Through the mercy of God and the intercession of His Eminence Mihail Filimon, the Bishop of Australia and New Zealand, since 2009 the Romanian Orthodox community in Hamilton, New Zealand, is blessed with the Church and the minister priest, where the Holy mysteries are performed, according to the Christian-Orthodox ordinance, to The glory of God and our well-being in our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

The reference dates of our parish, "Saint George the Great Martyr, the Bearer of Victory" in Hamilton, as follows:

 

The Romanian Orthodox Parish of “Saint George" in Hamilton was established on June 28, 2008 by the Decision of the Diocesan Assembly, at the proposal and with the blessing of His Eminence Mihail Filimon, the first Bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of Australia and New Zealand. This parish serves all Romanian Orthodox Christians from the Waikato and Bay of Plenty areas and is the only Orthodox parish in this region of New Zealand.

 

The Diocesan Council of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of Australia and New Zealand, meeting on August 20, 2008, appointed the parish priest of the newly established parish in Hamilton, in the person of the theologian Ovidiu Anton Motofelea, established in this city for several years. On October 26, 2008, on the feast of Saint great martyr Demetrios, the Myrrh-Streamer, Rev. Father Marian Dinca, the then dean of New Zealand, implemented the two aforementioned decisions, as the representative of the local bishop. The foundations of this parish were thus laid, during the meeting of the first Parish Assembly of the Romanian Orthodox faithful from these places, which took place in the Franciscan Chapel of the Anglican Diocese of Waikato, at the "Te Ara Hou" social park, a space that will remain the place of worship of this parish, by the benevolence of the then Anglican Archbishop of Waikato, His Excellency David Moxon, until mid-2015.

 

Theologian Ovidiu Anton Motofelea was ordained a deacon on January 30, 2009, on the feast of the "Three Hierarchs", at the "Holy Apostles Peter and Paul" Episcopal Cathedral in Melbourne, by His Eminence Bishop Mihail. Ordination as a priest and then as a spiritual clergyman took place in the same Cathedral, on February 1 and 2, 2009, respectively, on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. On March 7, 2009, His Eminence Bishop Mihail officially opens this parish, blesses the beginning of the pastoral-missionary work and presents the parish priest Ovidiu Anton Motofelea to the faithful.

 

The parish was legally incorporated in New Zealand according to the "Charitable Trust Act 1957" under the official name "The Saint George Romanian Orthodox Parish Board" on May 4, 2009. The organizational statute of the Parish is in accordance with the Statute of the Romanian Orthodox episcopate of Australia and New Zeeland, approved by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

 

On April 12, 2009, on the occasion of the "Saturday of Lazarus" day, the first Holy Liturgy was celebrated in group of priests, in the new parish "Saint George the Great Martyr" by Rev. Fr. Ovidiu Anton Motofelea with Rev. Fr. Mircea Mihai Corpodean, the parish priest of the "St. Ignatius Theophorous" Church Auckland, thus marking the beginning of permanent service in this parish;

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On August 8, 2010, His Eminence Bishop Mihail, performed the first Holy Liturgy in the parish, alongside a group of priests. then on December 19, 2015, he performed the Holy Liturgy and blessing of the new place of worship of the parish.

 

After several attempts, a property with a church was found. Being put up for sale, negotiations began by the parish priest, under the guidance of the bishop. At the same time, a bank loan was approved for the purchase of the property. Thus, on August 15/16, 2019, on the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God and the Holy Brancoveanu Martyrs, the deed of sale and purchase of the property with the church and the related land in Matangi, between the Anglican Diocese, ”Saint Francis” Parish Hillcrest, and the Romanian Orthodox Parish of "Saint George", was signed.

 

Known by the locals as Saint David's Church, located in Matangi, on the outskirts of Hamilton, it was built in 1932/1933, with a project specific to the typical churches of the early settlers, who emigrated to New Zealand at the beginning of the 19th century. The foundation stone was laid in November 1932, being given to worship in February 1933. The architect was Mr. Edgecumbe from the firm of Edgecumbe & White. The builders were from Murphy and Short. The bell and stained glass windows were donated from the former Saint Peter's Anglican Cathedral in the city of Hamilton (built in 1876).

 

The works of renewal, beautification, decoration, and arrangement of the church, in line with Orthodox tradition, as well as landscaping the external garden, were carried out between 2019 and 2023 by the parish priest, his family, and a few faithful. The missionary priest who serves this parish, from its foundation until today, is Rev. Father Ovidiu Anton Motofelea (2009 - present), also the dean of New Zealand.

 

With the help of the Lord GOD, the One in the MOST HOLY TRINITY, worshiped and glorified, on the 3rd of September 2023, the consecration of the church, which is under the protection of the Holy Great Martyr George, the Victory-Bearer, from the city of Hamilton, Waikato, the Romanian Orthodox deanery of New Zealand, was celebrated at the entrance of the New Church Year on September 3, 2023, in the 16th year of the patriarchate of his holiness DANIEL, the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, and after 15 years since the establishment of the Parish.

This place of worship, dedicated to the “HOLY GREAT MARTYR GEORGE”, being considered fulfilled and worthy to offer the sacrifice of the Holy Liturgy and all the other Holy Mysteries of the Orthodox Church, the local bishop gave the blessing to be prepared for consecration, according to the orthodox order.

 

The church was consecrated through the prayers of His Eminence Bishop Mihail, in his 16th year of service as hierarch of the Romanian clergy and faithful in Australia and New Zealand, performing the service of consecration of the Holy table and the church. This place of worship and the believers of this parish have received new protectors today, being entrusted to the prayers of the Holy Prophet David and the Venerable Saints Daniil and Misail from the Turnu Monastery (Ramnic county).

 

The hierarch was assisted at the service by a group of Orthodox priests from New Zealand, with the participation of the faithful of the parish, as well as from the other Orthodox parishes.

 

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Other important events in our parish - together services with priests from the country and abroad - on the occasion of important holidays:

 

On April 19, 2009, the service of the Holy Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is celebrated, for the first time in our parish.

 

On November 7, 2009,  the Sacrament of Holy Baptism is celebrated for the first child in our parish in a group of priests. 

 

On April 25, 2010, the first Feast of our parish is organized, on the 4th Sunday after Easter and the Holy Mass is celebrated in a group of priests: Rev Dean Father Fr Mircea Corpodean, Rev Father Fr Claudiu Coroaba, from the parish of "Santa Maria" from Wellington and the parish priest Rev Fr Ovidiu Anton Motofelea.

 

On February 6, 2011, the Parish General Assembly is organized for the first time in our parish and the Holy Mass is celebrated in the synod: Rev Dean Father Fr Mircea Corpodean, Rev Father Hieromonk Fr Nicodim Sangeorzan, from Romania at the Cormaia "Annunciation Monastery" and the parish priest Rev Fr. Ovidiu Anton Motofelea;

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