Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia

Official seal

Location
Country| Australia
Headquarters| Cathedral of The Annunciation of Our Lady, Redfern, Sydney
Statistics
Population

* Total

* 400,000 approx (2021 Census)[1]

Parishes| 121
Schools| 8
Information
Denomination| Eastern Orthodox Church
Cathedral| Cathedral of The Annunciation of Our Lady (1970-present)
Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Sophia (1927-1970)
Patron saint| Saint Paisios of Mount Athos
Language| Greek, English[a]
Parent church| Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
Metropolitan Archbishop| Makarios Griniezakis
Auxiliary Bishops|

* Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis
* Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia

Vicar General| Christophoros Krikelis
Archdeacons| Archdeacon Athinagoras Karakonstantakis
Website
greekorthodox.org.au

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia is the Australian archdiocese of the Greek Orthodox Church, part of the wider communion of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. The archdiocese is a jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. As of 2024, there were over 130 parishes and eight monasteries in the six dioceses of the archdiocese in Australia.[2][3] [4]

## Archbishop and governance

[edit]

Since May 9, 2019, Bishop Makarios is Archbishop of Australia.[5][6]

Since February 2024, the Archdiocese of Australia is governed by the Holy Eparchical Synod, at which the incumbent Archbishop of the day presides, and whose members are his active assistant Bishops in their capacity as Regional Bishops.[7]

## History

[edit]

On 1 September 1959, the Metropolis of Australia and New Zealand was elevated to an archdiocese and Metropolitan Ezekiel to an archbishop. Archbishop Ezekiel's episcopacy coincided with a period of great expansion in the numbers of Greek Orthodox in Australia through immigration, and many of the parishes that the church has today were formed under his guidance. In August 1974, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate elevated Archbishop Ezekiel to the titular see of Metropolitan of Pisidia.[8] He died in Athens in July 1987. On 3 February 1975, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate unanimously elected the Metropolitan of Miletoupolis, Stylianos Harkianakis, a lecturer at the University of Thessaloniki, as the new Archbishop of Australia. Archbishop Stylianos arrived in Sydney on 15 April 1975 and was officially enthroned on Lazarus Saturday, 26 April 1975.[9]

At the 12th Clergy-Laity Congress held in Sydney in September 2023, Saint Paisios of Mount Athos was declared Patron Saint of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia by Archbishop Makarios.[10]

His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople has visited Australia twice, in 1996 and 2024. The 1996 visit of His All Holiness was historic as it was the first time the Patriarch of Constantinople visited Australia. On this visit, a Patriarchal Divine Liturgy occurred at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on Sunday November 24.[11] Likewise, his visit in 2024 was also historic as coincided with the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Archdiocese of Australia. Two Patriarchal Divine Liturgies occurred in 2024, on Sunday October 6 at the International Convention Centre, Sydney and on Sunday October 14 at Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne.[12]

## Primates

[edit]

* Metropolitan Christoforos of Australia and New Zealand (1924-1929)
* Metropolitan Timotheos of Australia and New Zealand (1931-1947)
* Metropolitan Theophylactos of Australia and New Zealand (1947-1958)
* Metropolitan Ezekiel of Australia and New Zealand (1959), Archbishop Ezekiel of Australia and New Zealand (1959-1970), Archbishop Ezekiel of Australia (1970-1974)
* Archbishop Stylianos of Australia (1975-2019)[13]
* Archbishop Makarios of Australia (2019–present)

## Current hierarchs

[edit]

The following clergy are members of the archdiocese's current hierarchy.[14][15]

Greek Orthodox Hierarchs in Australia  Hierarch | Position(s) | Years | Notes

|
|
|

Archbishop Makarios of Australia | Archbishop of Australia | 2019–present | 2015-2019: Bishop of Christoupolis, serving in Estonia
Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis | Assistant Bishop | 2011–present | Based in Sydney, First Australian-born Bishop of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
Bishop Elpidios of Perth | Regional Bishop (Chorepiskopos) of Perth | 2020–present | 2020-2024: Bishop of Kyanea
Bishop Silouan of Adelaide | Regional Bishop (Chorepiskopos) of Adelaide | 2020–present | 2020-2024: Bishop of Sinope
Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne | Regional Bishop (Chorepiskopos) of Melbourne | 2021–present | 2021-2024: Bishop of Sozopolis
Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia | Assistant Bishop | 2021–present | Based in Sydney
Bishop Evmenios of Chora | Regional Bishop (Chorepiskopos) of Chora | 2021–present | 2021-2024: Bishop of Kerasounta
Bishop Bartholomew of Brisbane | Regional Bishop (Chorepiskopos) of Brisbane | 2021–present | 2021-2024: Bishop of Charioupolis

## Archdiocesan districts and heads

[edit]

Archbishop Makarios at the opening of the Church of Holy Wisdom in the Archdiocesan District of Adelaide, November 2022. Bishop Nikandros of Dorylaion, assistant to Archbishop Stylianos from 2001 to 2019, conducting the Epiphany service in Adelaide, 2008.

### Diocese of Perth

[edit]

* Bishop Elpidios, Regional Bishop (Chorepiskopos) of Perth

### Diocese of Adelaide

[edit]

* Bishop Silouan, Regional Bishop (Chorepiskopos) of Adelaide

### Diocese of Melbourne

[edit]

* Bishop Kyriakos, Regional Bishop (Chorepiskopos) of Melbourne

### Diocese of Chora

[edit]

* Bishop Evmenios, Regional Bishop (Chorepiskopos) of Chora

### Diocese of Brisbane

[edit]

* Bishop Bartholomew, Regional Bishop (Chorepiskopos) of Brisbane

### Diocese of Canberra and Tasmania

[edit]

## Former hierarchs in Australia

[edit]

Hierarch  | Years  | Position(s)  | Notes

|
|
|

Bishop Dionysios of Nazianzus  | 1959 – 1970  |

* unknown (1959-1965).
* Assistant Bishop in Melbourne (1965-1970).

* Metropolitan of New Zealand (1970–2003)
* Retired in 2003 receiving the title Metropolitan of Pisidia.
* Died January 6, 2008.

Bishop Chrysostomos of Myrinae  | 1960 – 1963  |

* unknown

* Retired to America in 1963.
* Died January 10, 1988.

Bishop Aristarchos of Zinoupolis  | 1972 – 1981  |

* Assistant Bishop in Melbourne (1972).
* Assistant Bishop in Adelaide (1973-1975).
* Assistant Bishop in Melbourne (1976-1981).

* Moved to the Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain.
* Died August 9, 2002.

Bishop Panteleimon of Theoupoleos | 1971 – 1984  |

* Assistant Bishop in Sydney (1971-1972).
* Assistant Bishop in Melbourne (1972-1975).
* Assistant Bishop in Adelaide (1975-1979).
* Assistant Bishop in Melbourne (1979-1984).

* Retired to Thessaloniki in 1984.
* Received the title Metropolitan of Vryoula in 2018.

Bishop Ezekiel of Dervis | 1977 – 2021  |

* Assistant Bishop in Perth (1977-1980).
* Assistant Bishop in Adelaide (1980-1984).
* Assistant Bishop in Melbourne (1984-2021).

* Retired in 2021, receiving the title Metropolitan of Dervis.
* Based in Melbourne.

Bishop Paul of Christianoupolis  | 1984 – 1989  |

* Assistant Bishop in Adelaide

* Retired in 1989.
* Based in Adelaide.
* Died September 17, 2024.

Bishop Joseph of Arianzos  | 1989 – 2003  |

* Assistant Bishop in Adelaide (1989-2001).
* Second Bishop in Melbourne (2001-2003).

* Metropolitan of New Zealand (2003–2005).
* Retired to Piraeus in 2005.
* Received the title Metropolitan of Proikonnisos in 2008.

Bishop Seraphim of Apollonias  | 1991 – 2019  |

* Chancellor of the Archdiocese and Assistant Bishop in Sydney.

* Retired in 2019 receiving the title Metropolitan of Sevasteia.
* Based in Sydney.

Bishop Seraphim of Christianoupolis  | 2001 – 2002  |

* Assistant Bishop in Adelaide.

* Resigned from the Archdiocese in 2002.
* Elected Metropolitan of Piraeus in 2006.

Bishop Nikandros of Dorylaion  | 2002 – 2019  |

* Assistant Bishop in Adelaide.

* Retired in 2019 receiving the title Metropolitan of Eirinoupolis.
* Based in Greece

Bishop Emilianos of Meloe  | 2019 – 2024  |

* Chancellor of the Archdiocese and Assistant Bishop in Sydney (2019-2021)
* Assistant Bishop in Brisbane (2021-2024).

* Resigned from the Archdiocese in 2024.

Source[16]

## St Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College

[edit]

St Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College is an Eastern Orthodox Christian seminary located in Redfern, Sydney, New South Wales, established in 1986 by Archbishop Stylianos.

## See also

[edit]

* Australia portal
* Christianity portal

* Archbishop of America
* Greek Australian
* Greek Orthodox Churches in NSW
* Greek Orthodox Churches in South Australia and the Northern Territory
* Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Ukrainian and Arabic are also used in some parishes with Ukrainian and Lebanese communities.

1. ^ "Australian Bureau of Statistics". Retrieved December 20, 2023.
2. ^ "Churches – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia". Retrieved 2021-10-26.
3. ^ "Monasteries – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia". Retrieved 2021-10-26.
4. ^ "The Archdiocese of Australia expresses its gratitude to the Ecumenical Patriarch for the establishment of the six Dioceses". Retrieved 2024-07-19.
5. ^ "Metropolitan Makarios of Christoupolis Elected as the New Archbishop of Australia".
6. ^ "Biography – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia". Archived from the original on 2022-10-05. Retrieved 2021-10-26.
7. ^ "Eparchical Synod and Regional Bishops in the Holy Archdiocese of Australia". Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
8. ^ Tamis, Anastasios (2005). The Greeks in Australia. Cambridge University Press. p. 94. ISBN 978-0-521-54743-7.
9. ^ Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia — History Archived 2017-09-17 at the Wayback Machine. greekorthodox.org.au. Retrieved on 7 April 2016.
10. ^ grkrthdx_client_usr (2023-09-25). "Saint Paisios the Athonite declared as Patron Saint of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia". Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
11. ^ "Ecumenical Patriarch's visit to Australia 24 years ago (video)". Orthodox Times. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
12. ^ "Patriarch Visit | Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia". patriarchvisit.org.au. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
13. ^ Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand. OrthodoxWiki. Retrieved on 2013-08-21.
14. ^ Official archdiocesan website.
15. ^ "Encyclical Of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios Of Australia". The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia - Church of Evangelismos - "The Annunciation of Our Lady". November 6, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2023. Evangelismos.com.au website.
16. ^ Kapandritis, Father. Alexiou S. (2019). The Orthodox Church in Australia as Metropolis (1924-1959) & Holy Archdiocese (1959-Today). Thessaloniki: Greece Ecclesiastical History and Culture.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Greek Orthodox Church.

## Bibliography

[edit]

* Kiminas, Demetrius (2009). The Ecumenical Patriarchate: A History of Its Metropolitanates with Annotated Hierarch Catalogs. Wildside Press LLC. ISBN 9781434458766.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Active dioceses of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople

Archdiocese of Constantinople|

* Constantinople - New Rome
* District of Stavrodromion
* District of Tatavla
* District of the Bosphorous
* District of Hypsomatheia
* District of the Phanar and the Keratius gulf

Sacred Metropolises in Turkey|

* Chalcedon
* Derkoi
* Prince's Islands
* Imbros and Tenedos
* Pisidia
* Silivria
* Adrianople
* Smyrna
* Prusa

Church of Crete|

* Crete
* Gortyn
* Rethymnon
* Kydonia (Chania)
* Lambi (Spili)
* Hierapytna
* Petra (Neapoli)
* Kissamos
* Arkalochorion

Sacred Metropolises in Dodecanese|

* Rhodes
* Kos
* Leros
* Karpathos
* Symi

Sacred Metropolises "New Lands"
(administered by the Church of Greece)|

* Alexandroupolis
* Chios
* Didymoteicho
* Drama
* Dryinoupolis, Pogoniani and Konitsa
* Edessa
* Elasson
* Eleftheroupolis
* Florina
* Goumenissa
* Grevena
* Ierissos
* Ioannina
* Kassandria
* Kastoria
* Katerini
* Kilkis
* Komotini
* Langadas
* Lemnos
* Methymna
* Mytilene
* Nea Krini and Kalamaria
* Neapolis and Stavroupolis
* Paramythia
* Philippi
* Preveza
* Samos
* Serres
* Servia and Kozani
* Siderokastron
* Siatista
* Thessaloniki
* Veroia
* Xanthi
* Zichni

Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church|

* Tallinn
* Pärnu and Saaremaa
* Tartu

Orthodox Church of Finland|

* Helsinki and All Finland
* Karelia
* Oulu

Special Regimes|

* Mount Athos
* Exarchate of Patmos
* Exarchate of Malta
* Exarchate of Lithuania

Provinces in Europe|

* Thyateira and Great Britain
* France
* Germany
* Austria
* Sweden and all Scandinavia
* Belgium
* Switzerland
* Italy
* Spain and Portugal
* Ireland

Provinces of America|

* America
* Direct Archdiocesan District
* Chicago
* New Jersey
* Atlanta
* Denver
* Pittsburgh
* Boston
* Detroit
* San Francisco
* Canada
* Mexico
* Buenos Aires and South America
* Albanian
* Carpatho-Russian

Provinces of Asia|

* Hong Kong and Southeast Asia
* Korea
* Singapore and South Asia

Provinces of Oceania|

* Australia
* Adelaide
* Brisbane
* Canberra
* Chora
* Melbourne
* Perth
* New Zealand

Ukrainian Orthodox Churches|

| Western Europe|

* London
* Western Europe
* Australia & New Zealand

|

Canada|

* Winnipeg and Central Canada
* Toronto and Eastern Canada
* Edmonton and Western Canada

USA|

* Central Eparchy
* Western Eparchy
* South America

Archdioceses in bold

* v
* t
* e

Greek Orthodox Church

Patriarchates|

* Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
* Patriarchate of Alexandria
* Patriarchate of Antioch
* Patriarchate of Jerusalem

Autocephalous churches|

* Church of Greece
* Church of Cyprus
* Church of Albania

Autonomous churches|

* Church of Crete
* Church of Sinai

History|

* 33–717 AD
* 717–1204 AD
* 1204–1453 AD
* 1453–1821 AD
* 1821–1924 AD
* 1924–1974 AD
* 1974–2008 AD
* Since 2008 AD

Christianity portal

Authority control databases |

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