H.E. Archbishop Makarios of Australia urged the Pontians of Australia not only to preserve but also pass on to future generations, the traditions and high ideals that they received from their forebears

“Don’t pass these on as a simple idea, as our own cultural inheritance,” he said, “but pass them to the younger generations as the legacy of all humanity, of the entire human race. Because, truly, that which existed in Pontos was something very unique and very exalted; it was something wonderful,” he added.

His Eminence directed his above petition before the representatives of the Federation of Pontian Associations of Australia with the member bodies of the Greek Pontian Society of Wollongong “Diogenes”, the Pontian Association of Sydney “Panagia Soumela”, and the Pontian Association of NSW “Pontoxeniteas”, who on Sunday morning, 24 May, the Sunday of the Blind Man, attended the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Annunciation of our Lady Theotokos in Sydney.

His Eminence Archbishop Makarios presided at the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral where a memorial service was held for the souls and victims of the genocide of Hellenes of Pontos, Asia Minor and Thrace (1914-1924). The Archbishop’s message for the 101st anniversary of the genocide was read in Greek and English by Fr Nicholas Bozikis and Fr Peter Mavrommatis respectively.

In his brief message, His Eminence referred with emotion and pride to the culture that developed in the blessed land of Pontos, focusing in particular on the flourishing of spiritual and ecclesiastical life. “Pontos was a very special and unique place,” he explained, noting that it is dominated by historic monasteries and churches like the cradle of Pontian Hellenism, the Monastery of Panagia Soumela, and the Church of the Wisdom of God in Trabzon. At the same time, he mentioned some of the great ecclesiastical figures who decorated the Pontian land such as the last Metropolitan of Trabzon and later Archbishop of Athens Chrysanthos, the Metropolitan of Neocaesarea Chrysostomos, the Metropolitan of Cologne Gabriel, and the Metropolitan of Rodopolis Ieronymos. He even revealed that he was counted worthy to meet up close the last two hierarchs during his first years at the Ecumenical Patriarchate. “I praise God for this blessing and for this spiritual legacy that I received from my acquaintance with these truly great figures, with hierarchs representing a great tradition, which is the Pontian tradition,” he said with emotion.

 

 

Πηγή: www.orthodoxianewsagency.gr