30th Anniversary of the Election of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

With "one mouth and with one heart" as we say in the divine liturgy of St John Chrysostom, the faculty and students of St Andrew's fervently pray that God will grant our Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew many years, full of His blessings, Grace, and Joy, so that He may continue to rightly teach the word of truth.

On 22 October, members of the faculty of St Andrew's were blessed to participate in the celebrations for the thirtieth anniversary of the elevation of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, held at St Spyridon Orthodox Church, Kingsford. The event was opened with prayer by our Dean, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia. College Sub-Dean, Assoc. Professor Philip Kariatlis, MC'd the event in both Greek and English, while lecturer Dr Mario Baghos spoke about His All-Holiness as a steward of Romiosyne in Constantinople. Other notable presentations were delivered by College graduate His Grace Bishop-Elect Prochoros of Charioupolis, the Very Revd Fr Stephanos Pantanassiotis (former Abbot of Pantanassa), Professor Michael Anthony, and Vanessa Papastavrou, representative of our Greek Orthodox Youth. The Greek Orthodox Christian Society contributed songs for the event, while a new documentary on His All-Holiness was aired which, at the initiative of His Eminence, featured congratulatory remarks by Metropolitans, Bishops and Bishops-Elect of Australia, our College Sub-Dean Prof. Kariatlis, Youth, and various representations of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. Our Dean Archbishop Makarios closed the event with final remarks on the importance of His All-Holiness' role for the Orthodox Church; as well as moving personal reflections of Him. May God grant His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew many years!