Metropolitan Basilios Kodseie is the Metropolitan of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines.
Metropolitan Basilios was born in Latakia where he studied engineering at the Teshreen University, from where he graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering.
He continued his higher education in St. John of Damascus Institute of theology at the University of Balamand (Lebanon), graduating with a Master’s Degree in Theology in 2003. He went on to continue his theological education in Greece, at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, within the Department of Pastoral Care and Christian Ethics, wherein 2008 he graduated with a Doctorate (PhD) in Theology.
He was ordained to the Diaconate in 2003 and to the holy priesthood in 2005, with the rank of Archimandrite, by Metropolitan Paul (Yazigi) of Aleppo, Alexandretta, and Dependencies, where he served as the Archdiocese Vicar until 2010.
He arrived in Australia in April 2010, where he served as hierarchical assistant to His Eminence, the late Metropolitan Paul Saliba of Thrice-Blessed Memory. Since 2012, he has served as parish priest of St. Mary’s Mt. Pritchard Parish, transforming their youth and adult education programs.
In 2012, he founded the St. Raphael Antiochian Mission, a philanthropic body that services the needs of Sydney’s homeless, specifically serving food, clothing and social support on a weekly basis and during major holidays. He is a trained volunteer in palliative care via the Calvary Hospital and has continued formal training in counselling and community welfare, completing several courses through the University of Sydney’s Centre for Continuing Education, as well as through the Centre for Community Welfare Training (CCWT).
Within Australia, he has lectured at several theological and pastoral conferences and symposiums, and from 2010, he has served as the chief lecturer at St. Paul Theology School of the Antiochian Archdiocese, also appearing as a guest lecturer at St. Cyril’s Coptic Orthodox Theological College. In 2016, he obtained his teaching accreditation from Australia’s leading Orthodox seminary, St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College. In January 2016, he received his Australian Citizenship.
In 2017, following the repose of His Eminence, Metropolitan Paul Saliba, of Thrice-Blessed Memory, he was appointed as Patriarchal Vicar, serving until his recent election as Metropolitan of the Antiochian Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines.
He was consecrated to the Holy Episcopacy on November 19th, 2017 at the Lady of Balamand, Lebanon. He was enthroned within the Antiochian Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines on December 16th, 2017 at the Cathedral of St. George in Redfern, Sydney.
He speaks Arabic, English and Greek.
His name day is 1st of January (St. Basil the Great).
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