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name=Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, and New Zealand, and All Oceania|

territory=Australia, New Zealand, and All Oceaniathe Philippines|language=Arabic, Belarus, Bulgarian, English, Filipino, French, German, Greek (church), Greek (modern), Macedonian, Moldovan, Persian, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slavonic (Churchothers as needed), Ukrainian|music=[[Bulgarian Chant|Bulgarian]], [[Byzantine Chant|Byzantine]], [[Russian Chant|Russian]] & [[Znamenny Chant|Znamenny]] Chant; Russian & Western Choral|calendar=[[Revised Julian Calendar|Revised Julian]] and , [[Julian Calendar]] (depending on parish)|population=743,525 ([[Statistics of Orthodoxy in Australia|Defective]] [http://www.cra.org.au/pages/00000226.cgi Federal Census 2001]); 37500 to 123,490 (2005 internal Archdiocesan census of active congregants)000|website=[http://www.antiochianantiochianarch.org.au Antiochian Archdiocese]

The '''Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand, and All Oceaniathe Philippines''', with headquarters in Sydney, is an [[archdiocese]] of the [[Church of Antioch]]. Its current [[primate]] is His Eminence [[Paul (Saliba) of Australia and New Zealand|Paul (Saliba)]], [[Metropolitan Archbishop]] of Australia, New Zealand, and All Oceaniathe Philippines.

:''SeeExpanded in: [[History of Antiochian Orthodoxy in Australasia]]''The first wave of Syrian (now Lebanese) immigration was in the 1880-1890s, where work was found in hawking and peddling goods in the country areas of the eastern states of Australia. The first place places of worship was usually were in the state capital cities of Sydney and Melbourne, with a Greek speaking priest who also spoke Arabic and , sometimes , Russian too. The Antiochian Orthodox faithful took part in the construction of both Surry HillsHoly Trinity, Sydney, and Holy Annunciation, Melbourne.

Due to the problems concerning the 1899 election of an Arab Patriarch of Antioch, in 1899 and the decision of the [[Church of Constantinople]] to give appropriate jurisdiction of parishes in the diaspora parishes to the [[Church of Greece]] with the sole use of Ecclesiastical Greek, Syrian participation in services halted these churches were effectively closed off from the Arab Orthodox, aside from the sacraments. However, these faithful would not be denied Orthodoxy in their language and culture, and founded three Antiochian Orthodox churches in Australasia: St George, Sydney (founded by Fr [[Nicholas Shehadie]], exarch); St Nicholas, Melbourne (founded by Archim. [[Antonious (Mobayed)|Antonious]]); and St Michael, Dunedin (founded by Hmk [[Nicholas (Manovitch)|Nicholas]]. These churches, founded in the 1920s and 1930s, continued to be the only Antiochian Orthodox parishes in Australasia through the period of the Exarchate.

In Sydney1969, Fr [[Nicholas Shehadie]] was sent as exarch of the Church of Antioch. Under his rectorship, sent Archimandrite Gibran (Ramlawey) to Australia as Patriarchal Exarch to find the first best way to solve problems caused by two priests having to serve every Antiochian Orthodox Church was built and dedicated to St Georgein Australia. After On his repose from asthmarecommendations, a number the Diocese of priests served as rector Australia and exarchNew Zealand was created, including the V. Rev. Frs and Archimandrite Gibran was elected as [[Michael ShehadiePatriarchal Vicar]]. Two parishes were created very soon after his arrival - St Nicholas, Punchbowl, NSW was created as a result of Bp [[Malatius Hussney Gibran (SydneyRamlawey)of Australia and New Zealand|Malatius HussneyGibran]]'s directive, and St George, Archim. [[Anthony Woolf]]Thornbury, and the VVic. Rev. [[Nicolas Mansour]]was created as a result of tensions caused by differing waves of immigrants.

The late 1980s saw some growth in parishes. In Melbourne1985, Archimandrite [[Antonious (Mobayed)]] a parish was sent created in Mays Hill, NSW; 1989 saw the first parish committee for by a church in Brisbane, Qld. The mid-1990s saw the Syrian community first instance of Melbourne, and sent growth by group conversion as a result of the Patriarch. He was priest Anglican Church of St Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox ChurchAustralia's decision to ordain females, and since he spoke Russianwhich gave the Diocese four parishes, there was a significant Russian element to St Nicholas. After his reposemonastery and five priests, three number of mostly parish priests served as rector: who were assigned to pastor the V. Rev. Frs [[George Haydar]], [[Gabraeel Fadel]] and [[Malatius (Essam) Hussney]]flock that they had guided into Orthodoxy.

*''[http://wwwIn 1999, Bp Gibran reposed.antiochian The Holy Synod of Antioch, having raised Australia and New Zealand to an Archdiocese, consecrated Archim.orgPaul (Saliba), the Antiochian Orthodox parish priest of St.nz/George Church in Washington DC, as the Metropolitan Archbishop of the new Archdiocese. His tenure has seen a rapid growth of parishes/Dunedin_Files/Dunedin.html The , clergy and the use of English in the Divine Liturgy of Antiochian Orthodox Church in Dunedin]''parishes.

In 1969From ten parishes at his enthronement in late 1999, the Church total at the end of Antioch sent Archimandrite Gibran (Ramlawey) to Australia as Patriarchal Exarch to find the best way to solve problems caused by two priests having to serve every Antiochian Orthodox in Australiaeight years of Met. On his recommendationsAbp Paul's tenure, at the Diocese close of Australia 2007, stands at approximately 34 parishes or missions and New Zealand was created1 monastery, including three English-language parishes in Sydney, Melbourne and Archimandrite Gibran was elected as the Gold Coast, served by 42 clergymen, including two university [[Patriarchal Vicarchaplain]]s in Melbourne and the first Orthodox military chaplain in Australia.

Two parishes were created very soon after his arrival - St Nicholas, PunchbowlIn 2008, NSW was created as a result "historic moment in the history of Bp [[Gibran ...the Archdiocese" occurred, with the Archdiocese accepting two denominations in the Philippines, including over 30 religious leaders and 32 churches with ~6000 adherents, forming two vicariates in the Philippines (Ramlaweybased in Davao and Manila, one for each former denomination) . This event was especially marked by a change in the name of the Archdiocese to include 'Australia and , New Zealand|Gibran]]and the Philippines's directive, and St Georgewith Met. Abp Paul as primate of all three [http://www.antiochianarch.org.au/NewsItem.aspx?i=38]. Notably, Thornburyhowever, Vic. was created the Davao Vicariate would later leave the Antiochian Archdiocese and join [[ROCOR]] as a result of tensions caused by differing waves of immigrants[[Western Rite]] parishes.

The Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese is a single archdiocese spanning a number of countries. The Archbishop resides in Australia, and there is a Deanery for New Zealand, and presences a Vicariate in other countries of the regionPhilippines. There are 25 [[parish]]es and missions across Australia, 8 parishes and missions in the Deanery of New Zealand, and approximately 32 parishes and missions in the Philippines; the Archdiocese estimates (2005) indicate ~37,500 490 active congregants in the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, and New Zealand, and All Oceania. The Archdiocese also has one female monastery of [[St. Anna Convent (Prestonthere are ~3, Victoria)|St Anna]] 000 adherants in Victoriathe Philippines, and founded while the multi-jurisdictional [[Melbourne Institute of Prime Minister's estimate (2007) is that there are ~120,000 Antiochian Orthodox Christian Studies]]adherants in Australia.

The Antiochian Orthodox Diocese Archdiocese also has one female monastery of Australasia [[St. Anna Convent (as it was then calledPreston, Victoria) was a founding member |St Anna]] in Victoria, co-founded the multi-jurisdictional [[Melbourne Institute of Orthodox Christian Studies]] and runs the [[Standing Conference St. Paul's Theological Course of Canonical Orthodox Churches in AustraliaStudies|St Paul's Theological Course of Studies]]. The Antiochian Many students of theology have been sponsored by the Archdiocese says that SCCOCAto study at Balamand University, at [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)|St Vladimir's Seminary]], after being moribund for quite a number USA, or through the St Stephen's Course of years, finally became defunct Studies in Orthodox Theology via the year 2000[[Antiochian House of Studies]].

The Antiochian Orthodox Diocese of Australasia (as it was then called) was a founding member of the [[Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Churches in Australia]] which, according to the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese, was moribund for a number of years before becoming defunct in 2000. The Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, and New Zealand, and All Oceania, (as it was then called) was a founding member of [[Eastern Hierarchs]]. The Antiochian Archdiocese believes this is a friendly, effective believing it to be an organisation, working for towards spreading the love of God spreading throughout the whole mystery of His Church. It was part of the Episcopal Assembly of Orthodox Bishops in Oceania that met in 2010 in response to the Chambesy meeting.

* Metropolitan Archbishop [[Paul (Saliba) of Australia and New Zealand|Paul (Saliba)]] of Australia, New Zealand and All Oceania.**[[Deanery of New Zealand (Antiochian)|Dean of New Zealand]] is [[Archpriest]] [[Jack Witbrock]].**Vicar-General and of Archdiocese, Dean of the Cathedral is : Right Reverend [[Archimandrite]] [[Nabil (Kachab)]].**Dean of Clergy for the Archdiocese is Australia: Archpriest [[George Nasr]].**[[Deanery of New Zealand (Antiochian)|Dean of New Zealand]]: [[Archpriest]] [[Jack Witbrock]].**Vicar of Manila: Archpriest Pascualito Monsato

===Bishops of Australia, and New Zealand and All Oceania===* Bishop [[Gibran (Ramlawey) of Australia and New Zealand|Gibran (Ramlawey)]], Patriarchal Vicar of Australia, and New Zealand, and All Oceania 1969-1999.* Metropolitan Archbishop [[Paul (Saliba) of Australia and New Zealand|Paul (Saliba)]], Primate of Australia, and New Zealand, and All Oceania, 1999-present.

==See alsoAlso==* [[Antiochian parishes Orthodoxy in AustralasiaAustralia]]*[[Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]*[[Orthodoxy in the Philippines]]

* [http://www.antiochianantiochianarch.org.au Official website of the Archdiocese]