Changes

type=DiocesesDiocese|

bishop=Bp [[Irinej Siluan (DobrijevicMrakic) of Australia and New Zealand|Irinej Siluan (DobrijevićMrakić)]]|

website=[http://www.soc.org.au Dioceses of Aust. & NZMetropolitanate Website]

The '''Serbian Orthodox Church - Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand''' is the local metropolitanate for Serbian Orthodox parishes in Australia and New Zealand. It is headquartered in Sydney, NSW, and is headed by Bishop [[Irinej Siluan (DobrijevicMrakic) of Australia and New Zealand|Irinej (Dobrijević) of Australia and New ZealandSiluan]] since [[October 2122]], 20062016.

The first Assembly of the Free Serbian Orthodox Church Diocese for Australia and New Zealand was held in October 1964, and a Diocesan Council was formed, dividing Australia into two administrative regions and elevating two priests to archpriest to administer it on his behalf, with Archimandrite [[Dimitrije (Balak) of Australia and New Zealand|Dimitrije (Balak)]] consecrated bishop in America in 1966 by Bp [[Dionisije (Milivojevich) of United States and Canada|Dionisije]] & Irinej[[Irenej (Kovacevic) of America and Canada|Irenej]], and then Archim. Petar (Bankerovic) was consecrated to be his assistant in November 1977 by Bps Irinej and Dimitrije. Bp Dimitrije reposed in May 1979, and Bp [[Petar (Bankerovic) of Australia and New Zealand|Petar ]] succeeded him in December of the same year.

Bp Petar reposed on Nov 1988. Metropolitan [[Irenej (Kovacevic) of America and Canada|Irenej]] (in America) became its administrator, Archim. Sava of St Mark's Monastery, USA, as his deputy administrator. St Sava's Monastery, in Wallaroo, was completed in Jan 1990, and consecrated by Metr Irenej with Bp [[Vasilje (Veinovic) of Australia and New Zealand|Vasilje ]] (of the Western European Diocese). In March 1991, Bp Vasilje was elected as the new bishop for Australia and New Zealand.

In December 1990, Bp [[Pavle (Stojcevic) of Serbia|Pavle]] was elected Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church. He invited the Free Serbian Orthodox to talks in Belgrade, which occurred in Apr 1991, where a Reconciliation Proposal was made, the Free Serbian Orthodox were accepted under the Patriarchate as the 'New Gracanica Metropolitanate' (among other constitutional edits), and this was finalised through concelebration in Belgrade in February 1992. As a temporary situation, this meant that there were now two directly overlapping dioceses in Australia and New Zealand, which were administered by two bishops, one each in Elaine and Canberra.

As Amidst a temporary situationwide variety of complaints from laity opposed to the merger, this meant that there were now two directly overlapping dioceses in Australia and New Zealand, which were administered by two bishopsBp Vasilje was transferred to a different (patriarchal) diocese, one each in Elaine and Canberra. In 2000, Bishop [[Nikanor Bp Sava (BogunovicJuric) was consecrated Bishop of Banat|Nicanor]] became the first sole bishop in Australia and New Zealand, being appointed reigning bishop of in May 1994. He reported in 1996 that the New Gracanica Diocese diocese had 15 parishes, and that he and also administrator Bp Luka co-operated in serving the needs of faithful of the patriarchal dioceseboth dioceses. In 2003 his successor, Bishop Milutin was appointed bishop Bps Sava & Luka jointly petitioned the Holy Synod for the unification of the New Gracanica diocese dioceses and administrator of the patriarchal dioceseits elevation to Metropolitanate, headed by a new hierarch.

In 2006This was partially implemented in May 1999, on when Bp Milutin's transfer Sava was transferred to the newly-formed diocese of Valjevo, the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church elected Hieromonk Irinej Dobrijevic as Bishop of Australia Slovonia (Croatia) and New Zealand[http://www.spc.org.yu/Saopstenja/sabor-maj-2006_e.html]. On 15 July, Archimandrite Irinej Bp Luka was consecrated at St Mark's Cathedral, Belgradetransferred to Paris, and he was enthroned in Australia at St Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, Elanora Heights, Sydney, on Bp [[October 21]Nikanor (Bogunovic) of Banat|Nikanor], 2006[http://www.antiochian.org.au/content/view/471/6/]. In contrast to previous bishops, he was appointed the bishop of the patriarchal diocese New Gracanica Diocese and administrator Administrator of the New Gracanica diocesePatriarchal Diocese.

2009In 2000, Bishop [[Nikanor (Bogunovic) of Banat|Nicanor]] became the first sole bishop in Australia and New Zealand, being appointed reigning bishop of the New Gracanica Diocese and also administrator of the patriarchal diocese. He established a joint legislative committee in 2002 which was to work on a new constitution. In 2003 his successor, Bishop Milutin was appointed bishop of the New Gracanica diocese and administrator of the patriarchal diocese. He experienced the first direct problem with the 'Property Trust Company' which then administered St Sava's Monastery in Wallaroo. In 2006, on Bp Milutin's transfer to the newly-formed diocese of Valjevo, the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church elected Hieromonk Irinej Dobrijevic as Bishop of Australia and New Zealand[http://www.spc.org.yu/Saopstenja/sabor-10 maj-2006_e.html]. On 15 July, Archimandrite Irinej was bittersweetconsecrated at St Mark's Cathedral, Belgrade, and he was enthroned in that a small number Australia at St Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, Elanora Heights, Sydney, on [[October 21]], 2006[http://www.antiochian.org.au/content/view/471/6/]. In contrast to previous bishops, he was appointed the bishop of the patriarchal diocese and administrator of parishes leaving the New Gracanica diocese . He continued to join schismatic groups, while work on the unification of the two dioceses . Implementing a decision of Bp Milutin's (in May 2004), Bp Irenej moved the administrative centre of the Diocese from St Sava Monastery to Sydney. Bp Irenej became the focus of attacks by dissident former-members of the Free Serbian diocese, including the Property Trust Company and directors thereof, stretching from 2006 to 2015 (including a NSW Supreme Court case decided to unite into on in May 2015). From 2007, there were disputes with representatives of a Metropolitanate number of church-school communities, including St Nicholas (South Brisbane), St George (Manuka/Forrest), Saint Stefan of Australia Dechani (Carrum Downs) and Saints Peter and New ZealandPaul, Wodonga - each of whom had invited schismatic clergy from the [[Holy Synod in Resistance|Old Calendar Orthodox Church of Greece (Holy Synod in Resistance)]] (or, in St Nicholas South Brisbane's case, the [[Russian True Orthodox Church]]). Parallel assemblies of both dioceses were held in September 2010 to approve a new constitution, combining the dioceses into a decision metropolitanate, which was joyfully received in November 2010 by the Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church.[http://soc.org.au/sr/English-News/Hot-Topics/2130-Communiqu%C3%A9-from-the-Assembly-of-Bishops-of-the-Serbian-Orthodox-Church-from-its-regular-meeting-held-in-Belgrade-November-17-20,-2010]. The constitution of the Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand was approved at by the Holy Synod in May 2011 meeting of the Holy Synod [http://www.spc.rs/eng/communique_holy_assembly_bishops_serbian_orthodox_church_0], and the dioceses became the 'Serbian Orthodox Church - Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand' soon after. In 2016, Bp Irenej was elected Bishop of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Eastern America, and to replace him Fr Siluan was consecrated Bishop of Australia and New Zealand. Bp Siluan is one of a small number of Australian-born Orthodox bishops, as well as being the first to lead a diocese in Australia.

* Bishop [[Irinej Siluan (DobrijevicMrakic) of Australia and New Zealand]].

===Former Patriarchal Hierarchs of Australia and New Zealand, Patriarchal Diocese===* Bishop [[Lavrentije (Trifunovic) of Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand]], 196?-1974* Bishop [[Nikolai (Mrdja) of Australia and New Zealand]], 1974-19??

===Former Hierarchs of Australia and New Zealand, Free Serbian (1963-1992) and New Gracanica (1992-2000) Hierarchs of Australia and New Zealand===

* Bishop [[Dimitrije (Balac) of America and Canada]], 1966-19781979.

* Metropolitan [[Irenej (Kovacevic) of America and Canada]], 1988-1991 (as Administrator)* Bishop [[Vasilije Vasilje (Veinovic) of Australia and New Zealand]], ~19881991-1993.* Bishop [[Sava (Juric) of Slavonia|Sava (Juric)]] of Australia and New Zealand, 19931994-1999.

* Bishop [[Nikanor (Bogunovic) of Banat|Nikanor (Bogunovic)]] of Australia and New Zealand, ~20001999-2003.