Socio-cultural essay - Greek Orthodox Churches in Australia

According to the censuses, Australia’s Greek Orthodox numbered between 500 and 600 in 1891. (Gilchrist, 1992 P. 270) The Commonwealth census of 1911 showed the number to be 1,464 and these were spread far and wide with minor concentrations in Sydney and Melbourne. (Gilchrist, 1992 P. 387).

The Greek Orthodox religion was established in Australia by the lay community. This was due to the inactivity of the Greek Orthodox Church in Greece and the absence of religious leaders in Australia at that time. (Tamis, 1994 P. 52). Even though no party was willing to establish the Church, the Greek Orthodox Community was not left without a place to worship. The Anglican Church in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth offered their churches and mission

The split has recently been healed and although the Greek Orthodox Church of Australasia is under the dominion of the Patriarch of Constantinople and is technically independent of the church and government of Greece, it is still connected with both church and state in that country. (Price, 1975 P. 11)

During the two world wars, the numbers of Greek settlers increased steadily and new parishes were continually being created. During this same period, the Church was busy establishing firm roots in Australia and encountered resistance due to the independence of the communities and their reluctance to yield to the control of Constantinople.

This difference of opinion between the Greek Orthodox Communities and the Church still exists today. The Patriarch of Constantinople took control of all Greeks abroad in 1924 and ever since then the Church within Australia falls under his jurisdiction. (Vondra, 1979 P. 136) Since the formation of the Metropolitan See of Australia and New Zealand in 1924, there have been five Archbishops. (Vondra, 1979 P. 137)

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