Ecumenical Patriarch inaugurates 'Living Museum' dedicated to migrant life - Neos Kosmos

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Archbishop Makarios highlighted the importance of the museum as a “living archive” that allows younger generations to explore the paths their ancestors forged in Australia

The Director of the Press Office of the Archdiocese of Australia, Markellos Petropoulos, with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Makarios (in the foreground) during their tour of the new interactive museum dedicated to the lives of migrants. Photos: Holy Archdiocese of Australia/Alexandra Gioni and Ecumenical Patriarchate/Nikos Papachristou/Supplied

17 October 2024 5:09pm

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew inaugurated a new interactive museum dedicated to the lives of Greek migrants in Australia during his visit to the “Axion Estin” Church on Tuesday. The museum, titled Our People, Their Stories, is an initiative of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia and aims to preserve and showcase the collective memory of Greek migrants.

Patriarch Bartholomew praised Archbishop Makarios of Australia for leading this unique project, recognising its value in documenting the experiences of second and third-generation Greek-Australians. The museum, located in the offices of the Holy Diocese, features photographs and personal items from Greek migrants, including one of the Patriarch himself with his siblings in Imbros, which his brother brought with him upon migrating to Melbourne.

The museum extends beyond its physical location, as visitors can access multimedia stories and testimonies of Greek migrants online.

In place of a traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony, the Patriarch symbolically launched the museum’s website, opening it to a global audience.

The Ecumenical Patriarch praised Archbishop Makarios for his pioneering effort, recognising his deep understanding and sensitivity toward the Church’s role in preserving heritage, cultural wealth, and tradition.

Special mention was given to Markellos Petropoulos, the Director of the Archdiocese’s Press Office, who played a leading role in realising this project that ensure Greek Australian immigration stories remain an integral part of the country’s cultural and historical narrative, tracing their evolution in its social and economic fabric.

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