St Paul's Antiochian Orthodox Church Brisbane

And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. - Acts 11:26
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Services Time

Regular Weekly Sunday Service: Matins at 8am followed by Divine Liturgy Every at 9am

Our services are LIVE STREAMED via our Facebook Page:

About Us

It was by the motive of Gods providence that St. Pauls Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church began its journey in Brisbane. And it was one significant feature that made its foundation solid: the strong faith and the unity of love to God and to each other. 

Community

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink”
(Matthew 25:35-40)

Our church runs a program called Community Kitchen, where on some Thursdays, we cook and distribute food to the homeless and needy in Brisbane. This service has continued throughout the covid pandemic and we would like give a massive thank you to the tireless efforts of our volunteers, to anyone who has donated, and of course glory to God.

We began our service on the 5th of January 2017 and in the first 4 years when we ran the service every week, we distributed approximately 20,000 meals and 17,500 sandwiches plus drinks and various other items.

If you would like to assist on a Thursday, cooking in the church hall runs from 5pm-7pm. Food distribution runs from 7pm-7.45pm in front of 97 Turbot Street Brisbane City. Any amount of time assisting us is appreciated. Please contact us to find out which Thursdays we will be operating.

Offer to Volunteer

If you’re interested in donating, our bank details are listed below:

Name: St Pauls Antiochian Orthodox Church

BSB: 084-391

Acc: 780867982

Description: Please write your full name for receipt purposes.

To Volunteer with Community Kitchen or any other church related areas please CLICK HERE.

Our Parish

It was by the motive of Gods providence that St. Pauls Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church began its journey in Brisbane. And it was one significant feature that made its foundation solid: the strong faith and the unity of love to God and to each other. 

On February 13, 1989, the Thrice Blessed Archbishop Gibran Ramlawey appointed the first committee of this Church, composed of ten members. On January 16, 1990, the community was registered as the Orthodox Parish Association Incorporated. Stephen Antoun Waijen was the first chairman of the committee. Archpriest John Abdel-Karim was the first Parish Priest of St. Pauls. He assumed his spiritual responsibility in Brisbane on December 7, 1993. Among his ministry, he officiated church services, sought out other Antiochian Orthodox families, visiting and gathering together the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast parishioners.. He established the Sunday School, the Youth Group and the choir in order to see the whole congregation chant together with them.

They occupied, the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George at South Brisbane for Sunday Evening Liturgies, its school for rehearsals, the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Anna at the Gold Coast, for monthly Saturday Liturgies. St. Andrew Anglican Church in Indooroopilly for the Holy Week services of 1994. And on August 7, 1994, they moved from St. George Church to St. Philips Anglican Church Annerley and its hall, in hope that they will remain there until they build their own Church. 

Archbishop Gibran considered the illness of the chairman. He appointed Antoine Gerges Chebib as his deputy on the council of the Church on July 31,1995, and nominated Maha Khoury for the chair of the Ladies Committee on September 5, 1995.

 All the parishioners of St. Pauls, both in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, offered their full support to Archbishop Gibran as faithful and dynamic companion, in purchasing a special land for building the house of God in Brisbane together with him. The location of the Church was at 66 Junction Street, Woolloongabba QLD 4102, in the midst of the suburbs, closed proximity to the City. As starting point, Archbishop Gibran blessed the land of the Church for the foundation according to the plan that he blessed, in order to have the Church on the top and the hall underneath. And it was unknown until after his departure from this life on January 14, 1999, when they discovered that he had secretly bought, in Brisbane a house as property for St. Pauls Church, at 552 Musgrave St. Robertson. 

On Sunday, the 19th of December 1999, one month after his assumption to the Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand, His Eminence Metropolitan Paul Saliba visited Brisbane, and by his guidance, the committee, together with the priest and the whole parish, committed themselves to build the Church with the dedication of the building contractors, the president of the committee Antoine Chebib and the vice president Michael Awabdy; and he blessed the corner- stone of the Church. On May 28, 2000, His Eminence united more than 25 Middle Eastern families of the Parish in the Gold Coast with St. Barnabas Antiochian Orthodox Christian Parish served by Reverend Fr. Raymond Smith. 

On Palm Sunday, the 28th of April 2002, St. Pauls Parish finally moved to the new Church. 

Today, this Parish counts about 200 families, scattered between Yatala, Beaudesert, Sunshine Coast , Gold Coast, Toowoomba and Redcliffe, with the same committees and official occupants. 

Saint Pauls Parishioners are still working harmoniously all together as one and real holy family, and they compete for obtaining the imperishable crown, affirming that they are the actual Body Members of the Lord Christ who is the head of the Church. His Eminence Metropolitan Paul, the Parish Priest and every person are very proud of them.

They pray to the Lord God that He rewards them all, and bestows His Blessing upon them.

Amen.

Clergy

 John Abdel-Karim

John Abdel-Karim

Very Rev. Archpriest.

Very Rev. Archpriest John Abdel-Karim is the first Parish Priest of the St.Paul’s Antiochian Orthodox Church, Woolloongabba. He assumed his spiritual responsibility in Brisbane on December 7, 1993. Among his ministry and he officiated Church services, sought out other Antiochian Orthodox families, visiting and gathering together the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Cost parishioners.

 

Athanasius Savage

Athanasius Savage

Deacon

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Emmanuel Abdel-Karim

Emmanuel Abdel-Karim

Deacon