His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew sent a letter to His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia expressing the sympathy and support of the Great and Holy Church of Christ, during a time when Australia is experiencing its worst bushfire season.
In the letter, His All Holiness writes "from the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, it is with profound sorrow that we have watched the suffering of many people due to the devastating fires which have arisen in recent days in your beloved Christ-loving province. We seek through this letter to express our wholehearted sympathy towards your beloved Sanctity and through it, to the charitable Clergy and the Christ-loving people of the wounded territories of our Holy Archdiocese of Australia. In as much as we testify for the Holy and Great Church of Christ, we also declare personally, our loving interest and positive support."
"We are reaching out to your beloved Sanctity and embracing you brotherly regarding the destructive fires that have beset blessed Australia. From the humble and long suffering Phanar, having ourselves come from a history of spiritual ordeals and the suffering of our People, we express to all, as a sponsor of good cheer, the immeasurable concern and paternal affection towards our troubled people and our Patriarchal prayer and blessing for a speedy recovery to serenity and normality. We also extend our condolences to the relatives of the victims and to all those who have been tormented unjustly in this cruel and harsh ordeal," the letter continued.
His Eminence Archbishop Makarios shared the venerable Patriarchal letter with the clergy and political leadership of the country. He thanked His All Holiness, the Patriarch on behalf of clergy and the people of Australia for his affection, care and paternal support.