Diocese of Australia and New Zealand Австралиско-Новозеландска Епархија | |
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Location | |
Territory | Australia, New Zealand |
Headquarters | North Macedonia |
Information | |
Denomination | Eastern Orthodox |
Established | 1981 |
Current leadership | |
Bishop | Petar |
Website | |
MOC Diocese of Australia and New Zealand |
The Macedonian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand ( Macedonian: Австралиско-Новозеландска Епархија) is one of 10 dioceses of the Macedonian Orthodox Church (MOC). [1] There are some 27 MOC churches in Australia. Almost half are under the Macedonian Orthodox diocese headed by Metropolitan Petar. [2] [1]
The Macedonian Orthodox Church created its first diocese in 1967 for Macedonian diaspora communities that covered Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. [2] By 1981, the MOC split the diocese into two parts creating a diocese for Canada and the United States and another diocese for Australia and New Zealand. [2] The diocese for Australia and New Zealand is headquartered in Melbourne. [2] Metropolitan Tomotej of Debar-Kičevo served as its first administrator, succeeded in 1995 by Metropolitan Petar of Prespa-Pelagonija who has served in the role till present. [2] The structure of the diocese is split into a number of regencies that are split as municipalities and church parishes. [2] Regencies belonging to the archpriest are within Sydney (17 churches) and Melbourne (9 churches). [2] Close to Melbourne and in the vicinity of King Lake, St. Kliment Ohridski - Chudotvorec is the first monastery founded in Australia by the Macedonian community. [2]
Over some two decades the diocese experienced internal divisions regarding the matter of property ownership. [2] In the context of Australian law, a sizable number of parishioners view themselves and not the MOC as owners of properties and churches in the country. [2] During early 2012, people representing the parishes and municipalities who refuse Metropolitan Petar's legitimacy entered into negotiations with the MOC. [2] Both sides agreed to a short-term solution which acknowledged each other. [2] One group would be part of the jurisdiction of Metropolitan Petar and the other under the MOC and its Synod. [2] The MOC synod convened a meeting whose outcome resulted in Metropolitan Timothy becoming the overseer of Macedonian parishes who do not support Metropolitan Petar in Australia. [2] The number of parishes under Metropolitan Petar are 13. [2] Both sides agreed to put on hold any legal processes in order to allow for time to reach a solution over a period of 3 years. [2] In the late 2010s the situation had become formalised and the churches under Metropolitan Timothy are organised as the Macedonian Orthodox Diocese of Australia - Sydney. [3]