New Zealand Orthodox

[Justin Kissel]

Ever read about the Orthodox in New Zealand? Know much about New Zealand in general? Any thoughts? Comments? Please!?

[Mary Kissel]

I didn't even know that there were Orthodox in New Zealand... guess you learn something new everyday! Not saying there can't be Orthodox there, just never knew there were any there.

In Christ,
MaryCecilia

[尼古拉前执事]

Yup, the Australia and New Zealand Orthodox are represented by ROCOR at http://www.rocor.org.au

I know that in Tasmania they have Western Rite Liturgies in addition to the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.

[Mary Kissel]

cool! thanks nik and Justin for the links

MaryCecilia

[George]

I realise Paradosis asked about NZ many months ago, but if you are still interested, here is some info about the Church here. I live in Auckland, which is the biggest city in New Zealand, and there are a few Orthodox Churches in the city. There are also Orthodox Churches in the capital Wellington (ROCOR, Serbian, Greek and Romanian), Christchurch (ROCOR, maybe others but I am not sure), and there might be an Orthodox Church in Dunedin, I believe there is a Coptic church there. There is a Greek Church in Masterton, in the middle of nowhere, but I think it might be a private chapel - at any rate it was featured on a Christmas postage stamp last year, and was very beautiful - the stamp showed the icon of the Pantocrator on the dome of the Church.
Here in Auckland there are several Churches. I go to ROCOR and the Serbian Church (for reasons I will explain below). There is a Greek Church, an Antiochian Church (that rumour has it is changing to a Romanian Church), and a Lebanese Church (I think, maybe it is Palestinian though. I do know that their Liturgy is in Arabic). There are also Coptic and Ethiopian churches around.
In Auckland we have a lot of Parishoners, but a lack of Clergy! The Greek Church didn't like their Priest (he was American, not Greek, so now he is back serving in America). The Lebanese Priest gives services there every so often. I am not sure what is happening with the Antiochian Church. I heard that the priest was giving Communion to all and sundry whether they are Orthodox or not I have heard that that parish is coming under Romanian juristiction.
As for ROCOR and the Serbian parishes...Thanks be to God, they are right next door to each other, and I live a 5 - 10 minute bike ride away from them! At the ROCOR Church, we do not have a permanent Priest. Every so often a Priest will come. Sometimes we have been able to have two services a month, but at the moment we haven't had a service there for several weeks now, but thanks be to God, a Priest will come (temporarily) for Nativity. At the moment on Sundays we have the Obednitsa (Typika) service, which while several people go, it could be better attended. When we have a Priest the Church is filled to overflowing (it isn't a big Church, but there is a big congregation. Apparantly the Church was built by a lady-in-waiting to Tsaritsa Alexandra, at least that is what I heard - there is some connection to this servant at any rate).
The Priest at the Serbian Church has basically built his Church from scratch. He came here a few years ago, and started telephoning people with Serbian names, and through the grace of God has built up a very big congregation. Services are held in a building owned by St Alban's Anglican Church (which is next door to the ROCOR Church). The Serbian Church has English Liturgies on Saturdays, and while there aren't many of us converts, it is a real blessing that we have this. Sometimes more people turn up than on other occassions, and even Serbian families will come to both the English service on Saturday and the Slavonic one on Sunday. I go to the English service (of course), and on Sunday to the Typika Service at ROCOR first, and then to Liturgy at the Serbian Church, which starts just after the obednitsa finishes. When there is a Priest at ROCOR, I of course attend there.
If you want to know anything else, let me know.

George