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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=Bp [[Milutin Irinej (KnezevicDobrijevic) of Australia and New Zealand|MilutinIrinej (Dobrijević)]]|see=Canberra & ElaineAustralia and New Zealand|hq=Canberra, Australian Capital TerritorySydney, AustraliaNSW|

The '''Serbian Orthodox Church in - Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand''', is the local metropolitanate for Serbian Orthodox parishes in Australia and New Zealand. It is headquartered in Canberra Sydney, NSW, and is headed by [[Irinej (Dobrijevic) of Australia and New Zealand|Irinej (Dobrijević) of Australia and ElaineNew Zealand]] since [[October 21]], 2006. Prior to June 2011, is the descriptive term Metropolitanate was composed of two parallel dioceses in Australia and New Zealand: the Patriarchal ''Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand'', headquartered in Sydney, NSW; and the ''New Gracanica Metropolitanate - Serbian Orthodox Diocese of for Australia and New Zealand, New Gracanica Metropolitanate''. Bishop Milutin is the current hierarch of the New Gracanica diocese, and administers the patriarchal dioceseheadquartered in Canberra, ACT.

Prior After World War II, a number of Serbs emigrated to 1992Australia. They were under the jurisdiction of the Serbian Orthodox Church's American-Canadian Diocese, until 1952 when the Patriarchate took the diaspora (where there was not an established diocese - including Australasia) under it's omophorion. In 1963, an attempt to divide the American-Canadian diocese into three separate dioceses caused a schism, with 14 Serbian Orthodox Church-School communities in Australia aligning with the 'Free Serbian Orthodox Church Diocese for Australia and New Zealand were under two seperate dioceses: ' (and 4 remaining with the schismatic (until 1992Patriarchate in Belgrade) . ===Free Serbian Diocese===The first Assembly of the Free Serbian Orthodox Church Diocese of for Australia and New Zealandwas held in October 1964, administered firstly by and a Metropolitan who resided at New Gracanica MonasteryDiocesan Council was formed, Illinois, USAdividing Australia into two administrative regions and elevating two priests to archpriest to administer it on his behalf, with Archimandrite [[Dimitrije (Balak) of Australia and then New Zealand|Dimitrije (Balak)]] consecrated bishop in America in 1966 by a local bishop who resided at Bp [[Monastery of New Kalenic Dionisije (Canberra, Australian Capital TerritoryMilivojevich)of United States and Canada|St. Sava's Monastery Dionisije]] & [[Irenej (New KalenicKovacevic)of America and Canada|Irenej]], Canberra, ACTand then Archim. Petar (Bankerovic) was consecrated to be his assistant in November 1977 by Bps Irinej and Dimitrije. Bp Dimitrije reposed in May 1979, and the larger Serbian Orthodox Diocese Bp [[Petar (Bankerovic) of Australia and New Zealand|Petar]] succeeded him in December of the same year. The idea of building a monastery, a home for the aged and a home for orphans was considered in 1972, which but it was within not until Dec 1978 that moves were taken to make this happen. Bp Petar (then Bishop-Administrator) sent an appeal to the [[Church of Serbia]] parishes in the diocese, requesting funds, and the property was purchased in 1980 and blessed in January 1981 by Bp Petar. Considerable donations were received - financial, material and labour - through the 1980s, and presided over the loan was paid off by the end of 1991. It was used as a bishop resident monastery at [[Monastery of Stvarious times in its history. Sava (Elaine An extraordinary Assembly was held in August 1984 in Illinois, Victoria)|St. Sava's Monastery]]USA, Elaineby delegates of the three Free Serbian dioceses, Victoriaunanimously proclaiming the formation of the Free Serbian Orthodox Church.

In 1992, a reconciliation between the Bp Petar reposed on Nov 1988. Metropolitan [[Church Irenej (Kovacevic) of SerbiaAmerica and Canada|Irenej]] and the New Gracanica Metropolitanate meant that there were now two directly overlapping dioceses (in Australia and New ZealandAmerica) became its administrator, Archim. Sava of St Mark's Monastery, which were administered by two bishopsUSA, one each in Elaine and Canberraas his deputy administrator. In 2000St Sava's Monastery, in Wallaroo, was completed in Jan 1990, Bishop and consecrated by Metr Irenej with Bp [[Nikanor Vasilje (BogunovicVeinovic) of Banat|Nicanor]] became the first sole bishop in Australia and New Zealand, being appointed reigning bishop |Vasilje]] (of the New Gracanica Western European Diocese and also administrator of the patriarchal diocese). In 2003 Bishop Milutin March 1991, Bp Vasilje was appointed elected as the new bishop of the for Australia and New Gracanica diocese and administrator of the much smaller patriarchal dioceseZealand.

== Recent History =Patriarchal Diocese===The Patriarchal parishes were organised within the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Western Europe and Australia in March 1969, and separated in June 1973 to be the Serbian Orthodox Diocese in Australia and New Zealand. While it began as a much smaller entity, the patriarchal Diocese grew over time to be a little larger than the Free Serbian Orthodox diocese over the same territory. ===Reconciliation===In 2006December 1990, Bp [[Pavle (Stojcevic) of Serbia|Pavle]] was elected Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church. He invited the Free Serbian Orthodox to talks in Belgrade, which occurred in Apr 1991, where a Reconciliation Proposal was made, the Free Serbian Orthodox were accepted under the Patriarchate as the 'New Gracanica Metropolitanate' (among other constitutional edits), and this was finalised through concelebration in Belgrade in February 1992. As a temporary situation, this 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. Amidst a wide variety of complaints from laity opposed to the merger, Bp Vasilje was transferred to a different (patriarchal) diocese, and Bp Sava (Juric) was consecrated Bishop of Australia and New Zealand in May 1994. He reported in 1996 that the New Gracanica diocese had 15 parishes, and that he and Bp Luka co-operated in serving the needs of faithful of both dioceses. Bps Sava & Luka jointly petitioned the Holy Synod for the unification of the dioceses and its elevation to Metropolitanate, headed by a new hierarch. This was partially implemented in May 1999, when Bp Sava was transferred to Slovonia (Croatia) and Bp Luka was transferred to Paris, and Bp [[Nikanor (Bogunovic) of Banat|Nikanor]] was appointed bishop of the New Gracanica Diocese and Administrator of the Patriarchal Diocese. 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. He established a joint legislative committee in 2002 which was to work on a new constitution. In 2003 his successor, Bishop Milutin was appointed Bishop bishop of the New Gracanica diocese and administrator of the patriarchal diocese. He experienced the first direct problem with the 'Property Trust Company' which then administered St Sava's Monastery in Wallaroo. In 2006, on Bp Milutin's transfer to the newly-formed diocese of Valjevo following , the separation Holy Synod of the Sabac-Valjevo diocese, and Serbian Orthodox Church elected Hieromonk Irinej Dobrijevic was appointed in his place. as Bishop of Australia and New Zealand[http://www.spc.org.yu/Saopstenja/sabor-maj-2006_c2006_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. He continued to work on the unification of the two dioceses. Implementing a decision of Bp Milutin's (in May 2004), Bp Irenej moved the administrative centre of the Diocese from St Sava Monastery to Sydney. Bp Irenej became the focus of attacks by dissident former-members of the Free Serbian diocese, including the Property Trust Company and directors thereof, stretching from 2006 to 2015 (including a NSW Supreme Court case decided on in May 2015). From 2007, there were disputes with representatives of a number of church-school communities, including St Nicholas (South Brisbane), St George (Manuka/Forrest), Saint Stefan of Dechani (Carrum Downs) and Saints Peter and Paul, Wodonga - each of whom had invited schismatic clergy from the [[Holy Synod in Resistance|Old Calendar Orthodox Church of Greece (Holy Synod in Resistance)]] (or, in St Nicholas South Brisbane's case, the [[Russian True Orthodox Church]]). Parallel assemblies of both dioceses were held in September 2010 to approve a new constitution, combining the dioceses into a metropolitanate, which was 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] and approved by the Holy Synod in May 2011[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-present* Bishop-elect [[Irinej (Dobrijevic) of Australia and New Zealand|Irinej (Dobrijevic)]], yet to be enthroned to the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand.

===Former Patriarchal Hierarchs of Australia and New Zealand, Patriarchal Diocese===* Bishop [[Lavrentije (Trifunovic) of Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand (]], 196?-1974)* Bishop [[Nikolai (Mrdja) of Australia and New Zealand]], 1974-19??

* Bishop [[Luka (Kovacevic) of France and Western Europe|Luka(Kovacevic)]] of Australia and New Zealand, 1993-1999.  ===Former Hierarchs of Australia and New Zealand, Free Serbian (1963-1992) and New Gracanica (1992-2000)===:''Considered schismatic by the [[http://wwwChurch of Serbia]] until reconciliation in 1992.htocm''* Bishop [[Dionisije (Milivojevich) of United States and Canada]], 1963-1966.org/ParishHistory* Bishop [[Dimitrije (Balac) of America and Canada]], 1966-1979.htm* Bishop [[Petar (Bankerovic) of Australia and New Zealand]],[http://www.orthodox.net/sermons/pascha-19991979-serbian-encyclical1988.html* Metropolitan [[Irenej (Kovacevic) of America and Canada]], 1988-1991 (as Administrator)* Bishop [[Vasilje (Veinovic) of Australia and New Zealand]], 1991-1993.* Bishop [[http://newsSava (Juric) of Slavonia|Sava (Juric)]] of Australia and New Zealand, 1994-1999.suc.org/bydate/2001/Jan_08/14.html])

===Former Free (1963-1992) and Hierarchs of the New Gracanica (1992-2000) Hierarchs of Australia and New Zealandfor the Patriarchal Dioceses===:''nb. considered schismatic by Between 1999 and 2006, the [[Church bishop of Serbia]] until reconciliation in 1992the New Gracanica diocese administered the Patriarchal diocese''.* Bishop Dionisije of America and Canada (1963-19??)* Bishop [[Dimitrije Nikanor (BalacBogunovic) of America and CanadaBanat|Nikanor (Bogunovic)]] (19??-19??)* Bishop Petar (Bankerovic) of Australia and New Zealand (198?, 1999-1988)* Bishop Vasilije (Veinovic) (~1988-1993)* Bishop Sava (Juric) (1993-1999)2003.* Bishop [[Nikanor Milutin (BogunovicKnezevic) of BanatValjevo|Nikanor Milutin (BogunovicKnezevic)]] of Australia and New Zealand, (~2000. 2003-2003)2006.

* [httphttps://www.beogradcaselaw.comnsw.gov.au/phonelistdecision/serbian_ortodox_church_in_aus_and_nz.htm Parish listing55641476e4b06e6e9f0f5d65 Bishop Irinej Dobrijevic & Anor v Free Serbian Orthodox Church, Diocese for Australia & New Zealand Property Trust & Ors [2015] NSWSC 637] (although old and unofficial, this list is both the most complete and most accurate available)

[[Category:Orthodoxy_in_AustraliaOrthodoxy in Australia]][[Category:Orthodoxy_in_New_ZealandOrthodoxy in New Zealand]][[Category:Dioceses]][[Category:Serbian Dioceses|Australia and New Zealand]]