Saint Elias Church in Wollongong is a close-knit parish of around on the beautiful south coast of New South Wales, just a short drive from Sydney. Our church stands as a symbol of the hard work and dedication of our community members who envisioned and brought this sacred space to life.

 

 

Key Milestones in Our Journey:

• Ground Breaking (June 27th, 1980): The initial step in creating our church was marked on June 27th, 1980, at 3:00 PM. His Grace, the late Bishop Gibran of Australia and New Zealand, officiated this important event.

• Laying the Foundation (November 13th, 1982): The cornerstone of our church was laid on November 13th, 1982, by His Grace, the late Bishop Gibran, signifying a significant step forward in the construction.

• First Regular Services (February 1st, 1984): Regular worship began on February 1st, 1984, thanks to the efforts of Reverend Father Nicholas Shehadie, who traveled from Sydney to lead services every second Sunday, with the support of Mr. Simon Saad.

• Completion of the Church Building (January 15th, 1988): The installation of the pews on January 15th, 1988, marked the completion of the main church building, providing a dedicated space for our growing community.

• Patriarchal Blessing (December 1991): A truly special occasion occurred in December 1991 when His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatius visited and blessed our church and parish during a service with His Grace, the late Bishop Gibran.

• New Leadership in the New Millennium (January 2nd, 2000): The turn of the millennium saw a new Archbishop, His Eminence Metropolitan Paul Saliba, lead a church service on January 2nd, 2000.

• Appointment of Parish Priest (January 2000): In January 2000, Father Michael Zghaib was appointed as our parish priest by His Eminence Metropolitan Paul Saliba, providing dedicated spiritual guidance to our community.

• Welcoming a New Presiding Priest (July 2010): July 2010 marked the arrival of our current presiding priest, Father Ephram Abbassi, who continues to serve the Wollongong Parish with dedication.

 

 

Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church stands proudly in Wollongong, a testament to the faith and unity of our families. We are a vibrant part of the south coast community, rooted in the rich traditions of the Antiochian Orthodox Church.