Nicholas (Manovitch)

Nikolai Manavitch (Manowich) was a priest of questionable background who served in Russian parishes in early 20th century Australia.

He is regarded as something of a "colourful character" and had a spurious ordination from a bishop in Canada who was not recognised by any ecclesiastical authority in North America. He went to New Zealand and then on to Australia where he was close to the Bolshevik group in Brisbane. He was arrested for extortion, demanding outrageous amounts of money for baptisms and weddings. He disappeared from the religious scene when Fr Paul Korchinsky came to Australia at the request of the Russian Imperial Consul-General to counter the effect of Manowich. He died in 1925 and is buried in Queensland.