Stylianos | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of Australia | |
 | |
| Native name | Στυλιανός Χαρκιανάκης |
| Diocese | Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia |
| Installed | 26 April 1975 |
| Term ended | 25 March 2019 |
| Predecessor | Ezekiel (Tsoukalas) |
| Successor | Makarios (Griniezakis) |
| Previous post | Metropolitan ofMilitoupolis (1970-1975) |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | 1970 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Stylianos Harkianakis (1935-12-29)29 December 1935 |
| Died | 25 March 2019(2019-03-25) (aged 83) |
| Buried | Rookwood Cemetery |
| Nationality | Greek |
| Denomination | Eastern Orthodox Christian |
| Alma mater | University of Bonn |
Archbishop Stylianos (Secular name: Stylianos Harkianakis,Greek:Στυλιανός Χαρκιανάκης) (b. 29 December 1935 – d. 25 March 2019) was the Greek OrthodoxArchbishop of Australia and Primate of theGreek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia. He served as inaugural and permanent Chairman of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Churches in Australia and Dean ofSt Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College.[1] He was atheologian specialising inecclesiology and also a poet.
Stylianos Harkianakis was born inRethymno on the island ofCrete,Greece, on 29 December 1935. He studied theology at theTheological School of Halki on the island ofHalki and graduated in 1958. He was ordained a deacon in 1957 and a priest in 1958. He completed postgraduate studies in systematic theology and the philosophy of religion at theUniversity of Bonn inWest Germany from 1958 to 1966. His lecturers included Joseph Ratzinger, who later becamePope Benedict XVI. He wrote his thesis on the concept that the Orthodox Church possessed infallibility when it acted together in conciliarity (e.g. the Ecumenical Councils). At that time, the idea of infallibility was thought to be an exclusively Roman Catholic idea, entirely alien to the Orthodox Church.
In 1965, whilst still completing his postgraduate studies, Harkianakis was appointed Professor of Theology at theUniversity of Athens. In 1966, he was appointed abbot of the Holy Patriarchal Monastery of Vlatodon, inThessaloniki. He was a founding member, then became vice-president and later president, of the Patriarchal Institute of Patristic Studies within the monastery. From 1969 to 1975, he lectured in systematic theology at theUniversity of Thessaloniki.
In 1970, Harkianakis was elected the Titular Metropolitan ofMilitoupolis (whilst remaining in the Holy Monastery ofVlatadon) as exarch in matters concerning Northern Greece andMount Athos.[2]
On 3 February 1975, Harkianakis was electedArchbishop of Australia and Exarch of Oceania.[3] He arrived in Sydney on 15 April and was enthroned on 26 April (Saturday of Lazarus). In this role, he engaged in many dialogues between Orthodoxy and other Christian groups, most prominently as co-chairman of the theological dialogue with theRoman Catholic Church, but also as co-chairman of the dialogue with the Anglican churches.
Harkianakis taught Orthodox theology and spirituality atSydney University from 1975. In 1986 he became the inaugural dean of St Andrew's Theological College where he also served as Lecturer in Systematic Theology.
Harkianakis was the plaintiff in a defamation suit against journalist Theo Skalkos and a contempt case for articles published by Skalkos which were said to amount to public vilification to deter Harkianakis from continuing to bring defamation suits.[4]
Harkianakis died following a lengthy illness inSydney on 25 March 2019, on theHoly Day of the Annunciation of the Theotokos.[5][6]
In 1973, Harkianakis was awarded the International Award Gottfried von Herder. A noted poet with an extensive bibliography, he was given the Award for Poetry from theAcademy of Athens in 1980. In 1985 he received an honorary doctorate fromLublin University, Poland. One of his poems, "After Ephialtes", was set to music byCostas Tsicaderis.
| Eastern Orthodox Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Archbishop of Australia 1975–2019 | Succeeded by |
