Changes

In 1969, Bp [[Gibran (Ramlawey) of Australia and New Zealand|Gibran]], having been consecrated by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]], arrived in Sydney, Australia. In 1973, Bp Gibran wanted a new church built in the western suburbs of Sydney. Fr [[John Shehadie]], son of Exarch Nicholas Shehadie, was appointed priest of the new church of St Nicholas, Punchbowl, and served there until his 1987 retirement.

In Melbourne1971, an Anglican priest in New Zealand decided, seeing the desire trend of Fr Malatius Hussney Anglicanism away from its traditional roots, to actively involve new arrivals convert to Australia led to a splitOrthodoxy, with the older members of St Nicholas feeling unwanted. As a result, St George and was founded in Thornbury, Melbourne, ordained in September 1972by Bp [[Gibran (Ramlawey) of Australia and New Zealand|Gibran]]. In 1986, Fr [[Jack Witbrock]] served as [[rector]] of St GeorgeMichael's decided to purchase its own church from the Anglican Church. Renovation started immediately, and were completed in 1988, when renovations of the hall began - these were completed in 1991, making the hall one of the most attractive Arabic special events halls in Melbourne. In 1994Dunedin, for the property adjacent to St George's (including a rectory) next 12 years until he was purchasedsucceeded by Fr [[Ilyan Eades]].

In 1971Melbourne, an Anglican priest in New Zealand decided, seeing the trend desire of Anglicanism away from its traditional roots, Fr Malatius Hussney to actively involve new arrivals to convert Australia led to Orthodoxya split, and with the older members of St Nicholas feeling unwanted; as a result, St George was ordained founded in Thornbury, Melbourne, in September 1972 by . The next year, Bp [[Gibran (Ramlawey) wanted a new church built in the western suburbs of Australia and New Zealand|Gibran]]Sydney. Fr [[Jack Witbrock]] served as [[rectorJohn Shehadie]] , son of Exarch Nicholas Shehadie, was appointed priest of the new church of St Michael'sNicholas, DunedinPunchbowl, for the next 12 years and served there until he was succeeded by Fr [[Ilyan Eades]]his 1987 retirement.

In 1982, Fr Elias Khoury was ordained to the priesthood, and assigned to St Nicholas, Punchbowl. In 1985, he was elevated to Archpriest. In 1994the same year, Fr Elias Khoury began working with a new parish was established in Mays Hill and named St Mary's, for the Nativity of the Department [[Theotokos|Mother of Community Services God]]. The first priest was Fr [[John Shehadie|Hanna Shehadie]], and administered a new programthe community worshipped in Granville. In 1987, OrthoSt Mary's - now led by Fr [[Stephen Godley]] -Caremoved to Merrylands; also in 1985, designed to help those requiring financial a parish in Wollongong was founded and spiritual assistancenamed for St Elias.

A new parish was established in Mays Hill in 1985 and named In 1986, St MaryGeorge's, for the Nativity of decided to purchase its own church from the [[Theotokos|Mother of God]]Anglican Church. The first priest was Fr [[John Shehadie|Hanna Shehadie]]Renovation started immediately, and the community worshipped were completed in Granville. In 19871988, St Mary's when renovations of the hall began - now led by [[Stephen Godley]] - moved to Merrylands. The site for St Mary's, Mays Hill, was purchased these were completed in January 1991, with Fr Emile Assaf being transferred from St Nicholas, making the hall one of the most attractive Arabic special events halls in Melbourne, to pastor the new church with Fr Aziz Abwi. The first services were held in In 1994, the church hall of property adjacent to St MaryGeorge's in 1994, with the first services in the church being on Good Friday, 1999(including a rectory) was purchased.

The site for St Mary's, Mays Hill, was purchased in January 1991, with Fr Emile Assaf being transferred from St Nicholas, Melbourne, to pastor the new church with Fr Aziz Abwi. The first services were held in the church hall of St Mary's in 1994, with the first services in the church being on Good Friday, 1999. In 1994, Fr Elias Khoury, parish priest of St Nicholas, Punchbowl, began working with the Department of Community Services and administered a new program, Ortho-Care, designed to help those requiring financial and spiritual assistance.  In the mid-1990s, changing beliefs and practises in the Anglican Communion, culminating in the ordination of women to the priesthood, caused a number of clergy to leave the Anglican Communion and join the Orthodox Church. Many of these moved to the Antiochian Orthodox Church, creating St Barnabas Parish, Gold Coast; St Anthony the Great Parish, Perth; [[St. Anna's Monastery Convent (Preston, Victoria)|St Anna's Monastery]], Melbourne; and a parish in Canberra (which later moved to [[Diocese of Australia and New Zealand (ROCOR)|ROCOR]]), along with other clergy, including Rev. Fr Geoff Harvey, who were assigned to pre-existing churches.

In 1998, a parish at Mt Pritchard was founded and dedicated to St Mary, for the Dormition of the Mother of God. Bishop Gibran reposed on 16 January 1999after thirty years of service for the Church in Australia and New Zealand. Fr Elias Khoury was named as the temporary administrator of the diocese.

In September 1999, the Holy Synod of Antioch decided to elevate the diocese of Australia and New Zealand to archdiocese with its own ruling metropolitan archbishop. Archimandrite Paul, parish priest in Washington DC, was appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of the [[Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand]]. He arrived in Australia and took possession of his the archdiocese on 29 November 1999.  1999 prompted a flurry of activity. In December, he Met. Abp Paul visited Newcastle and Brisbane, and prompted the decision to build the church of St Paul in Woolloongabba, Brisbane. This Three parishes were formed in 1999, including St Ignatius Mission, Canberra, Buna-Vestire Church, Bankstown (NSW) and St Herman of Alaska, Canterbury (Vic). In January 2000, Fr John Vesic was appointed parish celebrated its first services priest of St Mary's Church, Mays Hill, which is especially notable as Fr John does not speak Arabic. In June of the same year, Fr Nicholas Gan (in Newcastle) was released to join the building in 2002Moscow Patriarchate. The Holy Synod of Moscow accepted him on 19 July 2000, along with the consecration occuring in 2006Eastern Orthodox Parish of the Theophany at Mayfield West, Newcastle, which had been under the care of Bp Gibran on behalf of Moscow.

2001 was another time of great activity for the Archdiocese, particularly in New Zealand: St George, Auckland, St George, Wellington, and Sts Gregory of Nyssa and Marina, Diamond Harbour, were all founded in this year. In January 2000Australia, St Paul, Dandenong (Vic) was founded; and in December 2001, Fr John Vesic (a non-Arabic-speaking priest), was appointed parish priest of St Mary's Churchthe newly-formed Ss Michael and Gabriel parish, Mays Hill. In June of the same year, Fr Nicholas Gan (first English-speaking Antiochian Orthodox parish in Newcastle) was released to join the Moscow PatriarchateNew South Wales. The Holy Synod of Moscow accepted him on 19 July 2000new parish worshipped in rented premises in Homebush until 2005, along with the Eastern Orthodox Parish of the Theophany at Mayfield when it moved to West, Newcastle, which had been under the care of Bp Gibran on behalf of MoscowRyde.

In December 2001the meantime, Fr John Vesic was appointed parish priest the Church of Ss Michael and Gabriel parishSt Paul, the Brisbane, celebrated its first fully English-speaking Antiochian Orthodox parish services in New South Wales. The their new parish worshipped church in rented premises 2002, with this church being consecrated in Homebush until 2005, when it moved to West Ryde. December 2006 saw Fr John released to the [[Serbian Orthodox Church in Australia and New Zealand]], when he was replaced by Fr Luke Bell. After Fr Luke left the Archdiocese in late 2007, he was succeeded by Fr Antonio Cagnoni.

2003 saw the was a third time of great activity. The first English-speaking Antiochian Orthodox parish in Victoria was established, with Fr Geoff Harvey as the founding priest, under the patronage of the Good Shepherd. Later, worship was moved to Monash University, with Fr Geoff becoming the first Antiochian Orthodox university chaplain in Australia. Also in 2003, two parishes in New Zealand were founded, along with the Melbourne Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies, where studies began in 2004.