Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison joined the Greek-Orthodox faithful for Easter and attended the Resurrection of Christ Liturgy on Saturday night in Sydney.
He joined Greece’s Minister for Culture, Lina Mendoni at the Greek Orthodox Church in Kogarah—lighting candles and speaking with parishioners before speaking about unity during Easter.
The service was presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia and was attended by over 1,000 Greek Orthodox faithful, as well as a number of other dignitaries.
Morrison called for peace in Ukraine during his attendance at the service: “Let us pray for peace, particularly in Ukraine,” he said, addressing the congregation with his wife, Jenny, also in attendance.
“Let us pray for our nation… that together we will continue to be strong; that together we will continue to enjoy this blessed nation of Australia,” it was said.
From Ukrainians keeping hope alive for their war-torn country, to Scott Morrison joining a Greek Orthodox Easter service in Sydney, here’s how some of the millions of Orthodox Christians around the world are celebrating their Easter this weekend. pic.twitter.com/iTE650Rgvq
— SBS News (@SBSNews) April 24, 2022
Morrison spoke in Greek at the Easter Liturgy
The Australian Prime Minister said, in Greek: “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and to those in the tomb, grant him life.”
“I want to thank you for your great sense of community,” he added, and the “faith and community that has sustained our country through these past difficult years.
“And as I look out at the lights here in Kogarah this evening, my heart is full of hope,” he continued.
“You are lighting up the country, with your faith and your belief and your community. And this enables us, I think, to move forward with great confidence,” Morrison concluded.
Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison, and Greek Culture Minister, Lina Mendoni, attend tonight’s Midnight mass Easter service at Kogarah’s Greek Orthodox Church amongst tens of thousands of parishioners.
Christos Anesti @ScottMorrisonMP #ausvotes pic.twitter.com/p5ixPLOK81
— VISION 🇦🇺 (@vision_iii) April 23, 2022
Speaking to the gathered crowd moments before the ‘Christ is Risen’ proclamation, Archbishop Makarios highlighted the special significance of this year’s Easter celebrations.
“We give glory to God who has made us worthy this year to celebrate Pascha after the difficulties brought about by the pandemic which now seems to be slowly fading away,” Archbishop Makarios said.
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