they refused to allow fear to determine their future."

At the same time, he referred to the importance of the preservation of the Orthodox faith and Greek heritage by the younger generations of Greeks in Australia, pointing out that the greatest...