His Grace Bishop Mihail of Australia and New Zealand blessed the commencement of construction for the diocese’s multifunctional centre in Melbourne on Sunday.
The new facility will house the “Father Dumitru Stăniloae” Cultural-Missionary Centre, a Chapel dedicated to the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel and the Holy Confessor Priest Dumitru Stăniloae, as well as a library, office spaces, and a Romanian school.
The concept of creating a multifunctional centre has been in discussion since the establishment of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand.
In 2010, the process of acquiring property for the episcopal residence at 103 Porteous Road, Melton West (Harkness), Victoria, Australia, began. The sale contract was signed on February 28, 2011, and the property was transferred in March, leading to the establishment of the “Life-giving Spring” Monastery.
Two years later, Bishop Mihail, alongside Bishop Petroniu of Sălaj, laid the foundation stone for the diocesan chapel dedicated to the “Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel” and the “Father Dumitru Stăniloae” Cultural-Missionary Centre.
Due to financial constraints, construction was delayed multiple times despite obtaining local authorities’ approval. The project finally began with financial support from the Department for Romanians Abroad.
Photo: Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand
