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bishop=Metr. Abp. [[Paul Basilios (SalibaKodseie) of Australia and , New Zealand|Pauland the Philippines]]|

territory=Australia and , New Zealand, the Philippines|language=Arabic, Belarus, Bulgarian, English, French, German, Greek (church), Greek (modern), Macedonian, Moldovan, Persian, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slavonic Filipino (Churchothers as needed), Ukrainian|music=[[Bulgarian Chant|Bulgarian]], [[Byzantine Chant|Byzantine]], [[Russian Chant|Russian]] & [[Znamenny Chant|Znamenny]] Chant; Russian & Western Choral|calendar=[[Revised Julian Calendar|Revised Julian]] and [[Julian Calendar]] (depending on parishnormatively)|population=743,525 ([[Statistics of Orthodoxy in Australia|Defective]] [http://www.cra.org.au/pages/00000226.cgi Federal Census 2001]); 37,490 (2005 internal Archdiocesan census of active congregants); 120500 to 123,000 adherents (2007 Prime Minister's figures)|

The '''Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and , New Zealandand the Philippines''', with headquarters in Sydney, is an [[archdiocese]] of the [[Church of Antioch]]. Its current [Since 2017, the Archdiocese has been led by Metropolitan [primate]] is His Eminence [[Paul (Saliba) of Australia and New Zealand|Paul Basilios (SalibaKodseie)]], [[Metropolitan Archbishop]] of Australia and New Zealand.

:''Full articleExpanded in: [[History of Antiochian Orthodoxy in Australasia]]''The first wave of Syrian (now Lebanese) immigration was in the 1880-1890s, where work was found in hawking and peddling goods in the country areas of the eastern states of Australia. The first place places of worship was usually were in the state capital cities of Sydney and Melbourne, with a Greek -speaking priest who also spoke Arabic and , sometimes , Russian too. The Antiochian Orthodox faithful took part in the construction of both Surry HillsHoly Trinity, Sydney, and Holy Annunciation, Melbourne.

Due to the problems concerning the 1899 election of an Arab Patriarch of Antioch, in 1899 and the decision of the [[Church of Constantinople]] to give appropriate jurisdiction of parishes in the diaspora parishes to the [[Church of Greece]] with the sole use of Ecclesiastical Greek, Syrian participation in services halted these churches were effectively closed off from the Arab Orthodox, aside from the sacraments. However, these faithful would not be denied Orthodoxy in their language and culture, and founded three Antiochian Orthodox churches in Australasia: St George, Sydney (founded by Fr [[Nicholas Shehadie]], exarch); St Nicholas, Melbourne (founded by Archim. [[Antonious (Mobayed)|Antonious]]); and St Michael, Dunedin (founded by Hmk [[Nicholas (Manovitch)|Nicholas]]. These churches, founded in the 1920s and 1930s, continued to be the only Antiochian Orthodox parishes in Australasia through the period of the Exarchate.

Up until In 1969, the founding Church of an Antioch sent Archimandrite Gibran (Ramlawey) to Australia as Patriarchal Exarch to find the best way to solve problems caused by two priests having to serve every Antiochian Orthodox in Australia. On his recommendations, the Dioceseof Australia and New Zealand was created, there were three Antiochian Orthodox churches in Australasia: St George, Sydney (founding priest: Fr and Archimandrite Gibran was elected as [[Nicholas ShehadiePatriarchal Vicar]], exarch); . Two parishes were created very soon after his arrival - St Nicholas, Melbourne (founding priest: Archim. Punchbowl, NSW was created as a result of Bp [[Antonious Gibran (MobayedRamlawey)of Australia and New Zealand|AntoniousGibran]]); 's directive, and St MichaelGeorge, Dunedin (founding priest: Hmk [[Nicholas (Manovitch)]] These churchesThornbury, founded in the 1920s and 1930s, continued to be the only Antiochian Orthodox parishes in Australasia through the period Vic. was created as a result of tensions caused by differing waves of the Exarchateimmigrants.

The late 1980s saw some growth in parishes. In 19691985, a parish was created in Mays Hill, NSW; 1989 saw the first parish committee for a church in Brisbane, Qld. The mid-1990s saw the first instance of growth by group conversion as a result of the Anglican Church of Antioch sent Archimandrite Gibran (Ramlawey) to Australia as Patriarchal Exarch to find the best way 's decision to solve problems caused by two priests having to serve every Antiochian Orthodox in Australia. On his recommendationsordain females, which gave the Diocese of Australia four parishes, a monastery and New Zealand was createdfive priests, and Archimandrite Gibran was elected as [[Patriarchal Vicar]]mostly parish priests who were assigned to pastor the flock that they had guided into Orthodoxy.

Two parishes were created very soon after his arrival - St Nicholas, PunchbowlIn 1999, NSW was created as a result of Bp [[Gibran (Ramlawey) reposed. The Holy Synod of Antioch, having raised Australia and New Zealand|Gibran]]'s directiveto an Archdiocese, consecrated Archim. Paul (Saliba), and the Antiochian Orthodox parish priest of St . GeorgeChurch in Washington DC, Thornbury, Vicas the Metropolitan Archbishop of the new Archdiocese. was created as His tenure has seen a result rapid growth of parishes, clergy and the use of tensions caused by differing waves English in the Divine Liturgy of immigrantsAntiochian Orthodox parishes.

The From ten parishes at his enthronement in late 1980s saw some growth in 1999, the total at the end of eight years of Met. Abp Paul's tenure, at the close of 2007, stands at approximately 34 parishes. In 1985or missions and 1 monastery, a parish was created including three English-language parishes in Mays HillSydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast, served by 42 clergymen, NSW; 1989 saw including two universities [[chaplain]]s in Melbourne and the first parish committee for a church Orthodox military chaplain in Brisbane, QldAustralia.

In 19992008, Bp Gibran reposeda "historic moment in the history of. The Holy Synod of Antioch..the Archdiocese" occurred, having raised Australia and New Zealand to an with the Archdiocese, consecrated Archim. Paul accepting a large number of converts in the Philippines (Salibabased in Davao and Manila), the Antiochian Orthodox parish priest of St. George Church This event was especially marked by a change in Washington DC, as the Metropolitan Archbishop name of the new Archdioceseto include 'Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines'.

MetIn July 2017, Metropolitan Paul reposed. Abp. [[Paul Archimandrite Basilios (SalibaKodseie) was appointed as Patriarchal Vicar before being elected Metropolitan of Australia and New Zealand|Paul]] decided to create more churchesthe Archdiocese on 4 October[http://antiochian. He prompted the building of the church of St Paul, Brisbane and created an Englishorg/axios-axios-holy-synod-antioch-elects-two-new-language parish in Sydney. Between his arrival and the end of 2006metropolitans], there have been 13 new missions being subsequently consecrated and parishes createdenthroned.

The Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese is a single archdiocese spanning a number of countries. The Archbishop resides in Australia, and there is a Deanery for New Zealandand a Vicariate in the Philippines. There are 25 23 [[parish]]es and missions across Australia, 8 6 parishes and missions in the Deanery of New Zealand, approximately 37,500 active congregants, and approximately 120,000 adherents, in the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese a number of Australia and New Zealand. The Archdiocese also has one female monastery of [[St. Anna Convent (Preston, Victoria)|St Anna]] missions in Victoria, and founded the multi-jurisdictional [[Melbourne Institute of Orthodox Christian Studies]]Philippines.

The Antiochian Orthodox Diocese of Australasia Archdiocese also has one monastery dedicated to St. Michael in Goulburn, NSW (as it was then called) was with a founding member of the [[Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Churches in Australia]]chapel dedicated to St. The Antiochian Archdiocese says that SCCOCA, after being moribund for quite a number of years, finally became defunct in the year 2000Anna).

Many students of theology have been sponsored by the Archdiocese to study at Balamand University, at [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)|St Vladimir's Seminary]], USA, or through the St Stephen's Course of Studies in Orthodox Theology via the [[Antiochian House of Studies]]. The Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, Australasia (as it was then called) was a founding member of the [[Eastern HierarchsStanding Conference of Canonical Orthodox Churches in Australia]]. The , and the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese believes this of Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines is now a friendly, effective organisation, working for part of the love [[Episcopal Assembly of Oceania|Episcopal Assembly of God spreading throughout Orthodox Bishops in Oceania]] that first met in 2010 in response to the whole mystery of His ChurchChambesy meeting.

===Hierarch===* His Eminence, the Most Reverend Metropolitan Archbishop [[Paul Basilios (SalibaKodseie) of Australia and , New Zealand|Paul (Saliba)and the Philippines]] of Australia and New Zealand.===Deans===**Vicar-General of Archdiocese, Dean of CathedralSydney: Right Reverend [[Archimandrite]] [[Nabil (Kachab)]].**Dean of AustraliaMelbourne: [[Archpriest ]] [[George Nasr]].**[[Deanery of New Zealand (Antiochian)|Dean of New Zealand]]: [[Archpriest]] [[Jack Witbrock]]Very Reverend Priest George Bosauder.

* Bishop [[Gibran (Ramlawey) of Australia and New Zealand|Gibran (Ramlawey)]], Patriarchal Vicar of Australia and New Zealand , 1969-1999.* Metropolitan Archbishop [[Paul (Saliba) of Australia and New Zealand|Paul (Saliba)]], Primate 1999-2017.* Metropolitan [[Basilios (Kodseie) of Australia and , New Zealandand the Philippines|Basilios (Kodseie)]], 19992017-present.

==See alsoAlso==* [[Antiochian parishes Orthodoxy in AustralasiaAustralia]]*[[Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]*[[Orthodoxy in the Philippines]]