1 Combined churches banquet

Banquet for the combined churches of the Sydney metropolitan area is to be held on Saturday 22nd October 2005
Venue: The Bellevue Bankstown
Time: 7:30 pm
Donation: $75

2 Ordination of deacon

His Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Paul elevated Subdeacon Yihyi (John) to the rank of deacon on Sunday 14th August 2005, during hierarchical divine liturgy at Saint Michael, Sylvania.

3 His Eminence's visit to the USA

His Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Paul visited USA with a delegation of the Board of Trustees of the Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand.

The delegation attended and participated in different department meetings (financial, youth, St Ignatius etc.), where policy for the future of the North American Archdiocese was discussed and prepared for the general assembly.

Dr Afif Hadj, the vice chairman of the Australian and New Zealand Board of Trustees, presented to the North American general assembly a video showing the progress which has been achieved in our Australian and New Zealand Archdiocese. The video was received with many compliments and promises to strengthen the relationships between the two Archdioceses.

His Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Paul presented the Australian and New Zealand situation to the Orthodox faithful in the different churches he visited, and to the thousands of delegates who attended the North American General Assembly.

Doubtless to say, the Orthodox faithful in North America now know much more about our developing Archdiocese.

The members of the Australian and New Zealand delegation have brought back very many ideas which they will try to apply in our Archdiocese.

It was very inspiring for the delegation members to live with our co-faithful in North America, who for the last 50 years have been learning and organising their institutions to make Orthodoxy well known in that part of the world.

4 Visit of Right Reverend Archimandrite Themistocles Adamopoulo to Australia

Right Reverend Archimandrite Father Doctor Themistocles Adamopoulo of the Alexandrian Orthodox Patriarchate visited within our Archdiocese this month.

He talked with many people, and in many places, including in our churches, about his ministry and mission in Nairobi, Kenya.

Father Themi has recently opened some small business enterprises in one of the mission compounds to provide some self-sufficiency for the poor of that part of the world, especially the abandoned mothers and their young ones.

He has also seen his first class of early school teachers graduate from his Orthodox Teachers College, who were congratulated on the day and praised for their high capabilities by the Kenyan Minister of Education.

Father Themi is always a welcome visitor to our shores and always receives an enthusiastic welcome in all of our Antiochian Orthodox churches and organisations.

We are graced and blessed by his presence among us.