The Right Reverend '''Theodore (Rafalsky)''' was the first [[bishop]] of the [[Diocese of Australia and New Zealand (ROCOR)|Diocese of Australia and New Zealand]] within the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia]]. He was accepted from the autonomous [[w:Ukrainian Autonomous Orthodox Church |Ukrainian Autonomous Orthodox Church]] into the Russian Orthodox Church Ourside Outside Russia on [[May 6]], 1946, and became the first bishop of Australia and New Zealand, posted in Brisbane.

Even though he was accepted by ROCOR in 1946, the stringent entry requirements during the early part of the Cold War, stringent requirements for both acquiring an Australian visa and for obtaining medical clearance , meant that Bp . Theodore was not able to take up his post until November 1948. He served the Church in Australia and New Zealand between from 1948 and until his repose on [[May 6]], 1955, when he reposed and . He was buried at his [[cathedral]] in Sydney, Australia.

before=''unknown''Alexis (Gromadsky)|title=Bishop of Rovno and Ostrog<br>([[w:Ukrainian Autonomous Orthodox Church of Ukraine|UOC-MPUAOC]])|years=1942-19461945|after=[[Sava Iriney (RayevskySeredny) of Sydney}} {{succession|Sava before=Dionysius (RayevskyProzorovsky)|title=Temporary Administrator of the Diocese of Rostov and Taganrog<br>([[w:Ukrainian Autonomous Orthodox Church|UAOC]])|years=1942-1943|after=?}} 

before=&mdash;''see created''|title=Bishop of [[Diocese of Australia and New Zealand (ROCOR)|Brisbane and Australia and New Zealand ]]<br>([[ROCOR]])|

title=Archbishop of [[Diocese of Australia and New Zealand (ROCOR)|Brisbane, Australia and New Zealand ]]<br>([[ROCOR]])|

title=Archbishop of [[Diocese of Australia and New Zealand (ROCOR)|Sydney, Australia and New Zealand ]]<br>([[ROCOR]])|

<!--==External linkSource==*[http://wwwgnisios.narod.rocorru/bisrocor.orghtml Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]*[http://drevo-info.auru/officialarticles/hilarionbio_en9308.html Official biographyРовенская и Острожская епархия Украинской Православной Церкви] from the Открытая православная энциклопедия «Древо»*[[ROCORhttp://www.edrus.org/content/view/249/56/ Православная Церковь на Украине в годы немецкой оккупации (1941-1944)]] Australia and New Zealand website-->Единая Русь*