St. George Free Serbian Orthodox Church (Forrest, Australian Capital Territory)

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St George Free Serbian Orthodox Church, in Forrest, Canberra, Australia, is a parish aligned with the Free Serbian Orthodox Church - Diocese of Australia and New Zealand.[1][2] From 2008 to 2014 it was a parish of the Holy Synod in Resistance.


St George Free Serbian Orthodox Church, Forrest, Canberra, Australia

Founding and Hiatus (1955-1992)

St George Free Serbian Orthodox Church was formed in 1955, served by Fr Dusan Popovic. In 1963, the church experienced some unspecified difficulties, during which time a group of former Yugoslav Royal Military officers registered the 'Free Serbian Orthodox Church St George, Inc' organisation with the ACT government, an organisational structure that continued until 1992.

The parishioners acquired land in the suburb of Forrest, built a church building, a hall which they call to this day 'Serbian Centre Draza Mihailovic', and a monument to Cetnik (Royal Yugoslavian Armed Forces) General Dragoljub 'Draza' Mihailovic, the first of its kind anywhere in the world.

The First President of the Church-School Community (in 1955) was Vojislav Miletic, who, together with his wife Jelena, became a major benefactor to St Sava Monastery in Elaine, Victoria.

The interior of the church was painted by Czech artist Karl Matzek in the 1970s and 1980s, primarily in the Western mural style.

The church is listed on the Register of the National Estate and the ACT Heritage Register. Matzek covered the whole interior with biblical and historical scenes, including two twenty-metre murals of the battle near Rome in 312 AD and the Battle of Kosovo in 1389; the battle scene near Rome alone has about a thousand figures and hundreds of horses.[3] The work is considered his chef d'oeuvre.[3] He began it at the age of 73 and expected it to take four or five years, but it took sixteen, during which he lived in a small flat behind the church. He died in 1983.[4]

Serbian Patriarchate (1992-2008)

Since 1992, when the schismatic 'Free Church' came into the Church of Serbia, it has been visited by several canonical Orthodox bishops, including the Serbian Patriarch Pavle in November 2004.

During the early 1990's, the Church was fortunate to be recognised amongst the Australian Capital Territory's Heritage Listed sites and remains a civic icon of Canberra to this day. Fr Jakov Jovic served the church from 1992, and was succeeded by Fr Stanisa Ostojic in 2004.

In August 2006, Bishop Milutin removed the antimension from the altar of St George's. At an unknown date, the antimension was replaced. Fr Nikola Bilic succeeded Fr Stanisa as the parish priest during this year.

In 2007, the church was blessed with the restoration of the frescoes that line the ceiling and walls. These frescos have drawn many tourists to Canberra to the church, sharing in the beauty of Serbian Orthodoxy depicted in these frescoes whilst learning about several significant events that shaped our Serbian Orthodoxy. Fr Nikola Bilic concluded his service during this year, without immediate successor.

Holy Synod in Resistance (2008-2014)

In March 2008, Bishop Irinej removed the antimension from the altar for the second time in two years, authorising for chains to bar the main gates. It is reported (by whom?) that this is due to a dispute, variously between the property trustees and/or with the majority of regular parishioners.

Following this dispute, the parish broke away from the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand (New Gracanica Metropolitanate), and reverted to its original name of St George Free Serbian Orthodox Church. During 2009, the parish faced the decision to be amalgamated into the newly formed Organisation established by Bishop Irinej or to seek acceptance elsewhere.

Choosing the latter option, the parish has been accepted into The Holy Synod in Resistance, an Old Calendar Church based in Greece, receiving a blessing from the St. Cyprian and Justina Monastery, Greece. Fr Dragan Saracevic became parish priest in 2009.

A parallel parish administration aligned with the Serbian Orthodox Church also exists, with Fr. Jakov Jovic installed as parish priest by Bishop Irinej.

Free Serbian Orthodox Church (2014-present)

In March 2014 the Holy Synod in Resistance united with the Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece and ceased to exist.[5] St George is now aligned with the Free Serbian Orthodox Church - Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, which regards the Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece as its sister church.[1][6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Bishop Irinej Dobrijevic & Anor v Free Serbian Orthodox Church, Diocese for Australia & New Zealand Property Trust & Ors [2015] NSWSC 637 (Supreme Court of New South Wales, 29 May 2015) at [448].
  2. ↑ FSOC Saint George, Canberra (parish Facebook page).
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Matzek, Karl (1895-1983)", Australian Dictionary of Biography.
  4. ↑ James Coleman, "Inside Canberra's very own 'Sistine Chapel'", Region, 6 May 2023.
  5. ↑ Holy Synod in Resistance (OrthodoxWiki article).
  6. ↑ Free Serbian Orthodox Church, official website (in Serbian).
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