Greek Orthodox Church took tens of millions in rent from aged care home at centre of deadliest COVID outbreak - ABC News
A group of taxpayer-funded aged care homes funnelled $31 million back into the coffers of one of Australia's largest churches, an ABC investigation has found.
The homes include St Basil's in Melbourne, where 45 residents died in Australia's deadliest COVID outbreak.
In the past eight years, St Basil's paid more than $22 million in rent and fees to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese while receiving federal government funding.
A commercial real estate agent told Background Briefing this was double the rental market rate.
Towards the end of that period, the church was funding the lavish lifestyle of its newly appointed Archbishop, including the purchase of a $6.5 million Sydney apartment with harbour views.
Archbishop Makarios, who oversees the church's schools, parishes and aged care homes, arrived on Australia's shores in the middle of 2019 to much fanfare.
He was swamped by thousands at his enthronement in Sydney and photographed meeting the Prime Minister along with other political and business leaders.
"Until the end of my life, I belong to Australia," he declared, choking back tears.
But as he toured the country in his first months in charge, some in the church noted his lifestyle seemed excessive for a
man who had taken a vow of poverty.
He was arriving at parishes in a black Holden Caprice with dark tinted windows, a flag and a personalised number plate ordered just for him: ARCHBM.
His ceremonial gowns of luxurious silks and wool in vivid hues, embroidered with gold thread, cost up to $30,000 each, according to sources linked to the church.
They were a stark departure from the conservative black cotton garments worn by his predecessor, the late Archbishop Stylianos.
Then in December 2019, the church bought him a new official residence in Millers Point, a luxurious apartment with sweeping views of Sydney Harbour and the Opera House.
It provoked outrage among the faithful, so in mid-2020 the Archdiocese issued a statement denying the Archbishop was living in the apartment.
But Background Briefing has observed Archbishop Makarios's Caprice entering and leaving the apartment complex.
The Archdiocese has now confirmed he moved in earlier this year.
Sources say before he moved in, a $3 million renovation was carried out.
The church said the renovation was paid for by a private donor.
The Archdiocese dismissed questions about the Archbishop's lifestyle as "discourteous and ill-founded", but concerns persist that funds from the Greek Orthodox Church's aged care homes are helping to pay for it.
Background Briefing has uncovered an extensive network of residential and commercial properties around Australia owned by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and overseen by the Archbishop.
But assets don't equal liquid cash.
The Archdiocese also owns 15 aged care homes dotted around Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia, which receive aged care funding from the federal government.
Some of the church's aged care homes are passing money directly back to the church, with a total of $31 million transferred in the past eight years, often while homes are posting operating losses.
And you know what will happen...nothing! Just like the catholic church got away with raping children for decades, this church will get away with profiting off old people dying. They will never be required to repay what they ripped off.
The only good thing about these stories is they shed light on the real morals and ethics of churches and that is money, making it wherever and however possible regardless of the suffering it causes.
