Orthodox parishes in Australia and New Zealand are becoming increasingly open to people of different national backgrounds, while interest in Orthodoxy among local residents is also growing, Metropolitan Nicholas of the Macedonian Orthodox Church – Ohrid Archbishopric said in an interview with the Macedonian church portal Liturgija.mk.

Metropolitan Nicholas, who took charge of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese in March 2026, said he had visited a number of parishes in Australia since his appointment. According to the metropolitan, the diocese already has an established church life, with parishes, churches and monasteries operating across the country.

At the same time, the Church faces new challenges. Younger members of the Macedonian diaspora are increasingly losing fluency in their ancestral language, making English more important in worship and parish activities. At the same time, people without Macedonian roots are joining Orthodox communities.

“The Church truly lives when it does not become hostage to ethnic boundaries,” Metropolitan Nicholas said.

He linked growing interest in Orthodoxy in Western societies partly to a search for meaning and spiritual purpose. Loneliness, superficial relationships and dissatisfaction with consumer culture, he said, can lead people to seek a deeper spiritual foundation.

The metropolitan said missionary work among people who were not previously Orthodox should become more organized and systematic.

Another feature of Orthodox life in Australia is the presence of parishes belonging to different Orthodox traditions. Following his appointment, Metropolitan Nicholas met with representatives of the Antiochian and Serbian Orthodox Churches.

He said Orthodox jurisdictions could cooperate and exchange experience because they operate within the same social and cultural environment. “It is useful to build unity with all of them and share experience,” he said.

At the same time, national traditions remain an important part of diaspora life. According to Metropolitan Nicholas, for many Macedonians living in Australia, an Orthodox church is not only a place of worship but also a connection with their historic homeland.

For younger generations, however, participation in the Church is increasingly motivated not only by the desire to preserve cultural traditions but also by personal spiritual questions.

The metropolitan identified pastoral ministry as the diocese’s central task: helping people in their search for faith and meaning in life. Administrative structures, he said, should remain tools for achieving that purpose.

“The goal is Christ and the human person,” Metropolitan Nicholas emphasized.