Sydney Community Honors Beloved Archimandrite Nektarios Zorbalas at Emotional Funeral

July 28, 2025, Sydney, Australia

On Monday, July 28, 2025, the Greek Orthodox community, alongside mourners from parishes across New South Wales and interstate, gathered in a profoundly emotional atmosphere to bid farewell to Archimandrite Nektarios Zorbalas, a beloved priest who was laid to rest at Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park. The funeral service, held at the Holy Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Redfern, Sydney, commenced with a Divine Liturgy at 7:00 AM, followed by the funeral at 10:30 AM. A Trisagion service and all-night vigil on Sunday, July 27, drew a diverse crowd to honor his memory.

The service was presided over by Archbishop Makarios of Australia, concelebrated by Bishops Kyriakos of Melbourne, Evmenios of Khoras, and Bartholomew of Brisbane, all members of the Holy Eparchial Synod. Other notable participants included Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis, Bishop Christodoulos of Magnisia, Bishop Themistocles of Nicopolis (from the Patriarchate of Alexandria), the Very Reverend Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne Christophoros Krikelis, the Chancellor of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, numerous clergy, and Archdeacon John Chryssavgis of the Ecumenical Throne, a Sydney native. The Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Mr. Ioannis Mallikourtis, was also present, joining the crowds of faithful who came to venerate the body of the revered clergyman who served the local church selflessly for over half a century.

In his eulogy, Archbishop Makarios conveyed the heartfelt condolences of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Fr. Nektarios’ family and spiritual children. “In human terms, we feel sorrow and pain because a person is departing this world—someone about whom each of us could share personal experiences of his kindness, good deeds, and spiritual support,” he said. He emphasized, however, that “Fr. Nektarios bore witness to the passage from death to life throughout his ministry.” The Archbishop highlighted key milestones of Fr. Nektarios’ virtuous life, including his early priesthood in the 1970s at the Parish of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Innisfail, northern Queensland, where he served under challenging conditions. “The priesthood was like a university for him,” the Archbishop noted, “because he entered unconditionally and gave everything to the Church.”

Fr. Nektarios was particularly renowned for his over three decades of service at the Parish of Saints Constantine and Helen in Newtown, Sydney, where he founded the transformative “Soup Kitchen” program to support the homeless. Beyond his charitable work, he was celebrated for his unwavering commitment to preaching the truth of the Orthodox faith with divine zeal, never judging or condemning others. The Inner West Police mourned his passing, describing him as a “guardian angel” whose quiet service brought dignity to those in need. Superintendent Despa Fitzgerald remarked, “His legacy will live on in the lives he transformed.”

Fr. Nektarios’ nieces expressed profound gratitude for the outpouring of condolences, reflecting on the countless lives he touched. “We may never fully know the extent of his impact,” they shared. The burial, held at 10:00 PM AEST at Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park Cemetery, marked the close of a week of remembrance, with the community pledging to continue his humanitarian efforts.