Prior to Father Nicholas arrival, the Syrian Orthodox in Sydney shared in the construction of a church with the Greek and Russian Orthodox, in Surry Hills. Later a priest was provided by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem.
Syria at that time, included the area now known as Lebanon, and part of what it now known as Turkey.
Because of difficulties caused over the replacement of the Greek-speaking Patriarch of Antioch in 1898, with the first of the Arabic-speaking Patriarchs, relations became quite strained between the Greek community and the Syrian community.
The Syrian community then met in individual homes and went to the Greek church mostly only when in necessity.
As a result of the estrangement between the Greek community and the Syrian community in Australia in the first decade of the twentieth century, the Patriarch of Antioch appointed an Exarch to visit Australia to determine the extent of the problem and to ascertain the needs of the community and possible solutions.
In 1913 Father Nicholas Shehadie came to Sydney Australia to visit the Syrian Orthodox community as Exarch of the Patriarch of Antioch.
While in Australia, the world war broke out, and Father Nicholas could not return to Lebanon, to his wife Alexandra, and their seven children. Hence the beginning of the permanent presence of the Antiochian Orthodox clergy in Australasia.
Since Father Nicholas realised the need to remain permanently in Australia, especially because of the war, he determined to build a permanent church for the Syrian Orthodox community. It took 7 years before the first church was built for the Antiochian Orthodox.
During this time Divine Liturgy was held in numerous parishioners' homes.
The State Government leased a block of land to the Church which was on the corner of Walker and Redfern Streets. The first Antiochian Orthodox Church was built in 1920 - Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Church.
The Exarch Father Nicholas sent for his family over a period of years. Sons George and Albert and daughter Mary arrived first, followed by the twins John and Pauline in 1922, who were only 16 years old at the time. In 1925 the family was fully reunited with the arrival of his wife Alexandra, son Elias, and son Michael with his wife Hannah and their two baby girls Alexandra and Paulette.
The Very Reverend Father Michael Shehadie
In 1934, less than ten years after the Shehadie family was reunited and 14 years after the first church was built Exarch Father Nicholas Shehadie passed on. He was in his early 70's.
His second eldest son, Michael, followed in his father's footsteps, becoming a priest. He had studied at Balamand in Lebanon, and in Russia, before coming to Australia. However Hannah his wife didn't want to be married to a priest at the time, so he studied and became a Chemist/Herbalist. In this way, he served the parishioners of Saint George with his wife Hannah and children Alexandra, Paulette, Nicholas, George by his side. Later came their baby girl Margaret, the only one born after Michael became a priest.
They lived in the presbytery in the church grounds, the church became their life, as too their home became the home of many parishioners. It was well known that their home was full for Sunday lunch after church every week, and many families sought refuge there when first arriving in Australia.
While the Very Reverend Father Michael Shehadie served the parishioners of Saint George, the Government lease expired and their land was reclaimed. He worked with the Government to find a new site for their Church and in 1950 they were granted the land that the Church still stands on to this day, at the corner of Walker and Cooper Streets in Redfern.
Today the Church is our Cathedral. The Very Reverend Father Michael Shehadie worked on, and had the plans approved, for the new Church but he never saw it built. In 1951 at the age of 56 he passed away suddenly. He had dedicated his life to God, his family, and his parishioners.
Father John Shehadie
A few years later his younger brother John, who had also studied at Balamand before arriving in Australia, became a priest. Father John Shehadie, together with his wife Olga, and children Anthony, Michael, and Louise served at Saint George Church for a short while, then founded Saint Nicholas Church in Punchbowl where he served until he retired in October 1987. He celebrated his 95th birthday in October 2001.
Father John Shehadie was the last of the Shehadie generation that entered Holy Orders.
Histories and Biographies 
An Australian, Online,
