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V. {{orthodoxyinaustralia}}Very Rev. Fr Protopresbyter '''Mitko Machevski''' is the [[parish]] [[priest]] of Saint St. Nicholas Church , Bankstown, NSWNew South Wales, Australia, which is a parish of the [[Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, and New Zealand, ]]. The parish follows the [[Old Calendar]] and All Oceania|Antiochian Archdioceseuses [[Church Slavonic]].

Mitko was [[ordination|ordained]] in the [[Macedonian Orthodox Church]] and was sent with his [[presvytera|popadia]] to a parish in the town of Valandovo, southern central Macedonia. While serving in Valandovo their daughter Alexandra was born. In 1982, Fr. Mitko was sent to Australia to serve in Rockdale, and then Queanbeyan, during the [[episcopate]] of [[Metropolitan]] Timotej of Australia and New Zealand (Macedonian). In 1987, after serving five years in Australia, he was granted a canonical release from Metr. Timotej and went back to Valandovo in Macedonia. After twelve months, Fr. Mitko and family returned to Australia, where both he and his popadia obtained secular employment. In 1995, Fr. Mitko suffered an industrial accident which crushed his lower spine. as a result, his spine is now held together by 22 screws. In 1997, he was invited by [[Bishop]] [[Gibran (Ramlawey) of Australia and New Zealand|Gibran]] to join the Antiochian Orthodox Diocese and serve the small congregation at St. Nicholas Church ([[Australian jurisdictions without a local bishop|OCA]]), Bankstown, in an honorary capacity.  His initial period as priest at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, Bankstown, was succesful, in part because Bishop Gibran encouraged the parish to continue to follow the Old Calendar and use Slavonic in services. With the appointment of Bishop Gibran's successor, [[Metropolitan Archbishop]] [[Paul (Saliba) of Australia and New Zealand|Paul]], he was confirmed as permanent parish priest, still serving in an honorary capacity.  In 2001, he was elevated to [[protopresbyter]] by Metr. Abp. Paul and the Bankstown parish was accepted into the [[Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand]]. In 2004, following encouragement from Metr. Abp. Paul, the parish purchased the land on which the church was built from the NSW government.  Following purchase of the church property, Fr. Mitko obtained part time secular employment again, while continuing as parish priest of St. Nicholas Church in Bankstown.  ==Quotes==When asked why he changed to Antioch he said,:''I am Orthodox for religious reasons, not nationalistic ones. Antioch is not a nationalistic Church. Antioch is happy to allow the full diversity of languages, and usages, including the two calendars. I can be more Orthodox in Antioch than elsewhere.'' ==External linklinks==*[http://www.antiochianarch.org.au Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand]