In the year 1990, and following the dramatic increase in the number of Syrian Orthodox community members migrating to Australia from different parts of the world. It was decided to establish Australia's Patriarchal Vicariate to take care of the community's spiritual affairs on a day to day basis, at which time H.E. Mor Aboodi Aphrem was appointed as the Patriarchal Vicar. H.E. Aboodi was also given the responsibility of running the affairs of the Syrian Orthodox community members in New Zealand. H.E. arrived in Sydney on 26^th March 1990, and served the community members in Australia until 1996 at which time he was transferred to serve the Syrian Orthodox community members in Canada.

As a result, H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas became personally responsible on the Church's and community members' affairs in Australia. Therefore,Patriarchal delegates were sent to Australia on different intervals to ensure the smooth running of the Church's affairs in both Australia and New Zealand.  

H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, accompanied by H.E. Mor Aboodi Aphrem and V. Rev. Fr. Boutros Touma Issa at Perth International Airport - 1994

On 7^th September 2003, at St. Peter and Paul's Cathedral in Ma’rat Sednaya, H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas performed the ceremonies for the promotion of V. Rev. Raban Malki Malki to the rank of Archbishop and bestowed on him the name of Mor Malatius appointing him the Patriarchal Vicar to Australia and New Zealand. 

On 14^th October 2003 H.E. Mor Malatius Malki Malki the Patriarchal Vicar of Australia and New Zealand arrived in Sydney.  H.E. currently supervises and manages the Syrian Orthodox Community members' affairs in both countries through the co-ordination with the several Archpriests, Priests and Monks who are located in NSW, Victoria, Western Australia and New Zealand.

Mor Malatius Malki Malki, Metropolitan

Patriarchal Vicar of the Syrian Orthodox

Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand