On February 7, 2025, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Mr. Timcho Mucunski, during his inaugural official visit to Australia, visited the oldest Macedonian monastery in the diaspora, “St. Clement of Ohrid” in Kinglake, Melbourne.
Upon arrival, the minister and his delegation were warmly welcomed by the abbot, Father Gavril (Galev), who provided an overview of the monastery’s history and its mission among the Macedonian community in Australia.
During the visit, Minister Mucunski met with Abbot Gavril, the president of the church community in Melbourne, Mr. Dejan Zmejkoski, and other representatives of the Macedonian Orthodox community in Victoria. They discussed the current church affairs on the Australian continent and the challenges faced by the Macedonian community in Australia. The minister expressed admiration for the monastery’s location and its mission. The meeting was conducted in a pleasant and cordial atmosphere.
As part of his visit to Australia, Minister Mucunski is also scheduled to visit another church of the Australian-Sydney Diocese, the “St. Petka” church in Rockdale, Sydney. In a social media post, he stated, “Churches play a key role in connecting with the diaspora, as well as in preserving Macedonian culture, tradition, and spiritual identity.”
