Cathedrals in Australia - Ss Peter & Paul Cathedral, Strathfield Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia
By Team MavEtJu on 05-Oct-17. Waypoint GA10860

Cathedrals in Australia - Ss Peter & Paul Cathedral, Strathfield

A decision was made in 1949 by the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad to build a Cathedral in Sydney. Strathfield was chosen as the location due to its central location and accessibility to public transport.

The first stone with Holy Relics was laid on 7 October 1950 by Archbishop Theodore Rafalsky, Archbishop of Sydney and New Zealand. The ceremony brought together Russian and Serbian priests, Anglican clergy and Members of Parliament. Congratulatory messages were received from the Minister of Immigration, Harold Holt, former Minister for Immigration Arthur Caldwell, the Greek Archbishop Theofilakt, Catholic Bishop Gilroy and the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney Dr Mowll.

A competition was held for the design of the new Cathedral. The winner and designer was R J Magoffin ARIA, of Bligh Street Sydney. Strathfield Council approved the design of the new Cathedral in July 1950. The estimated cost was £15,000. A consecration of the Cathedral was carried out by Archbishop Theodore Rafalsky and Sydney clergy on 27 December 1953.

The house ‘Dunholme’ [former Lot 16], which is adjacent to the Cathedral grounds, was bought in 1953 and Archbishop Theodore transferred his residence there. At this stage, the administrative centre of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad of the Australian and New Zealand Diocese was located in Strathfield. The Parish House was replaced in 1988 with a new structure.

Archbishop Theodore died in 1955 and was buried in the Cathedral grounds.

The Parish is known as The Parish of Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in Strathfield New South Wales of the Russian Orthodox Church [outside of Russia].

Since completion of the building of the Cathedral, a number of building alterations have been made including a verandah extension in 1956, the building of a Church Hall in 1958, additions to the Church in 1979, renovations to the parish house and church in 1988 and the erection of five domes on the roof of the existing Church.

For more information, see the Wikipedia entry.

Denomination: Russian Orthodox
Founded: 1950

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