Changes

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 [[Irinej (Dobrijevic) of Australia and New Zealand|Irinej (DobrijevicDobrijević)]] enthroned Oct 2006|

hq=Sydney, NSW, Australia|

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 SYDNEY Sydney, NSW, and is headed by [[Irinej (Dobrijevic) of Australia and New Zealand|Irinej (Dobrijević) of Australia and New Zealand]] since [[October 21]], 2006. Prior to June 2011, 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 ''Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, New Gracanica Metropolitanate''. The current reigning bishop is [[Irinej (Dobrijevic) of Australia and New Zealand|Irinej (Dobrijević)]], enthroned 21 October 2006headquartered in Canberra, who was appointed to head the Patriarchal diocese and administer the New Gracanica dioceseACT.

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.

In 2006, on Bp Milutin's transfer to the newly-formed diocese of Valjevo, the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church elected Hieromonk Irinej Dobrijevic as Bishop of Australia and 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 October ]], 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.

== Recent History ==In 20062009-10 was bittersweet, Bishop Milutin was appointed Bishop in that a small number of parishes leaving the newly-formed New Gracanica diocese to join schismatic groups, while the two dioceses decided to unite into a Metropolitanate of Valjevo following Australia and New Zealand, a decision joyfully received in November 2010 by the partition Assembly of Bishops of the Sabac-Valjevo diocese into two, and Hieromonk Irinej Dobrijevic was appointed in his place Serbian Orthodox Church.[http://www.spcsoc.org.yuau/sr/English-News/SaopstenjaHot-Topics/sabor2130-Communiqu%C3%A9-from-majthe-Assembly-of-Bishops-of-2006_e.html]. Archimandrite Irinej's ordination to the episcopate took place on 15 July 2006 at St. Mark's Cathedral -Serbian-Orthodox-Church-from-its-regular-meeting-held-in -Belgrade-November-17-20, -2010]. The constitution of the Metropolitanate of Australia and he New Zealand was enthroned in Australia approved at St Sava Serbian Orthodox Church at Elanora Heights, metro Sydney, on 21 October 2006. the May 2011 meeting of the Holy Synod [http://www.antiochian.orgspc.aurs/content/view/471/6eng/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 [[Irinej (Dobrijevic) of Australia and New Zealand|Irinej (Dobrijevic)]].

* 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.