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name=Serbian Orthodox Church - Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand|
jurisdiction=[[Church of Serbia]]|
type=DiocesesDiocese|
founded=1974|
bishop=Bp [[Irinej Siluan (DobrijevicMrakic) of Australia and New Zealand|Irinej Siluan (DobrijevićMrakić)]]|
see=Australia and New Zealand|
hq=Sydney, NSW|
population=42,405
([http://www.cra.org.au/pages/00000226.cgi Census 2001])|
website=[http://www.soc.org.au Dioceses of Aust. & NZMetropolitanate Website]
}}
The '''Serbian Orthodox Church - Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand''' is the local metropolitanate for Serbian Orthodox parishes in Australia and New Zealand. It is headquartered in Sydney, NSW, and is headed by Bishop [[Irinej Siluan (DobrijevicMrakic) of Australia and New Zealand|Irinej (Dobrijević) of Australia and New ZealandSiluan]] since [[October 2122]], 20062016.
Prior to June 2011, the Metropolitanate was composed of two parallel dioceses: the Patriarchal ''Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand'', headquartered in Sydney, NSW; and the ''New Gracanica Metropolitanate - Serbian Orthodox Diocese for Australia and New Zealand'', headquartered in Canberra, ACT.
===Free Serbian Diocese===
The first Assembly of the Free Serbian Orthodox Church Diocese for Australia and New Zealand was held in October 1964, and a Diocesan Council was formed, dividing Australia into two administrative regions and elevating two priests to archpriest to administer it on his behalf, with Archimandrite [[Dimitrije (Balak) of Australia and New Zealand|Dimitrije (Balak)]] consecrated bishop in America in 1966 by Bp [[Dionisije (Milivojevich) of United States and Canada|Dionisije]] & Irinej[[Irenej (Kovacevic) of America and Canada|Irenej]], and 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 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, but it was not until Dec 1978 that moves were taken to make this happen. Bp Petar (then Bishop-Administrator) sent an appeal to the 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 the loan was paid off by the end of 1991. It was used as a monastery at various times in its history.
An extraordinary Assembly was held in August 1984 in Illinois, USA, by delegates of the three Free Serbian dioceses, unanimously proclaiming the formation of the Free Serbian Orthodox Church.
Bp Petar reposed on Nov 1988. Metropolitan [[Irenej (Kovacevic) of America and Canada|Irenej]] (in America) became its administrator, Archim. Sava of St Mark's Monastery, USA, as his deputy administrator. St Sava's Monastery, in Wallaroo, was completed in Jan 1990, and consecrated by Metr Irenej with Bp [[Vasilje (Veinovic) of Australia and New Zealand|Vasilje ]] (of the Western European Diocese). In March 1991, Bp Vasilje was elected as the new bishop for Australia and New Zealand.
===Patriarchal Diocese===
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.
In 2016, Bp Irenej was elected Bishop of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Eastern America, and to replace him Fr Siluan was consecrated Bishop of Australia and New Zealand. Bp Siluan is one of a small number of Australian-born Orthodox bishops, as well as being the first to lead a diocese in Australia.
==Organization==
== The Episcopacy ==
===Diocesan Bishop===
* Bishop [[Irinej Siluan (DobrijevicMrakic) 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 [[Vasilije (Vadic) of Srem|Vasilije (Vadic)]] of Australia and New Zealand, 198?-1986.
* Bishop [[Longin (Krco) of America and Canada|Longin (Krco)]] of Australia and New Zealand, 1986-1992
* Bishop [[Luka (Kovacevic) of France and Western Europe|Luka (Kovacevic)]] of Australia and New Zealand, 1993-1999.
* Bishop [[Irinej (Dobrijevic) of Australia and New Zealand]], 2006-2016
===Former Hierarchs of Australia and New Zealand, Free Serbian (1963-1992) and New Gracanica (1992-2000) Hierarchs of Australia and New Zealand===
:''Considered schismatic by the [[Church of Serbia]] until reconciliation in 1992.''
* Bishop [[Dionisije (Milivojevich) of United States and Canada]], 1963-1966.
* Bishop [[Dimitrije (Balac) of America and Canada]], 1966-19781979.
* Bishop [[Petar (Bankerovic) of Australia and New Zealand]], 1979-1988.
* Metropolitan [[Irenej (Kovacevic) of America and Canada]], 1988-1991 (as Administrator)* Bishop [[Vasilje (Veinovic) of Australia and New Zealand]], ~19881991-1993.
* Bishop [[Sava (Juric) of Slavonia|Sava (Juric)]] of Australia and New Zealand, 1994-1999.
