THE SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF ANTIOCH

THE SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF ANTIOCH IN AUSTRALIA

NEW SOUTH WALES

A Brief Outline

NEW SOUTH WALES

The Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate, located in Damascus, Syria, and from thelate seventies felt the importance of serving the Syrian Orthodox Community members who migrated to Australia over the years. Hence, and in the year 1979 H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Yacoub III (1980+) delegated the necessary authorities to H.E. Mor Severius Zakka, (H.H. Patriarch Zakka I Iwas now) Archbishop of Baghdad and Basra then to supervise the Church and manage its affairs in Australia. In view thereof, H.E. Zakka, paid few visits to Australia, in July 1979 H.E. Zakka (Patriarch Zakka I Iwas now) paid his first visit to Sydney and Melbourne. This was followed by another visit in May 1980.

Therefore, and as a result of continuous and ongoing migration of the Syrian Orthodox Community members from different parts of the world to Australia, the Church felt it prudent to follow these members to render the appropriate spiritual services to its followers wherever they are. Thence, it was decided that V. Rev. Raban Afram Hamami be sent to Australia to celebrate Christmas for the year 1976 with the community, however, tragedy hit these plans, and the plane carrying V. Rev. Hamami to Australia crashed, and claimed V. Rev. Hamami's life immediately. May God rest Raban Hamami's soul.

Following this sorrowful and tragic event in the life of our Church in Australia, Fr. Zechariah Zitoun (V. Rev. now) arrived in Sydney, Australia on 08FEB1978. On 12FEB1978 Fr. Zitoun (V. Rev. now) celebrated the first Holy Mass in Sydney, and continues to serve our community in Sydney to this day. V. Rev. Fr. Zechariah Zitoun was promoted to the rank of Archpriest on 21st March 1999 as a result of an apostolic decree issued by H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas.

With the increase in the number of migrants to Australia, the need to establish other Parishes eventuated. This parish was named after Our Saint “Mor Malki”, and the Priest who served the community at this Church was V. Rev. Fr. Chorepiscopus Abdallah Khoury, who departed this earthly life on 3rd November 1999, may God the Almighty rest V. Rev. Fr. Abdallah Khoury’s soul. Currently this Parish is under the jurisdiction of the Vicariate in Australia.

Later on, another parish was established, and was named after Our Saint “Mor Gabrielle”, and currently V. Rev. Raban Malki Matti Yousef serves our Syrian Orthodox community members there.

As for the parish in Wollongong, “St. Thomas Church”, Rev. Fr. Abdelahad Zitoun currently serves the community. This church was officially consecrated by H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas during H.H.'s apostolic visit to Australia in 1998.

In the year 2002, H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, accompanied by several of the Church's Archbishops celebrated the consecration of the St. Ephraim Cathedral in Sydney, which is currently the residence of H.E. Mor Malatius Malki Malki, and the place of the activities of the Syrian Orthodox Community members, especially the youth.

The Youth in NSW worked on the publishing of a quarterly magazine under the title “ZABNO”, however, this magazine was ceased recently

It is worthwhile to note here that the Patriarchal Vicariate of Australia and New Zealand is located in New South Wales.

Street Address:

82 Joseph St.,

Lidcombe

NSW 2141

Australia

Postal Address:

P O Box 257,

Lidcombe

NSW 2141
Australia

Tel.: +61 2 9749 5035