Autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church of America and Australia

In 1897 the Greek Community of New South Wales was founded, encompassing Greek and Syrian Orthodox Christians. They built the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, the first Greek Orthodox Church in the southern hemisphere, which was completed in May 1898. Fr. D. Vakaliaros, who spoke Greek and Arabic, officiated. Fr. S. Fokas arrived from the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in 1898.

After the arrival of Archbishop Ezekiel Kefalas [TBC] a new church system was implemented in 1959, with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia ["the GOAA"] elevated to an Archdiocese [1 August 1959] by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

In 1958 the established communities founded the Federation of Greek Orthodox Communities of Australia Inc. ["the Federation"]. The Federation Foundation Member Communities were the Greek Orthodox Community of Sydney and New South Wales Inc.; the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria; the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia Inc.; and the Greek Orthodox Community of Newcastle.

Later, the Greek Orthodox Community of Clayton Ltd Vic., Greek Orthodox Community of Illawarra Wollongong NSW., Greek Orthodox Community of St Albans Vic., Greek Orthodox Community of Keilor Vic. and Greek Orthodox Community of Sunshine Vic. affiliated.

The Federation continued to represent the Communities' interests.

Serious divisions appeared within the Greek Orthodox Communities of Australia in the early 1960s. In respect to the Greek Orthodox Community of SA Executive Committee, Archbishop Ezekiel excommunicated ten councilors and suspend their cleric Rev. Stylianos Stenos as un-canonical.

On the initiative of the Federation, the Autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church of America and Australia was founded and registered on 4 June 1970 pursuant to the Associations Incorporations Act 1985 of South Australia.

The Church is autocephalic independent and self-governing without being in any way responsible or subject to or in any way influenced by any other religious authority an shall so remain unless otherwise determined by the Archbishop and 2/3 of the financial members of each Community."

The Autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church of America and Australia follows the Revised Julian calendar (similar to the Gregorian calendar). Adherence to the Autocephalous Church is via affiliation to the Federation. In 1937, the Community built the Greek Orthodox Church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, the first such church in South Australia.

The Community churches do not have any spiritual and doctrinal differences with other Greek churches under the jurisdiction of other Eastern Orthodox Church denominations. They self govern, Autocephalous = self govern, but follow the interests of the Federation of Greek Orthodox Communities of Australia. They follow the Eastern Orthodox faith; the holy sacraments such as baptisms, marriage and priesthood of the church are recognised by the Australian Government however the certification provided following the holly sacraments are not recognised by the Greek government. Such legal documents are required by the Greek government or Eastern Orthodox as proof of marriage and/or baptism for future holy sacraments to be undertaken by the Eastern Orthodox.

The Autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church of America and Australia is recognised as a religious denomination under the Marriage (Recognised Denominations) Proclamation 2006.

The priests of the Autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church of America and Australia are recognised by government which have signed international conventions (Geneva Convention of 1951), including Australia.

As at 21 November 2020, these Communities adhered to the Autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church of America and Australia:

As at 21 November 2020, these Communities formerly adhered to the Autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church of America and Australia but joined the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia between 2018 and 2020:

• Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia Inc.

• Eastern Orthodox Church
• Greek Orthodox churches in New South Wales