THE SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF ANTIOCH IN AUSTRALIA

Western Australia

A Brief Outline

      Australia and New Zealand Vicariate

Ø New South Wales

Ø Melbourne - Victoria

Ø New Zealand 

  Western Australia

In Western Australia, the Syrian Orthodox community members are gathered in the Capital of Western Australia "Perth". St. Ephraim's Syrian Orthodox Church in Western Australia was established with the arrival of V. Rev. Fr. Chorepiscopus Boutros Touma Issa, who came to Perth, Western Australia on 09JUL1989 appointed by H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas to serve the small community in the Capital of Western Australia.

THE SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA AND THE ECUMENICAL WORK

The Syrian Orthodox Church, and from the year 1960 is a member in the World Council of Churches. Therefore the Syrian Orthodox Church in Australia is also a member in this Council in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. It is with pride to state herethat in Perth, and on 09Mar1996 The Syrian Orthodox Rev. Deacon Theodore B T Issa was installed as the President of the Conference of Churches in Western Australia (CCWA) on behalf of the Orthodox Family in Western Australia. Rev. Deacon Theodore Issa served the (CCWA) up to 1998. Nowadays, Rev. Deacon Theodore continues to represent the Syrian Orthodox Church in different meetings and activities relating to the (CCWA).

 In the year 1999, and with the blessings of H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Rev. Afodyakno Theodore Issa represented the Syrian Orthodox Church in the World Council of Churches 8^th Assembly that was held in Africa.

There is a great and ongoing co-operation between the St. Ephraim Syrian Orthodox Church led by V. Rev. Fr. Boutros Touma Issa and the Coptic Orthodox Church led by Rev. Fr. Abram Abdel Malik, therefore, V. Rev. Fr. Issa would conduct Bible studies and deliver lectures on our great fathers and saints at the Coptic Orthodox Church, and Rev. Fr. Abram would participate in some of the activities held by our Church, e.g. the International World Day of Prayers and the Christian Unity day hosted by the Syrian Orthodox Church.  Further, Deacon Theodore Issa conducts Bible Studies and debates on some issues that worry the youth for the Coptic Youth on monthly basis.

As a result of this co-operation between the two churches, and during the Great Lent of the year 2000, a HYMNS CD was produced that included prayers for the four sister churches, The Syrian Orthodox Church, The Coptic Orthodox Church, the Armenian Church, and The Ethiopian Church.

Further, the St. Ephraim Syrian Orthodox Church in Perth is heavily involved in the Ecumenical activities in Perth, and in the year 2000 hosted the International World Day of Prayers. And, on yearly basis, the St. Ephraim Syrian Orthodox Church takes part in the annual celebrations that take place on the occasion of the World Day of Prayers that is held in different Churches during March each year.

On 7^th March 2003 participated in the annual World Day of Prayer, and this time our Miss Theodora Issa was the guest speaker at this meeting

In May 2004, the St. Ephraim Syrian Orthodox hosted the prayer for the Christian Unity and demonstrated to those participating the true Syriac cultural values and hospitality.

Ongoing co-operation with the Coptic Orthodox Church, where V. Rev. Fr. Boutros Touma Issa, and Afodyakno Theodore Issa would be guest speakers on different times either to the youth or to the whole community to deliver speeches that are derived from the Holy Bible, or from our Syrian Orthodox Church's history.

THE ST. EPHRAIM SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH'S ACTIVITIES IN PERTH - WESTERN AUSTRALIA

       The Syriac Liturgy book was assembled by V. Rev. Fr. Boutros Touma Issa in English, Syriac Pronunciation in English for the parishioners to use during the Holy Mass.

       Training sessions were held for the deacons to improve their approach at the Altar.

       Training sessions were held for all the parishioners to practice in the hymns for the holy occasions at the Church's calendar;

       During H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas's Apostolic visit to Western Australia celebrated a Holy Mass on 23 Sept. 1994 at which time H.H. ordained and promoted some of the deacons of St. Ephraim's Syrian Orthodox Church in Western Australia. This apostolic visit was an occasion for the community here to meet and celebrate this blessed occasion;

       A weekly bulletin under the name "NOOHRO" THE LIGHT continues to be published since November 1995. The LIGHT would have a different theme each year. It started as an English version of the Weekly Holy Gospel, the Book of Act, Old Testament and Epistles readings, then moved to give the readers as much information as possible on our great fathers and forefathers through extracts from their great lives, and the Syriac weekly calendar. Then moved to share with the readers stories on our Saints and Martyrs, and currently the LIGHT illustrates and discusses stories of personalities from the Holy Bible, accompanied with a simple way to learn our Syriac Language together with a quiz that would encourage readers to go through our history and the Holy Bible in a very friendly way. Under the same name "THE LIGHT" an annual calender is prepared and distributed to the community members on Christmas each year. This calendar indicates the major Holy Days in the Syrian Orthodox Calendar;

       THE LIGHT publishes a yearly calendar that outlines the annual feasts according to the Syriac Calendar.

       The St. Ephraim Syrian Orthodox Church led by V. Rev. Fr. Boutros Touma Issa conducted a series of lectures and educational sessions on the life of our Great Patriarch Mor Michael Rabo, in the year 1999, in line with H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas's Apostolic Bull commemorating 800th Anniversary of Mor Michael Rabo's departure from this earthly life to the heavenly chambers. On the final day of the celebrations commemorative gifts were distributed to the families that participated in the annual activities, and an exhibition of what was published on this great Patriarch in The LIGHT was held in the Church's hall on 11th November 1999.

       The St. Ephraim Syrian Orthodox Church led by V. Rev. Fr. Boutros Touma Issa held several sessions on learning and explaining the actions of the Celebrant and the Deacons during the Holy Mass to encourage the participation of the parishioners in the Holy Mass.

       In the year 2000, and in line with H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, the Church celebrated 1500th Anniversary of the birth of both Mor Yacoub Burd'ono and the pious Empress Theodora. Thus brochure was issued on this occasion, and V. Rev. Fr. Boutros Touma Issa was invited to Melbourne to convey lecture on these great personalities in our Syrian Orthodox Church's History.

       In the year 2001 several sessions of the training of the deacons were held either at the Church or on different historic locations in Perth, to allow those deacons to perform their duties properly at the altar.

       The community members received copies of the documentary video and the three volumes of the Hidden Pearl.

       In the year 2002 participated in the annual World Day of Prayer that was held on 1^st March 2002

       In the year 2002 and during June, another session of training was held for the church’s deacon to help them fully understand the components of the liturgy

       On 29^th September 2002, took the chance of the presence of H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, the Supreme Head of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church in Melbourne, and with the assistance of Rev. Fr. Abdel Malek of the Coptic Orthodox Church we, the small flock in Perth were able to enrich our lives with spiritual guidance from H.H. through video conferencing.  During this video conference, V. Rev. Fr. Boutros Touma Issa, who was at the time in Melbourne, delivered a speech thanking H.H. for his generosity, this was followed by a small talk by H.E. Saliba Touma (departed this earthly life in the year 2004).  Then H.H. talked to the small flock, it was an emotional meeting to be able to see and hear H.H. 

       On 6^th October 2002, another video conference was held when H.H. Mor Thawfelous George Saliba (Archbishop of the Mount of Lebanon) who was present in Melbourne at the time.  This time, V. Rev. Fr. Boutros Touma Issa was back in Perth, and commenced with a welcome speech to H.E. that was followed by a talk by H.E.  

       In November 2004 the small flock in Perth welcomed for the first time H.H. Mor Malatius Malki Malki on a visit the community members

       In April 2005 the small flock in Perth celebrated the 90^th anniversary of the massacre of our forefathers

       In June 2005 the small flock in Perth commemorated 25 years on the departure of H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Yacoub III from this earthly life

       In June 2005 and in preparation for the celebrations of the Silver Jubilee (25^th Anniversary) of the installation of H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Miss Theodora Issa in co-operation with Mr. Thomas Joseph and members of the Issa Family translated one of the books authored by H.H. to form part of the  “Appropriate testimony and confirmation of the Mysteries of Incarnation and Redemption” to form part of the commemorative festschrift that is intended to be issued by the Syrian Orthodox Community in India on this occasion

       In July 2005 the small flock in Perth commenced the humble celebrations of H.H.’s Silver Jubilee (25^th Anniversary) with the presentation of a power point presentation that took the audience in a journey with H.H. from the time of his birth.  This was followed by the screening of an edited version of the video tapes recorded at the time of H.H.’s two visits to Perth (1987 and 1994)

       In August 2005 the small flock in Perth continued with the humble celebrations of H.H.’s Silver Jubilee (25^th Anniversary) and this time presented an edited version of video tapes that were recorded during H.H.'s visits to the Eastern States of Australia.  The concentration was to allow the audience to witness and watch the ceremony of the promotion of a priest to the rank of Archpriest, and the consecration of St. Ephraim Syrian Orthodox Church in Melbourne

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