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territory=Australia, New Zealand, and All Oceaniathe Philippines|language=Arabic, Belarus, Bulgarian, English, French, German, Greek (church), Greek Filipino (modernothers as needed), Macedonian, Moldovan, Persian, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slavonic (Church), 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=7,525 ([[Statistics of Orthodoxy in Australia|Defective]] [http://www.cra.org.au/pages/00000226.cgi Federal Census 2001]); 3743,490 (2005 internal Archdiocesan census of active congregants); 120500 to 123,000 adherents (2007 Prime Minister's figures)|website=[http://www.antiochianantiochianarch.org.au Antiochian Archdiocese]

The '''Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and , New Zealandand the 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 and , New Zealandand the Philippines.

:''Full articleExpanded 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.

Up until In 1969, the founding Church of an 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 Australia. On his recommendations, the Dioceseof Australia and New Zealand was created, there were three Antiochian Orthodox churches in Australasia: St George, Sydney (founding priest: Fr and Archimandrite Gibran was elected as [[Nicholas ShehadiePatriarchal Vicar]], exarch); . Two parishes were created very soon after his arrival - St Nicholas, Melbourne (founding priest: Archim. Punchbowl, NSW was created as a result of Bp [[Antonious Gibran (MobayedRamlawey)of Australia and New Zealand|AntoniousGibran]]); 's directive, and St MichaelGeorge, Dunedin (founding priest: Hmk [[Nicholas (Manovitch)]] These churchesThornbury, founded in the 1920s and 1930s, continued to be the only Antiochian Orthodox parishes in Australasia through the period Vic. was created as a result of tensions caused by differing waves of the Exarchateimmigrants.

The late 1980s saw some growth in parishes. In 19691985, a parish was created in Mays Hill, NSW; 1989 saw the first parish committee for a church in Brisbane, Qld. The mid-1990s saw the first instance of growth by group conversion as a result of the Anglican Church of Antioch sent Archimandrite Gibran (Ramlawey) to Australia as Patriarchal Exarch to find the best way 's decision to solve problems caused by two priests having to serve every Antiochian Orthodox in Australia. On his recommendationsordain females, which gave the Diocese of Australia four parishes, a monastery and New Zealand was createdfive priests, and Archimandrite Gibran was elected as [[Patriarchal Vicar]]mostly parish priests who were assigned to pastor the flock that they had guided into Orthodoxy.

Two parishes were created very soon after his arrival - St Nicholas, PunchbowlIn 1999, NSW was created as a result of Bp [[Gibran (Ramlawey) reposed. The Holy Synod of Antioch, having raised Australia and New Zealand|Gibran]]'s directiveto an Archdiocese, consecrated Archim. Paul (Saliba), and the Antiochian Orthodox parish priest of St . GeorgeChurch in Washington DC, Thornbury, Vicas the Metropolitan Archbishop of the new Archdiocese. was created as His tenure has seen a result rapid growth of parishes, clergy and the use of tensions caused by differing waves English in the Divine Liturgy of immigrantsAntiochian Orthodox parishes.

The From ten parishes at his enthronement in late 1980s saw some growth in 1999, the total at the end of eight years of Met. Abp Paul's tenure, at the close of 2007, stands at approximately 34 parishes. In 1985or missions and 1 monastery, a parish was created including three English-language parishes in Mays HillSydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast, served by 42 clergymen, NSW; 1989 saw including two university [[chaplain]]s in Melbourne and the first parish committee for a church Orthodox military chaplain in Brisbane, QldAustralia.

In 19992008, Bp Gibran reposeda "historic moment in the history of...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 (based in Davao and Manila, one for each former denomination). The Holy Synod This event was especially marked by a change in the name of Antiochthe Archdiocese to include 'Australia, having raised Australia and New Zealand to an Archdioceseand the Philippines', consecrated Archimwith Met. Abp Paul (Saliba), the Antiochian Orthodox parish priest as primate of Stall three [http://www.antiochianarch.org. George Church in Washington DCau/NewsItem.aspx?i=38]. Notably, however, as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Davao Vicariate would later leave the new Antiochian Archdioceseand join [[ROCOR]] as [[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 Zealandand a Vicariate in the Philippines. 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. The Archdiocese also has one female monastery of [[St. Anna Convent (Preston, Victoria)|St Anna]] there are ~3,000 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, (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.

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

* Bishop [[Gibran (Ramlawey) of Australia and New Zealand|Gibran (Ramlawey)]], Patriarchal Vicar of Australia and New Zealand , 1969-1999.

==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]