Continuing with his solicitude for the entrusted flock of the God-saved Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand, His Eminence Metropolitan Siluan arrived in the capital city of New Zealand, Wellington, on the eve of the feast of the Holy Unmercenary Physicians Cosmas and Damian. After the doxology and warm welcome, the Metropolitan thoroughly acquainted himself with the life of the community in Wellington. On the feast day of the Holy Unmercenary Physicians Cosmas and Damian, November 14, 2024, His Eminence Metropolitan Siluan served the Divine Hierarchical Liturgy at the St. Sava Church in Wellington, with the concelebration of the Romanian priest Father Nicolae Floroian, Protopresbyter Petar Mrakić, and Protopresbyter Predrag Grubački, the parish priest. The choir was led by Protopresbyter Goran Ćećez, assisted by the cantors of the church in Wellington, the “Kiwis,” who responded equally in both Serbian and English. Although it was a workday, a large number of people gathered around their Archbishop. Before the start of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Siluan, at the suggestion of the parish priest Fr Predrag, graciously agreed to tonsure the long-time altar server Lazar Lai into the rank of Reader. In his inspired homily before the oldest St. Sava Altar in the land under the Southern Cross, Metropolitan Siluan reflected on the life of the modern man and his search for truth, understanding, and love, which can only be truly found and experienced in the grace-filled embrace of Christ and His Holy Church. The liturgy was followed by a festive lunch.
During the day, the Metropolitan visited the Romanian Church and familiarized himself with the dynamics of the restoration of this sisterly temple. At the end of his visit to Wellington, in Miramar, a meeting was arranged between the two Archbishops. Metropolitan Miron, representing the New Zealand and Oceania Metropolis of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, warmly welcomed his brother in Christ, Metropolitan Siluan. The conversation focused on the challenges of the modern era and the Church’s responses to them, as well as the ongoing mission on the remote islands of Tonga, Fiji, and Samoa.
On the afternoon flight to Australia on Friday, November 15, Metropolitan Silouan departed New Zealand, concluding his canonical visit.
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