The Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand has announced it will continue construction of the St Dumitru Stăniloae Cultural and Missionary Centre, the episcopal chapel, and facilities for the Romanian school in Melbourne.
With support from Romania’s Department for Romanians Abroad, which provided funding of 2 million lei, the project is entering its third construction phase. Work will include the first floor and roof, cladding and decorative plasterwork, the access walkway, completion of the building’s exterior and structural elements, and installing windows and doors.
The project is being implemented at the Life-Giving Spring Monastery in Melbourne, which serves as the episcopal residence and is located in Harkness (Melton West), Victoria. The current phase runs from 1 April to 20 November 2026.
During the first phase in 2024, the team completed administrative procedures, prepared the site, and poured the concrete slab. The second phase, carried out in 2025, continued the structural and infrastructure work, including construction of the ground floor and the slab between the ground and first floors.
The only Romanian monastery in the Southern Hemisphere
“The construction of the multifunctional building forms part of a broader project to strengthen the spiritual, cultural, educational and community life of Orthodox Romanians in Australia and New Zealand,” diocesan representatives said.
“The Fr Dumitru Stăniloae Cultural and Missionary Centre, the diocesan chapel and the facilities intended for the Romanian school will provide an appropriate setting for worship, catechesis, Romanian-language educational activities, cultural programmes, community gatherings, and missionary and philanthropic activities.”
The Life-Giving Spring Romanian Orthodox Monastery in Melbourne is the only Romanian monastery in the Southern Hemisphere and serves as an important spiritual centre for many Romanian Orthodox Christians in the region. This gives the project particular significance for preserving and promoting Romanian identity.
Impact
The project, coordinated by His Grace Bishop Mihail, Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Australia and New Zealand, is expected to have the following impact on the Romanian community in Australia and New Zealand:
- strengthen Romanian identity by developing a dedicated space for spiritual, cultural, educational and community activities;
- support Romanian-language education through catechetical and other activities for children, young people and families;
- strengthen ties among members of the Romanian community and facilitate social integration while preserving national and spiritual identity;
- provide a diocesan centre for coordinating pastoral, missionary, cultural, educational and philanthropic activities for Romanian Orthodox Christians in Australia and New Zealand;
- promote Romania’s image in a multicultural environment through Romanian spiritual, cultural and identity values.
In the long term, the centre will serve as a space for gathering, dialogue, education, prayer and the promotion of Romanian values for present and future generations.
Contact
Phone: +61 3 8746 5208
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.roeanz.com.au
Photo: Diocese of Australia and New Zealand
