Archbishop Makarios of Australia welcomed Greece’s Men’s National Water Polo Team to the Holy Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Sydney on Monday as the squad prepares to compete in the World Cup Finals, taking place from July 22–26.
Greek water polo team was joined by Bishops Iakovos of Militoupolis, Christodoulos of Magnesia, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of St George Yellow Rock and Chief Secretary of the Holy Eparchial Synod, and Christophoros of Kerasounta, Protosyngel of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia.
He warmly greeted head coach Theodoros Vlachos, the players and the team’s support staff, thanking them for visiting the headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia during their stay in Sydney.
During the visit, Archbishop Makarios introduced the delegation to the history of the Holy Cathedral, highlighting its ongoing iconography project, while also outlining the mission, structure and pastoral work of the Archdiocese in serving Australia’s vibrant Greek Orthodox community.
Extending his best wishes for the tournament, the Archbishop encouraged the players to pursue excellence while remembering that success in life extends beyond medals and trophies.
Messages of Encouragement and Balance
“Victory is always the goal in sport,” he said. “But as Orthodox Christians, we have learned that life is not defined by victories alone. What matters most is that we are well and that we find joy and purpose in what we do.”
Addressing the younger athletes, Archbishop Makarios urged them to nurture both their physical and spiritual wellbeing. He observed that modern society often focuses on physical appearance while neglecting the soul, encouraging the players to dedicate even a few minutes each day to prayer and spiritual reflection.
“Human beings are both body and soul,” he said. “If our soul is not healthy, eventually our body will also suffer.”
The visit concluded with a warm exchange of gifts. The Greek team presented Archbishop Makarios with a water polo ball signed by every player, while the Holy Archdiocese of Australia presented each member of the delegation with commemorative coins and postage stamps issued to mark the Archdiocese’s centenary celebrations.
Final Preparations at Sydney Olympic Park
Greek City Times was also present at the Greek team’s final training session on Monday evening at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, where players completed their final preparations ahead of the World Cup Finals. The squad appeared relaxed and focused as head coach Theodoros Vlachos put the team through its final drills before the tournament gets underway.
Tickets are available now via OzTix for single-day passes, finals tickets, multi-day packages, and concessions.
Ticket Link: https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/ef858247-d2dd-42a8-a184-6ec74fd9315b
