Macedonian Orthodox Diocese of Australia-Sydney
| Macedonian Orthodox Diocese of Australia-Sydney (Австралиско-сиднејска епархија) | |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Macedonian Orthodox Church |
| Diocese type | Diocese |
| Founded | 2012 (constituted 2016) |
| Current bishop | Metr. Timotej of Debar and Kičevo, administrator |
| See(s) | Sydney |
| Headquarters | 340 Sydenham Road, Sydenham, Victoria |
| Territory | Australia (part) |
| Liturgical language(s) | Church Slavonic, Macedonian |
| Musical tradition | Byzantine Chant |
| Calendar | Julian |
| Population (est.) | unknown |
| macedonianorthodoxdiocese.org.au | |
The Macedonian Orthodox Diocese of Australia-Sydney (Macedonian: Австралиско-сиднејска епархија) is a diocese of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, with jurisdiction over part of Australia. It was formed in 2012 from the Macedonian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, and was at first to be called the Diocese of Canberra, Australia and Tasmania. It is administered by Metropolitan Timotej of Debar and Kičevo.[1]
History
The diocese originated in a long dispute within the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand over the management of church properties, which led many church communities to refuse to recognise Metropolitan Petar as their bishop. In 2012 the diocesan assembly of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand decided to divide it into two dioceses with twelve church communities each. The existing diocese kept its name and its seat in Melbourne, and the new one, based in Sydney, was to be called the Diocese of Canberra, Australia and Tasmania. The two were divided by allegiance rather than by territory.[1]
In December 2012 the Holy Synod of the Macedonian Orthodox Church took thirteen of the communities under its direct jurisdiction and appointed Metropolitan Timotej of Debar and Kičevo as coordinator. Their delegates held a founding assembly in Melbourne on 16 January 2015, chaired by Metropolitan Timotej, which adopted a diocesan statute and elected a provisional diocesan board. In February 2016 the Holy Synod approved the statute of the new diocese, now named the Diocese of Australia-Sydney, and appointed Timotej as its administrator, ending a dispute that had lasted 20 years. On 23 February 2017 the diocese was registered with the Australian authorities as the Macedonian Orthodox Church - Ohrid Archbishopric - Diocese of Australia-Sydney.[1]
Administration
The diocese is administered by Metropolitan Timotej of Debar and Kičevo.[2] Its Diocesan Management Committee, elected on 2 September 2025, is chaired by Archbishop Stefan (Veljanovski) of Ohrid and Macedonia, with Archpriest Stanko Jovanovski as bishop's deputy.[3]
Parishes and monasteries
The diocese lists eleven churches and one monastery:[4]
- Dormition of the Theotokos - Sydenham, Melbourne, Victoria
- St. George and the Theotokos - Epping, Melbourne, Victoria
- St. John the Baptist - Geelong, Victoria
- St. Nicholas - Cabramatta, Sydney, New South Wales
- St. Demetrius - Wollongong, New South Wales
- St. Petka - Rockdale, Sydney, New South Wales
- St. Elijah - Queanbeyan, New South Wales
- St. Kliment of Ohrid - Narrabundah, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
- St. Nicholas - Perth, Western Australia
- St. Naum of Ohrid - Adelaide, South Australia
- St. Nedelya (St. Kyriake) - Gold Coast, Queensland
- St. Kliment of Ohrid Monastery - Kinglake, Victoria
See also
- Macedonian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand
- List of Macedonian Orthodox parishes in Australia
- Orthodoxy in Australia
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Краток историјат" (Brief history), Macedonian Orthodox Diocese of Australia-Sydney (in Macedonian).
- ↑ Macedonian Orthodox Diocese of Australia-Sydney, official website (in Macedonian).
- ↑ "Епархија" (Diocese), Macedonian Orthodox Diocese of Australia-Sydney.
- ↑ "Цркви и манастири" (Churches and monasteries), Macedonian Orthodox Diocese of Australia-Sydney (in Macedonian).
External links
- Macedonian Orthodox Diocese of Australia-Sydney (official website)