HEAD OF SYRIAN ORDER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21115, 24 February 1932, Page 10

HEAD OF SYRIAN ORDER.

VISIT TO AUCKLAND. MISSION TO COMPATRIOTS. On a pastoral visit to Syrian Roman Catholics in New Zealand, the Rev. Archimandrite Sophronius Khoury, of Brisbane, Australia, head of the Basilian Order, arrived at Auckland yesterday by the Maunganui from Sydney. The order to which the Archimandrite belongs has its headquarters upon Mount Lebanon, and is said to have been founded in 400 A.D. He came to Australia 50 years ago to minister to his compatriots, who now number about 12,000 in the Commonwealth. Associated with him are four other clergy of the order, who work under the direction of the bishops in whose dioceses thev reside.

On the occasion of the Eueharistic Congress in Sydney, he arranged that two of the dignitaries ..present. Archbishop Duhig and Bishop Malonf, should visit Brisbane and lay the foundation stone of the first Syrian church in Australia. Funds are still being contributed for the completion of the building. . . The Archimandrite, whose ecclesiastical rank is equivalent to that of " monsignor," coming next below that bishop, visited New Zealand 2 ; " ears ago. There are several hundred Syt-is in t' lß Dominion, but they arc widely ncattered, and he expects to spend about f° ur months seeing as many of them ai possible.