HISTORY
About 1890 a number of Syrians emigrated to New Zealand and settled in Dunedin, towards the Southern end of the South Island. Many of them found Dunedin too cold and moved to Auckland, where some flourished, particularly the Corban family who founded a successful vineyard.
Meanwhile in Dunedin around 1910 a Russian priest arrived (Father Nicholas Manavitch)and the Syrians were inspired to raise funds by hawking to build a Church for him to serve in. The Anglican Bishop was very supportive and the early history of the Orthodox community is included in the history of the Anglican Diocese of Dunedin. Apparently permission was obtained from the Patriarchate for the establishment of St Michael's Church, 72 Fingall Street, South Dunedin. St Michael's Orthodox Church was built in 1911. It is now on the Register of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust as a Category 2 building - for historic & cultural reasons, being the first Orthodox Church to be built in NZ.
The Russian priest stayed only a few months and for years the Church remained very little used. At the suggestion of Antiochian priests who visited from Australia in the 1930s the Anglican clergy were asked to conduct services in St Michael's. By the time that Fr Jack arrived in 1971 (he was not ordained until the following year) this had become an accepted responsibilty of the Vicars of Holy Cross, St Kilda. In September 1972 Fr Jack Witbrock was ordained by the previous Antiochian Bishop for Australia and New Zealand, Bp Gibran (Gabriel), and formally assigned to St Michael's. Fr Jack served St Michael's for some 14 years until Fr Ilian moved from Auckland.
As Fr Jack had come from Christchurch, it was natural to make visits there in the school vacations and these included services performed for Antiochian Orthodox people in Christchurch. Until about 1978 these were held in the Russian Church (ROCOR) and after this became difficult for the Russian administration we held them in S. Mary's Addington. When Fr Jack moved to Ashley (near Rangiora), he continued to serve St Michael's for several years alternating Sunday Liturgies in Ashley and Dunedin - though they were reduced to one a month before Fr Ilian moved down to Dunedin from Auckland in October 1992.
Whereas Fr Jack had lived some distance from the Church in Eglinton
Road, Fr Ilian was fortunate to be able to buy the house immediately
behind the Church. This has helped in providing space for meeting after
services St Michael's always seems to be like a close-knit family, which
may have something to do with its size and also being the only Orthodox
Church available in the Southern region of NZ (South of Christchurch).
This has meant that it is multi-ethnic and mulit-jurisdiction eg: Antiochian,
Greek, Serbian, Bulgarian. Russian, Ukrainian, Macedonian, Romanian, etc.
At this time, the majority happen to be Slavonic and Old Calendar. Archbishop
Gibran gave Fr Ilian his blessing to serve the Old Calendar feasts, where
they fall differently to the New Calendar eg: Nativity, Theophany when
this is requested.
