Albo’s ‘historic’ meeting with head of Greek Orthodox Church

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has met with the worldwide head of the Greek Orthodox Church as part of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s tour of the country to mark a century of the church in Australia.

Mr Albanese and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on Saturday met with parishioners and were part of a procession at the Cathedral of the Annunciation of Our Lady in Redfern in Sydney.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is the leader of 300 million Greek Orthodox Christians worldwide and more than 400,000 in Australia.

His tour of Australia over the next week represents his second visit Down Under, having first travelled here in 1996.

“This is indeed a historic occasion and a great honour for nation,” Mr Albanese said.

“His All-Holiness’ last visit to Australia was 28 years ago and he’s remembered by Australia’s Greek Orthodox community with great affection and with pride.

“It was the first ever visit by an Ecumenical Patriarch to Australia, an uplifting moment for Greek Orthodox Christians across our great nation.”

Mr Albanese paid credit to Australia’s Greek community, many of whom live in Sydney’s inner west where he is the Member for Grayndler.

“As someone who has had the honour of representing Marrickville for nearly 30 years and called the inner west my home for even longer, I have witnessed first-hand the remarkable contribution that generations of Greek Australians have made to our nation,” Mr Albanese said.

“People whose aspiration, hard work, humour and warm hearts are an irreplaceable part of modern Australia.”

He also pledged $25 million of government funding for the restoration of the Redfern cathedral.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew met with Albanese at Kirribilli House later on Saturday.

He arrived in Sydney on Friday night, and is due to speak at the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy at the ICC Sydney Theatre on Sunday.

He is in Australia until October 13, attending events in Melbourne next week, where he will again meet again with Mr Albanese.