THE CITY OF GREATER WOLLONGONG
"SAINT DIMITRIJA SOLUNSKI"
Previous Priest
Our previous Priest
In the last 40 years we have had 6 priests serve The Macedonian Orthodox Community of the City of Greater Wollongong “Saint Dimitrija Solunski” with our current priest being the Very Reverend Aleksandar Ivanovski.
Reverend Father Robert Ilijevski
Born on the 25th April 1987 in Kumanovo, from parents Chedomir and Suzana with place of residence in Karposh, suburb of Kumanovo.
He completed an eight year primary education at "Magdalen Antova" primary school in Karposh, Kumanovo. With the blessing of Bishop Timotej the Metropolitan of the Debar - Kichevo Diocese he enrolled in the Theological Seminary High School of "St.Kliment of Ohrid" located in the village of Drachevo, Skopje which he completed in the year 2007 after which he was accepted into tertiary studies at the Faculty of Theology "St.Kliment of Ohrid" in Skopje in the university calendar year of 2007/2008.
On the 19th of October he married Milena Kostovska Ilijevska, maiden name Kostovska in Kumanovo. On the 26th of July 2019 they are blessed with their first child, their son Teofil Mironski.
On the 4th of December 2014 at the church "Dormition of Mary Mother of God" Kamensko- Ohrid he is ordained as deacon of the church by his Eminence Metropolitan Timotej.
On the 8th of December 2014 at the monastery of "Ss. Kliment and Panteleimon" Plaoshnik - Ohrid he was elevated to the rank of priest by Metropolitan Timotej.
On the 12th February 2015 with Decision act No. 33 of the Debar- Kichevo Diocese he is appointed as parish priest at the fourth parish under the church of "St. Gorgi, Great Martyr".
He remains parish priest to this parish until the 31 st of August 2017.
In September of 2017 with the blessing of the Metropolitan Timotej, adhering to the requests of the Macedonian people of Australia father Robert Ilijevski is sent to the Orthodox Macedonian Diocese of Australia - Sydney fulfilling the position of parish priest at the church of "St. Dimitrija Solunski" in Wollongong.
The Very Reverend Aleksandar Ivanovski
The Very Reverend Aleksandar Ivanovski was born in 1950 in the town of Kumanovo in the Republic of Macedonia. He studied theology in Skopje before moving to Australia in 1977. He served as a priest at the Macedonian Orthodox Church St Petka in Rockdale from 1977 to 1987. He then returned to Macedonia and practised in Ohrid and Skopje. The Very Reverend Aleksandar Ivanovski again returned to Australia in 1996 and served as a priest at various Macedonian Orthodox Church's, including Cabramatta and Queanbeyan before becoming the priest at Saint Dimitrijia Solunski in Wollongong.
At wedding ceremonies, our priest is able to perform some of the wedding ceremony in English if it is a wish or request of the wedding couple.
