Australia’s most senior Greek Orthodox leader, Archbishop Stylianos Harkianakis, has died.

The 83-year-old primate of the Greek Orthodox church of Australia died at 6pm on Monday, according to a statement from the Greek Orthodox archdiocese of Australia.

He was elected Archbishop of Australia in 1975 and founded the Greek Orthodox education system in Australia.

Tributes have poured in from leaders including the prime minister, Scott Morrison, opposition leader, Bill Shorten, as well as state premiers Daniel Andrews and Gladys Berejiklian.

So saddened to hear of the passing of His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos Harkianakis, Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Australia and Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. He was a true leader in every way. — Gladys Berejiklian (@GladysB) March 25, 2019

“His distinguished service and leadership to the Greek Australian community will be greatly missed,” Morrison tweeted.

“Archbishop Stylianos was a dedicated faith leader who served both the church and the Greek Australian community with humanity and a strong sense of social justice,” the Federation of Ethnic Communities Council of Australia chair, Mary Patetsos, said.

“His eminence was also a man who worked to build bridges between communities, showing strong international leadership in orthodoxy as well as promoting interfaith relations in Australia.”

Archbishop Stylianos led half a million Greek Orthodox Australians, serving as the most senior figure in the church of Australia since 1975.

Born in Crete, he was ordained into the priesthood in 1958. His doctoral thesis, submitted to the University of Athens in 1965, was entitled “The Infallibility of the Church in Orthodox Theology”.

Harkianakis was unanimously elected Archbishop of Australia. He taught Orthodox theology and spirituality at the University of Sydney.

He was also recognised as a prolific essayist and poet, having published 37 collections of poetry in Greek, with some translated.