Saint George's Parish

His Holiness Daniel, the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, ordained that on Sunday, 20 April 2008, at the Great Feast of the "Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem," the Most Reverend Archimandrite PhD Mihail Filimon, the administrative icar of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, be consecrated as the first diocesan Bishop in the newly established Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of Australia and New Zealand.

The faithful of Saint George Parish feel blessed to have Saint David’s Church as a remarkable place of worship and to be part of a wonderful community. They give thanks and pray to God for this, with the mission of bringing God’s peace and prayers to this part of the world.

With the mercy of God and the intercession of His Eminence Mihail Filimon, the Bishop of Australia and New Zealand, since 2009 the Romanian Orthodox community in Hamilton, New Zealand, is blessed with the Church and the minister priest, where the Holy mysteries are performed according to the Christian-Orthodox ordinance, to the Glory of God and our well-being in our Lord Jesus Christ. The missionary priest who serves this parish, from its foundation until today, is Rev. Father Ovidiu Anton Motofelea (2009 - present), also the dean of New Zealand.

The reference dates of our parish, "Saint George the Great Martyr, the Bearer of Victory," in Hamilton, are as follows:

The Romanian Orthodox Parish of “Saint George" in Hamilton was established on 28 June 2008, serving all Orthodox Christians and those interested in the ancient faith of Orthodox Christianity from the Waikato and Bay of Plenty areas. It has been the only Orthodox parish in this region of New Zealand so far.

The Diocesan Council of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of Australia and New Zealand, meeting on August 20, 2008, appointed the parish priest of the newly established parish in Hamilton, the theologian Ovidiu Anton Motofelea, who had been in this city for several years. On October 26, 2008, on the feast of Saint Great Martyr Demetrios, the Myrrh-Streamer, Rev. Father Marian Dinca, the then dean of New Zealand, implemented the two aforementioned decisions as the representative of the local bishop. The foundations were laid on October 26, 2008, during the first Parish Assembly of the Orthodox faithful, held in the Franciscan Chapel of the Anglican Diocese of Waikato at the "Te Ara Hou" social park. This space remains the place of worship for the parish until mid-2015, by the benevolence of the then Anglican Archbishop of Waikato, His Excellency David Moxon, and Brother Brian Harley, of Franciscan Friary of Divine Compassion.

The theologian Ovidiu Anton Motofelea was ordained a deacon on January 30, 2009, on the feast of the "Three Hierarchs," at the "Holy Apostles Peter and Paul" Episcopal Cathedral in Melbourne, by His Eminence Bishop Mihail. Ordination as a priest and then as a spiritual clergyman took place in the same Cathedral on February 1 and 2, 2009, respectively, on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. On March 7, 2009, His Eminence Bishop Mihail officially opened this parish, blessed the beginning of the pastoral-missionary work, and presented the parish priest Ovidiu Motofelea to the faithful.

The parish was legally incorporated in New Zealand according to the "Charitable Trust Act 1957" under the official name "The Saint George Romanian Orthodox Parish Board" on May 4, 2009. The organizational statute of the Parish is in accordance with the Statute of the Romanian Orthodox episcopate of Australia and New Zealand, approved by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

On April 12, 2009, on the occasion of the "Saturday of Lazarus" day, the first Holy Liturgy was celebrated in a group of priests, in the new parish "Saint George the Great Martyr" by Rev. Fr. Ovidiu Motofelea with Rev. Fr. Mircea Corpodean, the parish priest of the "St. Ignatius Theophorous" Church Auckland, thus marking the beginning of permanent service in this parish;

On August 8, 2010, His Eminence Bishop Mihail performed the first Holy Liturgy in the parish, alongside a group of priests. Then, on December 19, 2015, he performed the Holy Liturgy and blessing of the new place of worship of the parish.

After several attempts, a property with a church was found. Being put up for sale, negotiations began by the parish priest, under the guidance of the bishop. At the same time, a bank loan was approved for the purchase of the property. Thus, on August 15/16, 2019, on the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God and the Holy Brancoveanu Martyrs, the deed of sale and purchase of the property with the church and the related land in Matangi, between the Anglican Diocese, ”Saint Francis” Parish Hillcrest, and the Romanian Orthodox Parish of "Saint George," was signed.

With the help of the Lord GOD, the One in the MOST HOLY TRINITY, worshiped and glorified, on the 3rd of September 2023, the consecration of the church, which is under the protection of the Holy Great Martyr George, the Victory-Bearer, from the city of Hamilton, Waikato, the Romanian Orthodox deanery of New Zealand, was celebrated at the entrance of the New Church Year on September 3, 2023, in the 16th year of the patriarchate of his holiness DANIEL, the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, and after 15 years since the establishment of the Parish. This place of worship, dedicated to the “HOLY GREAT MARTYR GEORGE,” being considered fulfilled and worthy to offer the sacrifice of the Holy Liturgy and all the other Holy Mysteries of the Orthodox Church, the local bishop gave the blessing to be prepared for consecration, according to the orthodox order.

The church was consecrated through the prayers of His Eminence Bishop Mihail, in his 16th year of service as hierarch of the Romanian clergy and faithful in Australia and New Zealand, performing the service of consecration of the Holy table and the church. This place of worship and the believers of this parish have received new protectors today, being entrusted to the prayers of the Holy Prophet David and the Venerable Saints Daniil and Misail from the Turnu Monastery (Ramnic county). The hierarch was assisted at the service by a group of Orthodox priests from New Zealand, with the participation of the faithful of the parish, as well as from the other Orthodox parishes.

Other important events in our parish - together services with priests from the country and abroad - on the occasion of important holidays:

On April 19, 2009, the service of the Holy Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is celebrated, for the first time in our parish.

On November 7, 2009, the Sacrament of Holy Baptism is celebrated for the first child in our parish in a group of priests.

On April 25, 2010, the first Feast of our parish is organized, on the 4th Sunday after Easter and the Holy Mass is celebrated in a group of priests: Rev Dean Father Fr Mircea Corpodean, Rev Father Fr Claudiu Coroaba, from the parish of "Santa Maria" from Wellington and the parish priest Rev Fr Ovidiu Motofelea.

On February 6, 2011, the Parish General Assembly is organized for the first time in our parish and the Holy Mass is celebrated in the synod: Rev Dean Father Fr Mircea Corpodean, Rev Father Hieromonk Fr Nicodim Sangeorzan, from Romania at the Cormaia "Annunciation Monastery" and the parish priest Rev Fr. Ovidiu Motofelea.

Saint David’s Church is a country church located at 591 Matangi Rd, on the outskirts of Hamilton, built in the period of 1932/33. The design is typical of early settler churches in New Zealand. The foundation stone was laid in November 1932 by the first Anglican Bishop Cecil Cherrington of Waikato, who consecrated the church on 5 February 1933, following the completion of construction at a cost of £600.00, debt-free. The architect, Mr. Edgecumbe of Edgecumbe and White, and builders, Messrs Murphy and Short, crafted a church incorporating elements such as the bell and windows sourced from Saint Peter’s, a church built in 1876 at the Southern End of Victoria Street in Hamilton, which was demolished when the present Cathedral was built. Funds for the church were raised over several years, by the local community through fundraising events, social functions, and generous donations of land, furniture, and an altar. Despite being designed for 80 people, additional seating had to be arranged for the opening ceremony. Ministry services operated once per week until petrol rationing in the 1940s led to a reduction to fortnightly.

The Taylor family, David and Patience, were early settlers in Matangi in the 1880s, farming a large parcel of land named ‘Fairview’ on Matangi Road by at least 1902. David, who arrived in New Zealand in 1869 from County Tyrone, Ireland, married another Irish immigrant, Patience Levis in Auckland in 1878. Described as 'the oldest settler in the Matangi district, of retiring disposition, they were highly respected. After Patience's passing in 1913 and David's in 1925, they were survived by three sons, five daughters, and over 20 grandchildren, with descendants still living and farming in the area. This legacy includes Saint David's Anglican Church at Matangi. In 1921, David donated a half-acre parcel to the Anglican Church as a site to build the church. A plaque commemorating the Taylor family was unveiled soon after the consecration.

Post-war, attendance dwindled, reducing services to once per month. Saint David’s became part of Saint Francis Co-operating Parish in 1976, amalgamating Anglican, Methodist, and Presbyterian congregations until 9 December 2018. Before the amalgamation, three churches operated in Matangi: the Presbyterian Waikato East Charge and the Methodist church in 1915. In 1918, the Methodist church was shared until the Presbyterian established their own building. The Methodist church closed in 1970 and was demolished in 1975. The Presbyterian church closed in 1963, sold in 1975, and incorporated into the property at 600 Matangi Road. Saint David's Church remains on Matangi Road, a lasting memorial to the Taylors, its benefactors, and vergers. It holds a ‘B’ ranking as a designated Historic Site in the district plan.

In late 2018, the community learned that the last service would be held on 8 December 2018. Authority to sell was granted in early 2019, with an agreement to prioritize retaining the church in its current location and appearance. The hope was for the Regional Council and Saint Francis Parish to preserve its history within the Matangi community and its connection to Hamilton. On 15/16 August 2019, during the celebration of the Dormition of the Mother of God and Saints Martyrs Brancoveanu, a new chapter began for Saint David’s under the Orthodox Church, specifically the Parish of Saint George in Hamilton. Over the next four years, renewal, beautification, decoration, and arrangement of the church took place, aligned with Orthodox tradition. The parish priest, along with his family and a few faithful, carried out this work. Reverend Father Ovidiu Motofelea has been the missionary priest serving this parish since its foundation and is currently the Romanian Orthodox Dean of New Zealand. The consecration into the Orthodox faith took place on 3 September 2023, the first Sunday of the New Spiritual Year, 15 years after the establishment of the Saint George Parish, by His Eminence Bishop Mihail Filimon, the first hierarch of the Romanian clergy and faithful in Australia and New Zealand.

The parish "Saint Great Martyr George the Victory Bearer" was established in 2008 by His Eminence Bishop Michael, following the decision made during the first Diocesan Assembly of the newly established Diocese of Australia and New Zealand. Father Ovidiu Anton Motofelea was appointed parish priest and was installed in the new parish on March 6, 2009. For the next 10 years, Holy Services took place in our parish in two locations rented in the city of Hamilton. On 15 and 16 of August 2019, at the Celebration of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Holy Martyrs Brancoveni: Constantin Voivod with his four sons, Constantin, Stefan, Radu, and Mathew, and vornic Ianache, by mercy and to the Glory of God, the parish bought its home in Matangi, Hamilton - a former Anglican Church built in 1933. Since March 2016, the parish priest has also been the Dean of New Zealand.