{{orthodoxyinaustralasiaorthodoxyinaustralasiasmall}}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 [[w:Ukrainian Autonomous Orthodox Church|Ukrainian Autonomous Orthodox Church]] into the Russian Orthodox Church 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, for both acquiring an Australian visa and 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 from 1948 until his repose on [[May 6]], 1955. He was buried at his [[cathedral]] in Sydney, Australia. {{stubAusEpisStub}}

title=Bishop Archbishop of [[Diocese of Australia and New Zealand (ROCOR)|Sydney, Australia and New Zealand]]<br><font size="1">(Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia<br>Diocese of Australia and New Zealand[[ROCOR]])</font>|years='''19??1950-1955'''|after=Bishop Theodosius<br>Bishop [[Sava (Rayevsky) of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand|Sava (Rayevsky)]]}} 

<!--==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*

[[Category:Orthodoxy_in_AustraliaBishops of Rovno]][[Category:Orthodoxy_in_New_ZealandBishops of Brisbane]][[Category:Bishops of Sydney]][[Category:20th-century bishops]][[Category:Orthodoxy in Australia]][[Category:Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]