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name=Serbian Orthodox Diocese Church - Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand ''and'' Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, New Gracanica Metropolitanate|

bishop=vacantBp [[Irinej (Dobrijevic) of Australia and New Zealand|Irinej (Dobrijević)]]|see=Canberra ACT,<br>Elaine, VicAustralia and New Zealand|hq=Canberra, Australian Capital TerritorySydney, AustraliaNSW|

The '''Serbian Orthodox Church in - Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand''', headquartered in Canberra, ACT, and Elaine, VIC, is the descriptive term of two parallel dioceses in Australia and New Zealand: the Patriarchal ''local metropolitanate for Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand''; and the ''Serbian Orthodox Diocese of parishes in Australia and New Zealand, New Gracanica Metropolitanate''. Currently it It is headquartered in Sydney, NSW, and is headed by [[Milutin Irinej (KnezevicDobrijevic) of ValjevoAustralia and New Zealand|Milutin Irinej (KneževićDobrijević)of Australia and New Zealand]]since [[October 21]], 2006.

At Prior to June 2011, the Metropolitanate was composed of two parallel dioceses: the May 2006 Holy Synod, [[Hieromonk]] [[Irinej (Dobrijevic) Patriarchal ''Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand|Irinej (Dobrijević)]] was appointed to head the Patriarchal diocese'', headquartered in Sydney, NSW; and administer the ''Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, New Gracanica dioceseMetropolitanate'', headquartered in Canberra, ACT.

Prior to 1992, the Serbian Orthodox in Australia and New Zealand were under in two seperate dioceses: the schismatic separatist (until 1992) Free Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, administered firstly by a metropolitan who resided at New Gracanica Monastery, Illinois, USA, and then by a local bishop who resided at [[Monastery of New Kalenic (Canberra, Australian Capital Territory)|St. Sava's Monastery (New Kalenic)]], Canberra, ACT, and the larger Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, which was within the [[Church of Serbia]] and presided over by a bishop resident at [[Monastery of St. Sava (Elaine, Victoria)|St. Sava's Monastery]], Elaine, Victoria.

In 1992, an acceptance by the [[Church of Serbia]] of the schismatic separatist group on the condition of altering their 'Free' name to 'New Gracanica Metropolitanate' meant that there were now two directly overlapping dioceses in Australia and New Zealand, which were administered by two bishops, one each in Elaine and Canberra. In 2000, Bishop [[Nikanor (Bogunovic) of Banat|Nicanor]] became the first sole bishop in Australia and New Zealand, being appointed reigning bishop of the New Gracanica Diocese and also administrator of the patriarchal diocese. In 2003 his successor, Bishop Milutin was appointed bishop of the New Gracanica diocese and administrator of the patriarchal diocese.

== Recent History ==In 2006, Bishop on Bp Milutin was appointed Bishop of 's transfer to the newly-formed diocese of Valjevo following , the partition Holy Synod of the Sabac-Valjevo diocese into two, and Serbian Orthodox Church elected Hieromonk Irinej Dobrijevic was appointed in his place. Archimandrite Irinej's ordination to the episcopate is scheduled for 15 July 2006 at St. Mark's Cathedral in Belgrade, as Bishop of Australia and his enthronement in Australia on 20 October of the same year New Zealand[http://www.spc.org.yu/Saopstenja/sabor-maj-2006_e.html]. On 15 July, Archimandrite Irinej was consecrated at St Mark's Cathedral, Belgrade, and he was enthroned in Australia at St Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, Elanora Heights, Sydney, on [[October 21]], 2006[http://www.antiochian.org.au/content/view/471/6/]. In contrast to previous bishops, he was appointed the bishop of the patriarchal diocese and administrator of the New Gracanica diocese. 2009-10 was bittersweet, in that a small number of parishes leaving the New Gracanica diocese to join schismatic groups, while the two dioceses decided to unite into a Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand, a decision joyfully received in November 2010 by the Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church.[http://soc.org.au/sr/English-News/Hot-Topics/2130-Communiqu%C3%A9-from-the-Assembly-of-Bishops-of-the-Serbian-Orthodox-Church-from-its-regular-meeting-held-in-Belgrade-November-17-20,-2010]. The constitution of the Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand was approved at the May 2011 meeting of the Holy Synod [http://www.spc.rs/eng/communique_holy_assembly_bishops_serbian_orthodox_church_0], and the dioceses became the 'Serbian Orthodox Church - Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand' soon after.

The Serbian Orthodox Church in - Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand is two parallel dioceses in a single metropolitanate across the one geographical territory of Australia and New Zealand, both under the one bishop. Currently there are 41 parishes in Australia and New Zealand, with two monasteries and one skete.

The Patriarchal Serbian Orthodox Church in Australia and New Zealand Diocese was a founding member of [[SCCOCA]], and the Metropolitanate represented in the Episcopal Assembly of All Canonical Orthodox Bishops of Oceania by Bp Irenej.

*[[Monastery of New Kalenic (Canberra, Australian Capital Territory)|Monastery of Saint Sava "New Kalenic"]], Canberra, ACT. Bishop's residence.

*Bishop [[Milutin (Knezevic) of Valjevo|Milutin (Knezevic) of Australia and New Zealand]], 2003-Oct 2006.: Bishop-elect [[Irinej (Dobrijevic) of Australia and New Zealand|Irinej (Dobrijevic)]], yet to be consecrated or enthroned, from Oct 2006.

* Bishop [[Luka (Kovacevic) of France and Western Europe|Luka(Kovacevic)]] of Australia and New Zealand, 1993-1999.

:''nb. considered Considered schismatic by the [[Church of Serbia]] until reconciliation in 1992.''.* Bishop Dionisije of America and Canada, 1963-19??1966.* Bishop [[Dimitrije (Balac) of America and Canada]], 19??1966-19??1978.* Bishop [[Petar (Bankerovic) of Australia and New Zealand]], 198?1979-1988.* Bishop [[Vasilije (Veinovic) of Australia and New Zealand]], ~1988-1993.