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Metropolitan Archbishop
==Metropolitan Archbishop==
On the [[October 5|fifth of October]], 1999, Archimandrite Paul was elected Metropolitan Archbishop of Australia, New Zealand, and All Oceania, and was consecrated on the [[October 10|10th]] in Damascus, Syria. He arrived in Australia in early December 1999 and has led to lead the [[Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand]] to the present day.
The tenure of Metr. Abp Paul has seen a rapid growth in parishes, clergy and the use of English in the Divine Liturgy of Antiochian Orthodox parishes. From approximately six parishes at his arrival in December 1999, the total at December 2007 stood at 34 parishes or missions and 1 monastery served by 42 clergymen, including two university [[chaplain]]s and one military chaplain. In 2008, Metr. Abp Paul received into the Archdiocese two denominations in the Philippines, almost doubling the number of parishes (an additional 32) and adding ~6000 adherents to the Orthodox faith - though sadly, one of these two denominations left the Church soon after. It was around this time that the Archdiocese was renamed the 'Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines'.
At the time of his repose, there were 26 parishes, missions and communities in Australia, 5 in New Zealand, and 9 in the Philippines, in addition to one retreat centre ('Antiochian Village') in Goulburn, NSW. Soon after, Patriarch John appointed Fr Basil Khodseie (a priest resident in Australia, having arrived a few years prior) to be the representative of the Patriarchate for to the Archdiocese.
{{start box}}
title=Metropolitan Archbishop of Australia,<br>New Zealand and the Philippines (Antiochian)|
years=2008-2017|
after=Archim. Basil Khodseie<br>'''''Patriarchal Representative'''''}}
{{succession|
before=Professor [[Trevor Batrouney]]|
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