Thousands of people at the 3rd Northcote Festival honoring 35 years of the Ecumenical Patriarch’s tenure

The 3rd Northcote Festival was held at the Holy Diocese of Chora, and it also served as the culminating anniversary event marking 35 years since the election and enthronement of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (1991–2026).

Archbishop Makarios of Australia, who declared the opening of the Festival’s events, spoke with gratitude about the Ecumenical Patriarch and his 35 years of service, emphasizing, among other things, that “we are blessed by God to have our Patriarch. Especially here in Australia, we have much to say about Patriarch Bartholomew and the Ecumenical Patriarchate. If it weren’t for our Patriarch, we wouldn’t have the Dioceses, nor the Constitution. We owe everything to our Patriarch.”

He then spoke about the journey and contribution of Hellenism in Australia, stressing that “our parents and grandparents came to Australia, bringing with them the Orthodox faith, their traditions, memories, and hopes. Through hard work and sacrifice, they built families, churches, schools, and communities. They did not simply preserve their heritage here; they themselves also helped shape the Australia we know today. We are the ones who inherit this responsibility.”

The…