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New Greek Bishop for New Zealand |
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The newly appointed Greek Bishop for New Zealand arrived on 16 November 2005. Metropolitan Amphilochios was elected by the Holy Synod of Constantinople meeting at Istanbul in Turkey. Two priest-monks and a deacon accompanied him to New Zealand permanently. On 20 November 2005 Metroplitan Amphilochios was enthoned in the Annunciation Cathedral of the Greek Orthodox Church in Wellington, New Zealand. The service, which was held in Greek, was attended by Father Ian Nield (Antiochian Patriarchate), Father Marian (Romanian Patriarchate), Archbishop John Dew (Roman Catholic Patriarchate). Representing the New Zealand government were the Right Honourable Peter Dunn, MP and Marian Hobbs, MP. Overseas guests were present including some from Rhodes. Clergy and laity of the Greek Orthodox Church in New Zealand were also in attendance. Metropolitan Amphilochios is renowned for his work establishing the Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya, Africa. Metropolitan Amphilochios speaks fluent Greek. The Metropolitan Archbishop of the Antiochian Patriarchate responsible for New Zealand, Metropolitan Paul of Australia and New Zealand, has already attempted to establish warm and cordial relations with the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan in New Zealand, personally making an appointment with Metropolitan Amphilochios and visiting his official residence in Wellington. Metropolitan Archbishop Paul, who spent some years of his formal training on Patmos, and in Athens, and Thessaloniki, Greece, speaks fluent English, Arabic, Greek, and French. |
Orthodox History 
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