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News and Events
A Historical Day in Fiji
Wednesday the 16th December 2009, the feast day of Saint Porphyrios of Aigaiou, Theophane of Basilissa and Medestos Patriarch of Jerusalem.
Eight o’clock in the morning. T he contractor and his team are taking the blessing and are beginning to measure and put the indicator markers for the foundation so as to follow the design of the Church of Saint Paraskevi in the yard of the Missionary Center in Sambeto, Nandi.
The day before yesterday the Cyclone passed with its frightful momentum and its incessant rains which transformed all the surrounding meadows into lakes, harassing the trees and animals and forcing the birds to hide in their dens, carrying away some men to death and leaving many areas for many days in darkness due to the loss of electrical power.
Now, however, a boundless calm is spread everywhere. The clear-blue sky and the warm sun remind man, whose life returns to its normal rhythm, of the first days after the flood of Noah. The yards and surrounding trees are full of birds which fly joyfully and please their listeners with their sweet chirping. Today is very beautiful and joyful. Nothing is by accident. The first Orthodox Church in Fiji is founded in the heart of the Pacific Ocean.
The elements of nature participate in their own way with our own joy, so that with much gratitude we thank and glorify our all-powerful and gift-giving God, honouring and magnifying as well His holy martyr Paraskevi, whose name and joy will from today be imprinted beautifully on this place of retreat.
Archbishop of New Zealand,
† Amfilochios
Celebration of the feast of St Andrew
Celebration of the feast of St Andrew in Wellington.
Our Monastery
Celebration of the feast day of Saint
Demetrius in Hastings
 The Archbishop of New Zealand Amfilochios conducted this year the Solemn Divine Liturgy at the church of Saint Demetrius on the feast day of the Saint.
The sunny day helped a large participation of people, of whom some traveled up to 5 ½ hours, so that we, together, could celebrate the service at Saint Demetrius. It was an emotional turnout for many of the congregation in the Salutary Mystery of the Eucharist. There was also a procession of the Icon in the front yard of the church at the end of the Liturgy, and committed Artoklasia as on the Solemn Vesper.
The souls of all were flooded by feelings of joy and gratitude to God that with His grace we completed one year of having Services in the Church in Hastings. Together with His Eminence were concelebrating priests: Fr. Meletios, Fr George from Wellington - church of the Dormition of Theotokos and Fr. Joachim, vicar of the Church.
 His Eminence Amfilochios in a brief sermon, thanked God who made us worthy to be together to praise His name. And he wished happy name day to those who celebrate the day including Mr. Demetrius Anninos, the newcomer Ambassador of Greece, and Mr. Demetrius Bares, husband of the Chairman of the Greek community of Wellington. He thanked the Thessalonians who contributed towards the purchase of the church, also the contractor Mr. Nikolaos Magdalinos who, on an unpaid basis did studies and superintended the project. Also his Eminence thanked Mr. Vasilios Serepisos who offered money for the icon of St. Demetrius. Finally, he stressed the importance and benefits of keeping our traditions, remembering the ''mother Greece'', and Cyprus and wished everyone to be eligible to venerate the relics of St. Demetrius in Thessaloniki.
The beautiful celebration ended with a luncheon organized by the parish of St. Demetrius, with the help of the epitropisses (committee members) Mrs. Anna and Mrs. Vasso, which was attended by at least 100 people.
We hope our Lord, with the intercessions of Saint Demetrius, may give us all strength, joy, health and prosperity.
Laying of foundation for the Church
of Archangels Michael & Gabriel
Laying of foundation for the Church of Archangels Michael and Gabriel and Basil the Great in Levin, Archdiocese of New Zealand.
Part I
Part II
Ordination of Bartholomew to Priesthood
Ordination of Bartholomew to Deacon
The Celebration of the Dormition of Our Lady
The Celebration of the Dormition of Our Lady
Ordination of Fr. Patrick
At the church of the Holy Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ in Athens, Hiermonk Patrick a New Zealander, was ordained Deacon by His Eminence, Archbishop Amfilochios of New Zealand. A lot of people participated at the Archieratiki Liturgy, among them the first recently baptized Orthodox Christians of the Fiji Islands Bartholomew and Lydia.
Getting to know Fiji and its Inhabitants
Fiji is a compilation of about three hundred islands in the Southeastern Pacific Ocean with about 800,000 inhabitants. The two largest islands are called Viti Levu and Venua Levu. On the first island there are three major cities; the capital Suva which has a large natural seaport and an airport. Lautoka which also has a large natural seaport and Nadi which has a smaller seaport excavated especially for tourism purposes and the International Airport.
 All the islands are verdant with beautiful beaches and mountains from which race large rivers and rushing waterfalls. The tropical, warm, climate and abundant rains are factors which make the land, here, fertile and productive. The mountains are covered with forests and cultivated fields of sugar cane, bananas, papaya, mangoes and other trees and exotic multicoloured flowers.
The cities are interconnected by roads laid with asphalt, as well as small trains. These trains are chiefly for the transportation of sugar cane to Lautoka where there is a large processing plant which produces the wonderful dark and healthful sugar. The smaller islands are linked to the larger ones by small airplanes and boats.
 The beautiful beaches with their warm ocean waters, the peacefulness of the place and the welcoming disposition of the inhabitants invite many visitors from diverse places most especially from Australia and from New Zealand. The languages which are taught and spoken officially are Fijian and English.
 The inhabitants of Fiji are simple and good hearted, peaceful and always smiling. They have great similarity with the inhabitants of African Tanzania which according to their own tradition is the land of their origin; however, they are less dark skinned than them and their hair is a little longer. The Indians of Fiji comprise about half of the island's population and they were brought to Fiji by the British who controlled the islands in those days for the cultivation of sugar cane. They share the same coloration as the Fijians but have longer hair. Generally speaking, the Fijians are happy and lovable people who are especially pleased whenever someone greets them in their language with the word: “Bula!” which means hello.
 The native Fijians handle the Government and the military and the Fijians of Indian descent handle industry and trade. They get along well with each other; they speak the same languages, have mixed marriages, even though each race observes some unique customs and traditions. At the International Airport a visitor's first impression is of a group of Fijians dressed in their traditional Garb something akin to the Greek foustanella, playing different instruments, singing in their own musical tradition, while festooned with a flower behind one ear.
 In this way they welcome those from foreign lands. They are frugal without many demands in their lives. Instead of bread they use roots of various shrubs which they usually include in their meals greens and vegetables, tomatoes, eggplant and beans which they themselves cultivate.
They also eat fish, chicken, eggs and fruit. They walk about barefoot or with light sandals (flip flops) because of the heat and they live carefree lives.In the character and the disposition of the Fijians one can discern a certain simplicity, naturality and purity.
† Archbishop of New Zealand Amfilochios
Our Home
Whoever has tried and made expenditures to build a home knows both the struggles and the joy that accompany it. Struggles and labours and repeated travels were necessary, for one full year, so that we could find and purchase our mission home in the remote islands of Fiji. We did this so that we could move in and be able to begin the work of the Church, so that we could receive people, to converse with them, to catechize them, and so that they may begin to receive the sacred mysteries of Baptism and Chrismation, of Marriage, etc.
 We had the monies, $90,000 euro. They were given to us from the start by the Orthodox External Mission Brotherhood of Thessaloniki, with complete trust, willingness, and love. Initially, it seemed there would be no possibility to reach our desired goal.
Here everything works much differently than what we are accustomed to in our homeland. Difficulties and interruptions were many. At one point we thought perhaps that it wasn't the will of God to begin our mission work from here. Perhaps our starting point was meant to be in Tonga, or in Samoa, which are also islands and nations that come under the ecclesiastical care of our Metropolis. The reason for our hesitation came from the military coup and the blurred political state of affairs in Fiji.
 However, "perfect love casts out fear" (John 4:16). We considered that the hard pressed people of this land have an immediate need of our presence, for us to encourage them, to comfort them, to support them. And that is what has happened by the Grace and with the blessing of God. We have now been in Fiji for one whole month, working from our Mission home. We have begun our Missionary activity by building in the corner of the yard a beautiful Sacred Baptismal Font at which was sung for the first time the beautiful hymn: "Father, Pantocrator, and Logos and Spirit, of the three-fold unity of the enhypostatic Nature and in which took place the first Baptisms, and at which took place the first Wedding, and in the living room of the house the first Divine Liturgies.
May God Bless the Christians of Thessaloniki who, with their "widow's mite" bolster the Mission to the nations. May God strengthen the members of the council of the Orthodox External Mission Brotherhood of Thessaloniki, and may He grant rest to the souls of the founders of her Brotherhood.
† Archbishop of New Zealand Amfilochios
Blessed three days in Fiji
From Friday July 3rd through Sunday the 5th, the humble and quiet corner of Sambeto was raised up to sacred heights and saw spiritual events.
 From anonymity and insignificance Sambeto became the centre of Orthodoxy in the land of Fiji this far flung island land of the Pacific.
In only three days a sacred baptismal font was constructed in the courtyard of the mission house, a beautiful baptistery whose equal can be found neither here nor in New Zealand. Here visitations, conversations, and religious education took place. Thus, this little corner became a sign of anaphora to the port city of Nadi.
 On Friday, in the presence of certain distinguished people of this community and land, the very first baptisms took place a couple; Symi and Louisa who received the baptismal names of Bartholomaios and Lydia. On Saturday the couple's wedding took place in an atmosphere of appropriate simplicity and royalty which springs forth from our sacred Orthodox tradition. Special emphasis to the event came from the love and offering of the sisters Gavriilia and Andrianna, as well as from the presence of Father Christodoulos (who just arrived from Colorado, of the United States) together with the most beloved Mr. John Johns (an attorney of the Omogenia). Both the newlywed couple and everyone in attendance were quite moved.
 The grace of God was richly shared out upon this corner of Sambeto, which from here on out has entered into the annals of Orthodox history. The hearts of all the simple Fijians felt this historic significance, and they experienced unprecedented moments of emotion and joy.
On Sunday of this blessed three-day period we celebrated the Divine Liturgy. This Liturgy was the second ever, since the foundation of the earth, to occur on this little island that floats in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It marked the beginning of the sacred apostolic work of Orthodoxy in Fiji.
Orthodoxy of the Fijians and of the many Pacific Islanders has now entered into history. God has blessed it. Blessed be His name.
† Archbishop of New Zealand Amfilochios
Baptisms in New Zealand
Please click below to listen to sections from the Baptisms of New Zealanders Jeremiah and John:
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Holy Liturgy
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His Eminence's Homily
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The Baptism
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The Monastery
We are pleased to present the location, the first buildings and future plans for the completion of the first Orthodox Christian Monastery in New Zealand. One can ask, what is the reason for the existence of a monastery? We Orthodox Christians can very easily answer that such a monastery is necessary for one is the Holy and Catholic Church which supports, provides spiritual  shelter and center for every feeble soul. In this idyllic environment Levin, AN estate owned 104 acres, will serve God first, soon THE FIRST holy male monastery of the Holy Metropolis of New Zealand, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, in the name of the Synaxis of the Archangels (9x5) AND THE adjacent church of St. Basil (6x2.5) WILL cost about 60,000 euros, or
$130,000 N.Z.
We kindly ask you if you can donate whatever you can in this account:
Bank Westpac: Branch, 2 Devon St. East, New Plymouth, New Zealand
Name: Amfilochios Tsoukos
Full account number: 03-1566-0068447-00
Swift code: WPACNZ2W
Thank you for your support. May the Archangels be of help to you and your families and may you have the blessings of Saint Basil the organizer of Orthodox Monasticism.
† Archbishop of New Zealand Amfilochios
Easter in Hastings
TRANSLATION
The love and devotion of our Eminence Metropolitan Amfilochios for the Megemartyr Saint Demetrius, gave the opportunity to the Orthodox Christians of Hastings to celebrate Easter in a Greek Orthodox Church for the first time in the history of their area.
Over 80 years must have passed before the Orthodox people of Hastings had this opportunity to participate in listening to the readings of the twelve Holy Gospels and hearing Today he who suspended the earth amid the waters is suspended on the Tree in their own Orthodox Church.
With great emotion on Good Friday they began to decorate the Epitaphio very early in the morning. They managed to decorate it even though they had forgotten after all these years.That same evening with great satisfaction and joy they chanted the lamentations Christ, the Life, You were laid in a tomb, and the ranks of angels were amazed as they glorified Your condescension.
The Epitaphio was taken around the church and everyone had the opportunity to pass underneath it before going back into the church by doing so they received the blessing of the Epitaphio.”Today took us years back to when we were children, we would pass under the Epitaphio of our village,” they said wiping the tears from their eyes. 
In the morning of Holy Saturday when Heirmonk Father Joachim began to chant the triumphal hymn Arise, O God, and be judge of the earth the banging sound of the only seat (something like a small pew made from wood where the base of the seat could be lifted up and down) was heard in the church according to the traditions of our Greek islands. This nice gesture symbolizes the joy of the resurrection.
In the evening of the resurrection we all chanted the hymn of the Christian faith: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and bestowing life on those in the graves, followed by the nice troparion from the canon of Saint John the Damascus: The day of the resurrection! O people let us be radiant. It is Pascha….
At the vespers of love, in the afternoon of Easter Sunday, in an orthodox atmosphere Greeks, Russians, Romanians and New Zealanders, all listened to the Gospel On the evening of that day, the first day of the week… and we cracked the blessed red eggs which we received from the hand of Father Joachim.
CHRIST IS RISEN
HE IS RISEN INDEED
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