Thousands attend the 3rd Northcote Festival honouring the 35th Anniversary of the Patriarchate of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

The 3rd Northcote Festival was held in the Holy Diocese of Chora and served as the principal commemorative event marking 35 years since the election and enthronement of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (1991–2026). His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, who officially opened the Festival, spoke with gratitude about the Ecumenical Patriarch and his 35 years of service, emphasising, among other things: “We are blessed by God for our Patriarch. We in Australia, in particular, have much to say about Patriarch Bartholomew and the Ecumenical Patriarchate. If it were not for our Patriarch, we would have neither the Dioceses nor the Constitution. We owe everything to our Patriarch.”

His Eminence then reflected upon the history and contribution of Hellenism in Australia, observing: “Our parents and grandparents came to Australia, bringing with them their Orthodox faith, traditions, memories and hopes. Through their hard work and sacrifices, they established families, churches, schools and communities. They did not simply preserve their heritage here; they themselves contributed to shaping the Australia that we know today. This is the responsibility that we, too, have inherited.”

The Archbishop expressed his satisfaction that the vision which inspired the establishment of the Northcote Festival is now becoming a reality: namely, for the Cathedral of Our Lady “Axion Estin” to become not only a spiritual centre for the Greek Orthodox community, but also a place of encounter and communication with the broader Australian society.

“The Northcote Festival,” His Eminence noted, “is a celebration of our Greek Orthodox heritage—of our traditions, music, dance, food and culture. At the same time, however, it expresses something deeper: our desire to share with the country that we have the privilege of calling our home all that we have inherited from our forebears. We do not preserve our heritage by keeping it confined within the boundaries of our own community. We preserve it by living it and sharing it with others. For this reason, I am particularly pleased to see so many people from different backgrounds among us today.”

The 3rd Northcote Festival, which was held with great success on Sunday, 23 August, featured not only Greek and Cypriot associations and organisations, but also representatives of other communities, including the Ukrainian, Romanian, Albanian, Turkish, Assyrian and Korean communities, together with other Australians, who shared aspects of their respective traditions through music, dance and cuisine.

Throughout the day, more than 10,000 visitors attended the Festival, exploring the various stalls, watching and participating in its diverse programme of events, and enjoying activities designed for people of all ages. Among those present were His Grace Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne; clergy from the Holy Dioceses of Chora and Melbourne; and representatives of the political leadership and local government. These included Ms Kat Theophanous MP, State Member of Parliament for the Australian Labor Party, who represented the Victorian Minister for Multicultural Affairs, The Hon. Mr Paul Edbrooke MP; the Mayor of the City of Darebin, Ms Emily Dimitriadis; Liberal State MP Mr Evan Mulholland; and Ms Bernadette Khoury and Ms Nathalie Moussi, members of the local Liberal Council.

Archbishop Makarios thanked all those who attended the Northcote Festival and expressed his gratitude to everyone who actively participated in its organisation and contributed to its success. His Eminence made particular mention of His Grace Bishop Evmenios of Chora, praising his God-pleasing and fruitful ministry, and encouraged the clergy and faithful of the Holy Diocese of Chora to journey together with their Bishop in a spirit of goodwill and harmonious cooperation.

The Archbishop also thanked and commended the Proistamenos of the Cathedral, Fr Philip Papagiannopoulos, describing him as a young and dedicated clergyman who “makes us proud every day.” At the conclusion of the official proceedings of the Festival, all those present stood together and solemnly chanted the Phimi of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.