Abstract
This study explores the period before the founding of the Holy Metropolis of Australia in March 1924. Until the late nineteenth century visiting Orthodox priests and monks performed holy sacraments and sacred services. But, by that time, Greek community leaders corresponded with the Church of Greece, requesting resident priests to serve the religious needs of the Greek faithful in Australia. This is the period when the first priests appeared in Australia without Ecclesiastical authority, and later in 1898, the first two resident priests with authority appointed by the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. From 1908 the Church of Greece had the Ecclesiastical authority to appoint priests to Australia, until 1922, when it was claimed by an Ecumenical Patriarchal Synodical Act of Patriarch Meletios Metaxakis (1921-1923). By a new Act, on the 7th of March 1924 the Metropolitan of Australia was founded under the name “Orthodox Metropolitan of Australia”. Father Chrysanthos Konstantinidis arrived in Darwin in 1917 from Western Australia and remained in the Northern Territory until 1937. Our study, through christening certificates of 1922 and 1924, highlights the previously unknown religious jurisdiction of Father Chrysanthos.
Translated title of the contribution | The presence of the Orthodox Church in Australia before the founding of the Holy See of Australia in 1924: The case of Darwin |
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Original language | Multiple |
Title of host publication | Perspectives on the Hellenic Diaspora |
Subtitle of host publication | Συγχρονικές και Διαχρονικές Όψεις της Ελληνικής Διασποράς |
Editors | George Frazis, John Yiannakis, Marianthi Oikonomakou, George Papantonakis, Yorgos Christidis, Eleni Gavra |
Place of Publication | Darwin |
Publisher | Charles Darwin University |
Chapter | 4 |
Pages | 39-55 |
Number of pages | 16 |
Volume | 2 |
Edition | 1 |
ISBN (Print) | 9781925800708 |
Publication status | Published - 10 May 2021 |