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Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all the things which I have commanded you. (Mastthew 28:19-20)
His Eminence Metropolitan Paul Saliba
- Born Badi Saliba to Helen Ghazi and Georges Saliba in Basarma al-Khoura in July 10, 1939.
- In 1952 – he entered Balamand Ecclesiastical School until 1957 when he travelled to Athens, Greece on a scholarship from the Greek government where he graduated with BA in Theology.
- In 1963 he returned to Lebanon and joined Archbishop Elias Kurban as a Deacon; teacher in Balamand Ecclesiastical school; and a member of the Ecclesiastical family court and secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Archdiocese.
- In 1966 he was elevated to Archimandrite and was assigned to variety of new responsibilities.
- On September 10th 1968 He travelled to the United States where he served at St. Ellian church and enrolled in Duquene University for a Masters degree in world cultures.
- During that time Archimandrite Paul was teaching high schools, organzing the Church Communities - especially the youth, Sunday Schools, Church Councils, Ladies Societies and others.
- In 1971-2 he joined Pittsburgh University where he worked on his PhD in world cultures and taught in the State college.
- In 1979 he was transferred to Washington D.C where he worked with the different Arabic Communities, organized the Youth group of the Parish - in addition to other organizations, worked with the State Department and enrolled in a school where he was certified as a counsellor in Drug and Alcohol Treatment. He worked with the addicts until 1991. In Washington D.C His Eminence was in charge of a one hour Radio Program on Sunda, which lasted from 1989 to 1993. In 1991 a T.V Program was established. Metropolitan Paul broadcasted an hour bi-weekly, in addition to many other programs - religious, political, social, educational etc. That program lasted until his election to the Archpiscopate of Australia and New Zealand.
- He was elected as head of the Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand on the 5th of October 1999 and was ordained on the 10th of the same month. His Eminence arrived to Sydney, Australia, on the first of December 1999 where he is working diligently establishing new Churches and Missions in Australia and New Zealand; organising the administration of the Churches – Choirs, Youth Groups, Sunday School, Ladies Society, Bible Studies, and last but not least, the Theological Studies. Today the Archdiocese includes twenty-four Parishes and two Monasteries.
- He finds the harvest plenteous and the workers few. He works and prays that the Lord of the vineyard will send labourers to his field. His Eminence is well qualified in Arabic, English and Greek and has a good knowledge of French.
Rev Fr John Vesic
- Fr John Vesic was born in Canberra, Australia. He was baptised on seventh of March 1964 in the Serbian Orthodox Church in Canberra.
- In 1989, Fr John received a Bachelor of Science with Honours from The Australian National University, Canberra.
- He was ordained a Deacon at St Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church, by Bishop Gibran, in Sydney on 24 May 1996.
- He was then ordained a Priest at St Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, Brooklyn, New York, USA by Bishop Antoun.
- He received his Masters of Arts Cum Laude, specialising in Orthodox Religious Education, from St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, New York, USA on 16 May 1998.
Fr John’s Clergy Service History:
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Serving Dates
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Church
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Address
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Position
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Dec 2001 - Current
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Sts Michael & Gabriel Church (Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Aus & NZ)
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Homebush West, Syney, NSW, Aus.
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Founding Pastor
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Jan 2000 - Dec 2001
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St Mary (Nativity) Church (Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Aus & NZ)
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Mays Hill, Sydney, NSW, Aus.
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Pastor
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Jun 1998 - Dec 1999
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St Ignatius Mission (Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Aus & NZ)
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Canberra, ACT, Aus.
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Founding Pastor
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Aug 1997 - May 1998
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St Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral
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Brooklyn, New York, USA
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Assistant Priest
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Aug 1997 - Dec 1997
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St Herman Chapel (Orthodox Church in America)
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West Point Academy, New York, USA
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Assistant Priest
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Aug 1996 - Jul 1997
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St Nicholas Church (Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Nth America)
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Bridgeport, Conneticut, USA
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Deacon
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Aug 1996 - May 1998
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Three Hierarchs Chapel (Orthodox Church in America)
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Crestwood, New York, USA
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Deacon & Priest while studying at the seminary
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Fr. John married Kh. Helen on 4 June 1989 and they have 5 children: Michael, Peter, Catherine, Gabriel and Natalie.
Kh. Helen, our Choir Director, is also an alumnus of St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, New York, USA having studied her Masters of Arts specialising in Liturgical Music (still in progress) during 1996-1998. Kh. Helen also has a Bachelor of Science from University of Sydney and Diploma of Education from the University of Canberra.
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Sts Michael & Gabriel Orthodox Church
Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia & New Zealand
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