Moderator Attends 100-Year Celebration of the Archdiocese of Australia

Moderator, Rev. Faaimata Havea Hiliau, represented the Uniting Church Synod of NSW & ACT at the 100-year celebration of the Archdiocese of Australia. As part of the centenary festivities, the event welcomed His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew - 270th Archbishop of Constantinople and a spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Christians worldwide.

The Moderator attended this significant occasion held at Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation of our Lady in Sydney on Saturday which also marked the reopening of the recently renovated cathedral.

The ceremony was an important moment for both the local and international religious communities.

The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, NSW Governor Margaret Beazley, and Greece’s Deputy Minister of Culture, Jason Fotilas, alongside bishops, clergy, and officials from Australia and Greece.

Moderator Hiliau joined the celebrations, underscoring the Uniting Church’s commitment to building bridges across cultural and faith boundaries.

On Sunday, His All-Holiness presided over a historic Divine Liturgy at the ICC Sydney Theatre where Moderator Hiliau participated in the service.

“The Sunday Service was incredible and an immersion in the Orthodox ritual and culture.” Says Moderator

She also attended an Official Dinner at Darling Harbour on Tuesday in honor of His All-Holiness, featuring speeches and cultural performances.

Reflecting on her experience, she shared, "My husband and I were invited to a private lunch with other VIP guests. I was honored to meet him and briefly discuss the Uniting Church and the Pacific."

“The Sunday Service was incredible and an immersion in the Orthodox ritual and culture.” Says Moderator