Well done to Archbishop Makarios

I indispensable admit I was surprised by the reactions of some to Archbishop Makarios’ connection regarding the use of the Greek connection successful religion services, peculiarly successful Australia.

Let us beryllium clear: we are talking astir the liturgy itself—the hymns and the ritual elements of worship—not the sermons. Sermons, arsenic has rightly been pointed out, tin and, successful galore cases, should besides beryllium delivered successful English so that each faithful—especially younger radical oregon those who are not proficient successful Greek—can understand.

The reactions that followed were strong. Some argued that “if we don’t understand what is being said, then why spell to church?”

Such an approach, however, overlooks a cardinal reality: the Divine Liturgy, arsenic it has been shaped implicit much than two thousand years, is conducted successful the Greek language, and so successful a learned, archaic signifier of it.

And yet, full generations of faithful—even radical who had not completed basal education—attended church, participated, listened, felt and experienced worship without requiring afloat linguistic understanding of each word.

Today, we are successful Australia, successful a antithetic reality, where the Greek connection is gradually declining among younger generations.

And this is the existent contented astatine stake. It is not simply whether a operation will beryllium said successful English oregon Greek during the service. It is whether, successful a fewer years’ time, we will person definitively mislaid our connection within our ain community.

I punctual readers that Archbishop Makarios of Australia, during a pastoral visit to Melbourne connected Good Friday, publically urged a clergyman to bounds the use of English successful the liturgy, expressing interest implicit the weakening of Greek identity.

“We are Greeks here. Who does not understand Greek? I did not similar that the work was fractional successful Greek and fractional successful English,” helium said characteristically.

At the aforesaid time, helium emphasised that the Church is not simply a functional space, but a bearer of identity: “We are Greeks and we indispensable sphere and safeguard this. Because if the Church loses its Greek identity, what will beryllium near for us to preserve?”

The Archbishop did not wholly cull the use of English. On the contrary, helium acknowledged the request to pass with younger generations, allowing for the use of “a small English,” but lone successful a supportive role—not connected adjacent footing with Greek.

As helium noted, “We will find chanters who will chant successful Greek and we will adhd a small English, for the involvement of our children, to pull them and bring them to the Church. But not fractional and half.”

This presumption sparked mixed reactions. Some afloat agreed, seeing the Greek connection arsenic a cornerstone of identity. Others disagreed, arguing that the Church should afloat accommodate to the linguistic world of the younger generation.

Personally, I judge the Archbishop’s stance is some close and realistic. We cannot disregard the hazard of linguistic alienation facing the Greek assemblage successful Australia.

It is not an exaggeration to accidental that within a fewer decades, without a conscious effort, we whitethorn suffer not lone the language, but besides a important portion of our taste continuity.

On this occasion, we indispensable all—wherever we are and whatever we do—contribute to preserving the Greek language. It is not solely the Church’s responsibility. It is simply a corporate one: families, schools, assemblage organisations, taste associations, the media, and each of us individually.

Recently, teacher Giota Savridou wrote successful Neos Kosmos a peculiarly insightful piece, noting that a ample portion of Melbourne’s Greek Australian assemblage communicates chiefly successful English, adjacent within Greek circles and organisations. As she pointed out, this unintentionally creates a antagonistic illustration for younger generations.

“Language is not simply a means of communication. It is simply a bearer of culture, past and values. It is the thread that connects generations,” she emphasises.

And indeed, when older generations take to speak chiefly English—even astatine Greek events—what connection are we sending to our children?

She besides stresses that work for preserving the connection does not remainder lone with schools oregon educators. It is simply a shared work of all: parents, communities, associations, the media and each subordinate of the diaspora. She concludes with a operation that should springiness us pause: “What is not used is lost.”

For this reason, the treatment sparked by the Archbishop’s remarks should not beryllium treated superficially oregon emotionally. It should beryllium seen arsenic an accidental for broader reflection connected our individuality successful today’s and tomorrow’s Australia.

In closing, I would accidental that a meaningful “crusade” should statesman for the preservation of the Greek connection successful Australia—not with fanaticism, but with awareness, consistency and regular practice. Because if the connection is lost, we bash not simply suffer a tool of communication—we suffer a portion of who we are.