Our Dean's Address at Consulate Event

The Dean spoke at an event which took place at the University of Sydney and was organised by the Consulate General of Greece in Sydney to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Deportation of Thessaloniki Jews on Thursday evening 20th April 2023.

His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, our College Dean, presented a paper at an event organised by the Consulate General of Greece in Sydney at the University of Sydney on the evening of Thursday 20th April to commemorate the 80th anniversary since the tragic events of the deportation of Thessaloniki Jews in 1943. The other presentation by Dr Leon Saltiel was titled, “The Holocaust in Thessaloniki and its blow to a 2000-year old history.”

His Eminence, in his presentation specifically focused on the Church’s contribution during those years—especially through the heroic actions of three Hierarchs at the time: His Beatitude Archbishop Damaskinos of Athens, and their Eminences Metropolitan Joachim of Volos and Metropolitan Chrysostoms of Zakynthos—to stand united with their fellow Jewish compatriots.

In his address, the Archbishop noted: “today, we stand all together and in inseparable solidarity against all those who might wish to commit unspeakable acts of atrocities against humanity in our world today.” He continued, “we must boldly, and with one voice, denounce all forms of bigotry, subjugation and suppression; all forms of xenophobia. Indeed, we must remember that any crime committed against another believer of any faith, let alone another human being, is ultimately an abomination and crime against God Himself.”

Finally, the Archbishop expressed is hope that the memory of all those who died at the Holocaust be eternal. He said: “may their lives be preserved by the power of our love and our memory!”