Archbishop Makarios of Australia suspends relationship with local parish community

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia has announced that His Eminence Archbishop Makarios has suspended all communication with the Community of St Paraskevi at St Albans in Melbourne over decisions made by its Board of Directors.

The full announcement reads as follows:

"It is generally known that the Community of St Paraskevi at St Albans in Melbourne had begun a formal dialogue with the Holy Archdiocese of Australia in order to join the only canonical Greek Orthodox Church in Australia, which is under the Ecumenical Patriarchate and which is the “Holy Archdiocese of Australia” with His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia as the spiritual leader and Shepherd.

"Unfortunately, however, the current Board of Directors, whose composition is illegal because it is contrary to the provisions of the constitution of the Community, has taken a series of actions and these are neither legal nor in accordance with the regulations. It is unpleasant to come to the realisation that the very members of the Board, by their actions and attitudes, are essentially turning against the Community.

"For this reason, and with great sorrow and pastoral concern, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia is suspending the dialogue and all communication for as long as the Community is governed by the current Board of Directors, whose decisions lack legality.

"The two persons (Mr Nektarios Koikas and Mr Dimitrios Vrakas) who until today served the members of the Community as schismatic “priests”, not recognised by any canonical Orthodox Church, have submitted a request for repentance and His Eminence will soon restore them in the manner provided for by the sacred canons of our Church.

"The so-called “Archimandrite” Nektarios Alexandratos, about whom the Holy Archdiocese of Australia had informed the pious faithful in an earlier announcement, is not a canonical clergyman and does not belong to the canonical Orthodox Church. Therefore, no sacrament and no holy service that he performs is recognised and has no canonical orthodox ecclesiastical standing.

Moreover, His Eminence emphasises in a statement: “I understand that the Community of St Paraskevi is going through a great trial but I am certain that it will be like a storm that comes and goes. Unfortunately, upon legal advice from the lawyers of the Archdiocese, I am forced to suspend the dialogue with the current Board of Directors because even if they take the decision today to join the only canonical Church in Australia, which is our Archdiocese, this decision will not be legal. I would like to ask the members of the Community, in a spirit of peace, to rise to the occasion and make the right decisions that will lead to the truth. To forget the mistakes and errors of the past and to move forward. I hope and pray and, foremost, I await with much paternal love.”