name=Serbian Orthodox Diocese Church - Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand ''and'' Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, New Gracanica Metropolitanate|

type=DiocesesDiocese|

bishop=Bp [[Irinej Siluan (DobrijevicMrakic) of Australia and New Zealand|Irinej Siluan (DobrijevicMrakić)]] enthroned Oct 2006|

hq=Sydney, NSW, Australia|

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

The '''Serbian Orthodox Church in - Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand''', is the local metropolitanate for Serbian Orthodox parishes in Australia and New Zealand. It is headquartered in SYDNEY Sydney, NSW, and is headed by Bishop [[Siluan (Mrakic) of Australia and New Zealand|Siluan]] since [[October 22]], 2016. Prior to June 2011, the descriptive term Metropolitanate was composed of two parallel dioceses in Australia and New Zealand: the Patriarchal ''Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand'', headquartered in Sydney, NSW; and the ''New Gracanica Metropolitanate - Serbian Orthodox Diocese of for Australia and New Zealand, New Gracanica Metropolitanate''. The current reigning bishop is [[Irinej (Dobrijevic) of Australia and New Zealand|Irinej (Dobrijević)]], enthroned 21 October 2006headquartered in Canberra, who was appointed to head the Patriarchal diocese and administer the New Gracanica dioceseACT.

Prior After World War II, a number of Serbs emigrated to 1992Australia. They were under the jurisdiction of the Serbian Orthodox Church's American-Canadian Diocese, until 1952 when the Patriarchate took the diaspora (where there was not an established diocese - including Australasia) under it's omophorion. In 1963, an attempt to divide the American-Canadian diocese into three separate dioceses caused a schism, with 14 Serbian Orthodox Church-School communities in Australia aligning with the 'Free Serbian Orthodox Church Diocese for Australia and New Zealand were under two seperate dioceses: ' (and 4 remaining with the schismatic (until 1992Patriarchate in Belgrade) . ===Free Serbian Diocese===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]] & [[Irenej (Kovacevic) of America and Canada|Irenej]], administered firstly 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. The idea of building a monastery, a home for the aged and a metropolitan who resided at New Gracanica Monasteryhome for orphans was considered in 1972, but it was not until Dec 1978 that moves were taken to make this happen. Bp Petar (then Bishop-Administrator) sent an appeal to the parishes in the diocese, requesting funds, Illinoisand the property was purchased in 1980 and blessed in January 1981 by Bp Petar. Considerable donations were received - financial, USAmaterial and labour - through the 1980s, and then the loan was paid off by the end of 1991. It was used as a local bishop who resided monastery at various times in its history. An extraordinary Assembly was held in August 1984 in Illinois, USA, by delegates of the three Free Serbian dioceses, unanimously proclaiming the formation of the Free Serbian Orthodox Church. Bp Petar reposed on Nov 1988. Metropolitan [[Monastery Irenej (Kovacevic) of New Kalenic America and Canada|Irenej]] (Canberrain America) became its administrator, Australian Capital Territory)|Archim. Sava of StMark'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 Kalenic)Zealand|Vasilje]](of the Western European Diocese). In March 1991, Canberra, ACTBp Vasilje was elected as the new bishop for Australia and New Zealand. ===Patriarchal Diocese===The Patriarchal parishes were organised within the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Western Europe and Australia in March 1969, and separated in June 1973 to be the larger Serbian Orthodox Diocese of in Australia and New Zealand. While it began as a much smaller entity, which was within the patriarchal Diocese grew over time to be a little larger than the Free Serbian Orthodox diocese over the same territory. ===Reconciliation===In December 1990, Bp [[Church 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. Amidst a wide variety of complaints from laity opposed to the merger, Bp Vasilje was transferred to a different (patriarchal) diocese, and Bp Sava (Juric) was consecrated Bishop of Australia and New Zealand in May 1994. He reported in 1996 that the New Gracanica diocese had 15 parishes, and that he and Bp Luka co-operated in serving the needs of faithful of both dioceses. Bps Sava & Luka jointly petitioned the Holy Synod for the unification of the dioceses and presided over its elevation to Metropolitanate, headed by a bishop resident at new hierarch. This was partially implemented in May 1999, when Bp Sava was transferred to Slovonia (Croatia) and Bp Luka was transferred to Paris, and Bp [[Monastery Nikanor (Bogunovic) of Banat|Nikanor]] was appointed bishop of the New Gracanica Diocese and Administrator of Stthe Patriarchal Diocese. Sava  In 2000, Bishop [[Nikanor (Elaine, VictoriaBogunovic)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]], Elaine, Victoriain Wallaroo.

In 19922006, an acceptance by on Bp Milutin's transfer to the [[Church newly-formed diocese of Serbia]] Valjevo, the Holy Synod of the schismatic group on the condition Serbian Orthodox Church elected Hieromonk Irinej Dobrijevic as Bishop of altering their 'Free' name to 'New Gracanica Metropolitanate' meant that there were now two directly overlapping dioceses in Australia and New Zealand[http://www.spc.org.yu/Saopstenja/sabor-maj-2006_e.html]. On 15 July, Archimandrite Irinej was consecrated at St Mark's Cathedral, which were administered by two bishopsBelgrade, one each and he was enthroned in Elaine and Canberra. In 2000Australia at St Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, Elanora Heights, Sydney, Bishop on [[Nikanor (Bogunovic) of Banat|NicanorOctober 21]], 2006[http://www.antiochian.org.au/content/view/471/6/] became the first sole bishop in Australia and New Zealand. In contrast to previous bishops, being he was appointed reigning the bishop of the New Gracanica Diocese patriarchal diocese and also administrator of the patriarchal New Gracanica diocese. In 2003 Bishop He continued to work on the unification of the two dioceses. Implementing a decision of Bp Milutin was appointed bishop of 's (in May 2004), Bp Irenej moved the New Gracanica diocese and administrator administrative centre of the patriarchal dioceseDiocese from St Sava Monastery to Sydney.

In 2006, on Bp Milutin's transfer to Irenej became the newlyfocus of attacks by dissident former-formed 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 on in May 2015). From 2007, there were disputes with representatives of a number of church-school communities, including St Nicholas (South Brisbane), St George (Manuka/Forrest), Saint Stefan of ValjevoDechani (Carrum Downs) and Saints Peter and Paul, Wodonga - each of whom had invited schismatic clergy from the [[Holy Synod of the Serbian in Resistance|Old Calendar Orthodox Church elected Hieromonk Irinej Dobrijevic as Bishop of Australia and New Zealand. On 15 JulyGreece (Holy Synod in Resistance)]] (or, Archimandrite Irinej was consecrated at in St MarkNicholas South Brisbane's Cathedralcase, the [[Russian True Orthodox Church]]). Parallel assemblies of both dioceses were held in September 2010 to approve a new constitution, Belgradecombining the dioceses into a metropolitanate, and he which was enthroned joyfully received in Australia at St Sava 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, Elanora Heights, Sydney, on 21 October 2006-2010] and approved by the Holy Synod in May 2011[http://www.spc. In contrast to previous bishopsrs/eng/communique_holy_assembly_bishops_serbian_orthodox_church_0], he was appointed and the dioceses became the bishop 'Serbian Orthodox Church - Metropolitanate of the patriarchal diocese Australia and administrator of the New Gracanica dioceseZealand' soon after.

== Recent History ==In 20062016, Bishop Milutin Bp Irenej was appointed elected Bishop of the newly-formed diocese of Valjevo following the partition Serbian Orthodox Diocese of the Sabac-Valjevo diocese into twoEastern America, and Hieromonk Irinej Dobrijevic to replace him Fr Siluan was appointed in his place [http://wwwconsecrated Bishop of Australia and New Zealand.spc.org.yu/Saopstenja/sabor Bp Siluan is one of a small number of Australian-maj-2006_e.html]. Archimandrite Irinej's ordination born Orthodox bishops, as well as being the first to the episcopate took place on 15 July 2006 at St. Mark's Cathedral in Belgrade, and he was enthroned lead a diocese in Australia at St Sava Serbian Orthodox Church at Elanora Heights, metro Sydney, on 21 October 2006. [http://www.antiochian.org.au/content/view/471/6/]

The Serbian Orthodox Church in - Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand is two parallel dioceses in a single metropolitanate across the one geographical territory of Australia and New Zealand, both under the one bishop. Currently there are 41 parishes in Australia and New Zealand, with two monasteries and one skete.

The Patriarchal Serbian Orthodox Church in Australia and New Zealand Diocese was a founding member of [[SCCOCA]], and the Metropolitanate represented in the Episcopal Assembly of All Canonical Orthodox Bishops of Oceania by Bp Irenej.

*[[Monastery of New Kalenic (Canberra, Australian Capital Territory)|Monastery of Saint Sava "New Kalenic"]], Canberra, ACT. Bishop's residence.

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

===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??

* Bishop [[Luka (Kovacevic) of France and Western Europe|Luka(Kovacevic)]] of Australia and New Zealand, 1993-1999.* Bishop [[Irinej (Dobrijevic) of Australia and New Zealand]], 2006-2016

===Former Hierarchs of Australia and New Zealand, Free Serbian (1963-1992) and New Gracanica (1992-2000) Hierarchs of Australia and New Zealand===:''nb. considered Considered schismatic by the [[Church of Serbia]] until reconciliation in 1992.''.* Bishop [[Dionisije (Milivojevich) of America United States and Canada]], 1963-19??1966.* Bishop [[Dimitrije (Balac) of America and Canada]], 19??1966-19??1979.* Bishop [[Petar (Bankerovic) of Australia and New Zealand]], 198?1979-1988.* 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.

* [httphttps://www.beogradcaselaw.comnsw.gov.au/phonelistdecision/serbian_ortodox_church_in_aus_and_nz.htm Parish listing55641476e4b06e6e9f0f5d65 Bishop Irinej Dobrijevic & Anor v Free Serbian Orthodox Church, Diocese for Australia & New Zealand Property Trust & Ors [2015] NSWSC 637] (although old and unofficial, this list is both the most complete and most accurate available)