THE SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF ANTIOCH IN AUSTRALIA

MELBOURNE - VICTORIA

A Brief Outline

      Australia and New Zealand Vicariate

Ø  New South Wales

Ø Western Australia

Ø New Zealand 

  MELBOURNE - VICTORIA

In Victoria Our Syrian Orhtodox community members are gathered and established in Melbourne. Therefore, in Melbourne we have ST. EPHRAIM'S CHURCH, led by Rev. Fr. Iskandar Afram, (V. Rev. now). With the increase in the number of Syrian Orthodox parishioners, there was a need to establish another Church.   Hence MOR YACOUB BURD'ONO Church was constructed, which is currently led by Rev. Fr. Afrim Afram. This church was consecrated by H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas in January 1998.

This was in line with the expansion project that started in the year 1992, when the Church in Victoria bought a block of land of 43 Acers to establish properties for the Church. In the year 1994, H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, the Supreme Head of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church, and during his Apostolic visit to Australia blessed this property thus declaring the establishment of a new Church building in the name of Mor Yacoub Burd'ono, that was the first Church in Australia that was built according to the Syriac Church's Style.

Further, the Syrian Orthodox Community bought a new Church, under the name of St. Ephraim The Syrian. This church was consecrated by H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas in the year 2002

Both these priests continue to serve the increased number of the Syrian Orthodox people in Melbourne.

THE ORTHODOX CHURCH'S ACTIVITIES IN VICTORA

       The Community of St. Ephraim in Melbourne has several activities either through the youth committee or the other committees in the Church. They also have established their own website that is dedicated to the news of their activities in Melbourne.

       Mor Yacoub Burd’ono Church has an active choir that participates in the Holy Masses and other celebrations in that take place in the church. 

       The Community of Mor Yacoub Burd'ono in Melbourne held an education evening that included dinner on 29th July 2000, during which the choir of Mor Yacoub Burd'ono led by Rev. Fr. Afram Afrim, this was followed by a lecture presented by V. Rev. Fr. Boutros Touma Issa on the lives of Mor Yacoub Burd'ono and Empress Theodora. On the following day Sunday 30th July 2000 V. Rev. Fr. Boutros Touma Issa celebrated the Holy Mass, during which he read the Apostolic Message {The Bull} issued by H.H. Moran Mor Igantius Zakka I Iwas on the occasion of the Church's celebrations of the 1500th anniversary of the birth of Mor Yacoub Burd'ono and Empress Theodora.

       The Community of St. Ephraim's in Melbourne has bought a Church that would accommodate 300 parishioners. The Community of St. Ephraim in Melbourne has a very active choir who issued a CD of the main hymns.  This choir participates in the weekly Holy Mass and in the main celebrations at the Church.

       The community, and in the year 2001 commenced to issue the bi-monthly magazine under the name of "MELTHO" that would educate parishioners about our Holy Church, Saints, Martyrs, Fathers and Forefathers. The chief editor of Meltho is Mr. Matti Boutros Matti. The first issue was published in January 2001, and the last issue was published in 2004.

V. Rev. Fr. Iskandar Aphrem
Saint Aphrem Syrian Orthodox Church
2-4 Joffre St.
Reservoir
Vic 3073
Australia
Tel: +61 03 94702430

Rev. Fr. Aphrem Afram
Saint Yacoub Syrian Orthodox Church
78 Whites Lane Yuroke
VIC 3049
Australia
Tel.: + 61 3 93331145

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