OUR HISTORYWith such a rich history in the years since its establishment in 1974, St Ilija Macedonian Orthodox Church holds an important place in the hearts of many Orthodox Macedonians - heightened for those who have been blessed, christened or married within its walls.
Our story started with a people’s campaign of the Macedonian population in Melbourne’s west, to establish a Macedonian Orthodox Church (MOC) of their own. This saw the foundation of the Rulebook of the Macedonian Orthodox Church St Ilija delivered by the Holy Synod of Hierarchs of the MOC, on 27 July, 1972.
St Ilija MOC was officially opened on 24 December, 1974, and became the first Church working within the religious laws approved by the Holy Synod of Hierarchs of the MOC.
Directly connected to the MOC and the Republic of Macedonia, St Ilija Macedonian Orthodox Church, opened her doors to believers from all parts of Melbourne, Macedonia and beyond. Believers from Melbourne’s west were provided a Church which would realise their essential needs, while educating and enlightening themselves in the Orthodox faith. For incoming migrants and newcomers, the Church delivered a sense of certainty and support, as well as the preservation of their faith and the Macedonian culture they identified with.
In Church, Macedonians would meet to exchange congratulations and condolences; pray collectively; and represent St Ilija before Our Lord Jesus Christ - all while praying for spiritual and material welfare in their lives.
Following a period of growth, and the proactive nature of its people, in 1981 the MOC acquired land in Rocklyn (Victoria) for the construction of a monastery dedicated to the Holy Miracle Worker, Venerable Naum Ohridski. The long and eagerly awaited build of the monastery Church was finally completed in 2011.
A short six years after the acquisition of land in Rocklyn, in 1987, a significant open space area in Sunshine in Melbourne’s west, was purchased with the intention of it becoming an Orthodox Cultural Centre. On 24 December 1989, this was achieved, and the MOC opened the largest Orthodox Cultural Centre in the bounds of the extended Macedonian community.
More recently, the Centre has been reconstructed in authentic Orthodox style. The interiors have been decorated with skilfully painted throned icons and valuable artistic frescoes throughout.
The monastery in Rocklyn, Victoria, dedicated to the Holy Miracle Worker, Venerable Naum Ohridski.