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Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Churches in Australia

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{{orthodoxyinaustralasiaorthodoxyinaustralia}}
The '''Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Churches in Australia''' (SCCOCA) was an organisation founded in 1979 under the leadership of [[Archbishop]] [[Stylianos (Harkianakis) of Australia]] and intended to help cooperation among the Orthodox jurisdictions in Australia, under the permanent chairmanship of the representative of the [[Church of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarchate]].
 
It could be presumed, but has not been officially stated, that SCCOCA was superseded by the Episcopal Assembly of Oceania.
==Founding members==
*[[Australian jurisdictions without a local bishop|Romanian Orthodox Church in Australia and New Zealand]]: delegation consisting of V. Rev. Dr. [[Gabriel Popescu]].
*[[ROCOR]] - [[Diocese of Australia and New Zealand (ROCOR)|Diocese of Australia and New Zealand]]: delegation consisting of Archbishop [[Theodosius (Putilin) of Sydney|Theodosius]] and Fr Nicholas Gan.
*[[Serbian Orthodox Church in Australia and New Zealand]] (Metropolitanate of New Gracanica): delegation consisting of Bishop [[Vasilije (Vadic) of Australia and New Zealand |Vasilije]] and Fr Milorad Loncar.
==Membership-related Events==
===Regarding the [[Diocese of Australia and New Zealand (ROCOR)|Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]]===
According to Father Nicholas Gan, the ROCOR archbishop's official representative to SCCOCA at the time, there was disquiet within ROCOR about some of the ecumenical activities of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. But he said ROCOR was "driven out of SCCOCA after one too many screaming matches from the chief antagonist" in that organisation, and because of that hierarch's "invective" about ROCOR being "totally non-canonical" and "having no right to be in Australia, because it is a territory of the Ecumenical Patriarchate".
 
Fr Nicholas Gan said the "Greek Archdiocese of Australia later put it about that ROCOR chose to depart in protest over the involvement of other jurisdictions in the ecumenical movement." [http://www.antiochian.org.au/content/view/413/6/]
 
===Regarding the [[Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand]]===
According to the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand, SCCOCA's complete inactivity between early 1999 and early 2006, (except for a letter from Bp [[Seraphim (Ginis) of Apollonias|Seraphim]] in March 2000), justifies its view of SCCOCA as being dead.
There is an allegation from Greek Orthodox sources that "the acceptance by According to the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of schismatic Romanian communities run by defrocked priests has forced the exclusion of the Antiochian Archdiocese from Australia and New Zealand, SCCOCA". The Antiochian Archdiocese denies that any Romanian communities within its jurisdiction were schismatic or run by defrocked priests. Rather's complete inactivity between early 1999 and early 2006, the Romanian priest was released with the personal permission and blessing of Patriarch (except for a letter from Bp [[Teoctist Seraphim (ArapasuGinis) of RomaniaApollonias|TeoctistSeraphim]]in March 2000), justifies its view of SCCOCA as being dead. This priest subsequently established a worship community which has always been within the The Antiochian Archdioceselooks forward to a time when it is possible for all Orthodox jurisdictions in Australia to come together co-operatively and with unity. [http://www.antiochian.org.au/content/view/394/6/]
===Regarding There is an allegation from Greek Orthodox sources that "the acceptance by the [[Australian jurisdictions without a local bishop|Antiochian Archdiocese of schismatic Romanian Orthodox Church in Australia and New Zealand]]===Although Fr Gabriel Popescu was present at communities run by defrocked priests has forced the foundation exclusion of the Antiochian Archdiocese from SCCOCA". The Antiochian Archdiocese denies that any Romanian communities within its jurisdiction were schismatic or run by defrocked priests. Rather, the [[Romanian Orthodox Church]] priest was never an actual member released with the personal permission and blessing of SCCOCA since, according to Patriarch Teoctist, the [[Church Teoctist (Arapasu) of Romania|Romanian PatriarchateTeoctist]] , and subsequently established a worship community which has always been within the Antiochian Archdiocese and has therefore never sanctioned this movebeen schismatic [http://www.antiochian.org.au/content/view/394/6/]. Added to which, a chairman has no right or authority to exclude any jurisdiction on his own motion without a decision by SCCOCA itself.
==Current Events=Regarding the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia]]===
According to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, SCCOCA still exists because two of the member churches bishops, and visitors from other jurisdictions, concelebrated Vespers on the Vespers Sunday of Orthodoxy and Bright Friday.in 2006:
:"In March 2006, Vespers of the Sunday of Orthodoxy was celebrated at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Marrickville with Archbishop [[Stylianos (Harkianakis) of Australia|Stylianos]] of the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia|Greek Orthodox Church]], the Bishop [[Milutin (Knezevic) of Australia and New Zealand|Milutin]] of the [[Serbian Orthodox Church in Australia and New Zealand|Serbian Orthodox Church]], as well as clergy from the [[Australian jurisdictions without a local bishop|Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Partriarchate)]] and the [[Australian jurisdictions without a local bishop|Romanian Orthodox Church]]. In total about 35 clergy were present surrounded by about 500 faithful. The event was powerful, sombre and moving as each of the jurisdictions read the testimony from the [[Seventh_Ecumenical_Council|7th Ecumenical council]] in their respective languages as well as English. The ceremony ended with exchanges of words of love and solidarity by the bishops. In similar spirit on the morning of Friday after Pascha (28 April 2006), SCOCCA again joined to concelebrate the Paschal Liturgy and to share a common Paschal meal at the Greek Orthodox Parish of St. Euphemia, Bankstown NSW."
A [http://www.spc.org.yu/Vesti-2006/05/04-05-06-e.html#aus report on the Bright Friday event] from a Serbian source refers to this as a concelebration of a "Pan-Orthodox Holy Hierarchical Liturgy".
===Regarding the [[Australian jurisdictions without a local bishop|Romanian Orthodox Church in Australia and New Zealand]]===
Consistent with its earlier stated viewAlthough Fr Gabriel Popescu was present at the foundation of SCCOCA, the Antiochian [[Church of Romania|Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese Church]] was never an actual member of Australia and New Zealand says there cannot be current events in an organisation that [http://www.antiochian.org.au/content/view/394/6/ "is dead"] (Metropolitan Archbishop SCCOCA since, according to Patriarch Teoctist, the [[Paul (Saliba) Church of Australia and New ZealandRomania|PaulRomanian Patriarchate]])never sanctioned this move.
==Future Events=Regarding the [[Diocese of Australia and New Zealand (ROCOR)|Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]]=== According to Father Nicholas Gan, the ROCOR archbishop's official representative to SCCOCA at the time, there was disquiet within ROCOR about some of the ecumenical activities of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. But he said ROCOR was "driven out of SCCOCA after one too many screaming matches from the chief antagonist" in that organisation, and because of that hierarch's "invective" about ROCOR being "totally non-canonical" and "having no right to be in Australia, because it is a territory of the Ecumenical Patriarchate".
The Antiochian Fr Nicholas Gan said the "Greek Archdiocese looks forward of Australia later put it about that ROCOR chose to depart in protest over the time when God wills for a cooperative meeting involvement of all the Eastern Orthodox other jurisdictions in Australiathe ecumenical movement. Metropolitan Archbishop Paul prays for a gathering devoted to the stability and good relations between all the jurisdictions present in Australia, with a view to working harmoniously and in good faith towards that point when "they all may be one, as You Father and I are one" (Jn 17[http:21)//www.antiochian. Until that time comes, the primate and members of the Antiochian Archdiocese continue to pray for the unity of witness, worship, and loving kindness, which should be found in all true-believing churches throughout the worldorg.au/content/view/413/6/]
==See also==
*[[Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas]]
*[[Eastern Hierarchs]]
==External links==
* [http://homewww.itgreekorthodox.comnet.au/~jgrapsas/pages/scocca.htm History Standing Conference of SCCOCACanonical Orthodox Churches in Australia (S.C.C.O.C.A.)] , from the website of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia (covering source for the foundation of SCCOCA).* [http://www.antiochian.org.au/content/view/394/6/ History of SCCOCAAustralia "Dead"] from the website , providing a history of SCCOCA, as well as recent events regarding the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese . (source of Australia and New Zealand (including recent Antiochian events regarding the Antiochian Archdiocese) 
[[Category:Jurisdictions]]
[[Category:Orthodoxy in Australia]]
[[Category:Jurisdictions]]
[[Category:Organizations]]
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