Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Zealand

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The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Zealand, headquartered in Wellington, is an eparchy of the Church of Constantinople. Its current primate is His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph (Harkiolakis) of New Zealand.

Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Zealand
Founder(s) Patriarch Meletios (Metaxakis) IV of Constantinople
Autocephaly/Autonomy declared N/A
Autocephaly/Autonomy recognized N/A
Current primate Metropolitan Joseph
Headquarters Wellington, New Zealand
Primary territory New Zealand
Possessions abroad N/A
Liturgical language(s) Greek
Musical tradition Byzantine Chant
Calendar Revised Julian
Population estimate 9,588 (2001 Census, all Orthodox included)
Official website Greek Metropolis
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History

In 1924, the jurisdiction of New Zealand was transferred to the Church of Constantinople, who sent Christoforos to be the first metropolitan of Australia and New Zealand. He served until 1929 when he returned to Samos, his homeland. The next metropolitan was Timotheos, and he arrived in 26 January, 1932, serving until he was elected metropolitan of Rhodes in 1947. He was replaced by Theophylactos, who served until his death in a car crash on 2 August, 1958. Ezekiel, then assistant bishop of America, was elected metropolitan of Australia and New Zealand in February 1959, and arrived on 2 April 1959.

On 1 September of that year, the Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand was elevated to Archdiocese, and Ezekiel to Archbishop. Later, in 1970, the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople seperated New Zealand from Australia, leaving the Archdiocese of Australia and the Metropolitanate of New Zealand, electing Dionysios to be the first metropolitan of New Zealand and exarch of Korea and Japan.

In 2003, Dionysios was promoted to the Metropolis of Proussa, promoting Joseph to be the second metropolitan of New Zealand. In 2004, the decision was made to seperate the exarchate of Korea from New Zealand and to make it a metropolis of its own, leaving Metropolitan Joseph the hierarch of New Zealand alone.

Recent History

In recent years, there has been great tension between the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and the current Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew I concerning the elevation of one of the auxillary bishops of Australia, Joseph, to the metropolis of New Zealand. While some letters were exchanged and published through the Archdiocese-owned Greek newspaper, To Vema, the elevation of Metropolitan Joseph remains in effect and unchanged.

Organization

The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Zealand is a single metropolis with six churches.

(no other information as yet)

The Episcopacy

Current Episcopacy

Previous Bishops of the Metropolis

  • Dionysios, Metropolitan of New Zealand, 1970-2003; Exarch of India, Korea and Japan, 1970-1996; Exarch of Korea and Japan, 1996-2003
  • Joseph (Harkiolakis), Metropolitan of New Zealand, 2003-present; Exarch of Korea and Japan, 2003-2004.
  • Sotirios (Trambas) of Zela (auxiliary bishop in Korea), 1993-2004.

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