Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, Sydenham

In 1994, efforts to establish a church presence in the western suburbs of Melbourne by the local Macedonian community were led by Vlado Trpčevski, Zdravko Talevski, Ico Najdovski, Tode Milenkovski and Trajče Atanasovski.[1] A letter was received by the Macedonian Holy Synod from the community which called for acceptance of the proposal and the future appointment of a priest to serve the congregation.[1] The initiative was welcomed by the Macedonian Holy Synod and approved through a letter sent in February 1995.[1]

Opposition to the church came from the priest at St. Ilija in Footscray, the Bishop's deputy Father Jovica Simonovski, and the committee of the church.[1] Ico Najdovski states it was improbable, however citing Vlado Trpčevski, he describes that the opposition by the Bishop's deputy to another new church in Melbourne's western suburbs was over a possible fall in the priest's income.[1]

In the suburb of St. Albans and the surrounding area, the Macedonian community placed strong pressure on Petar, the Metropolitan for Australia and New Zealand to support efforts for a new church at Lot 4 on Sydenham Rd in Sydenham and to consecrate it.[1] Metropolitan Petar consecrated the church in October 1996 with other priests from Victoria co-servicing at the event.[1]

In April 2016, the church hall and shed were burned down in a fire considered suspicious by local authorities.[3][4]

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  Church carpark
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  Church (left side)
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  View of Church
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  Church (right side)
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  Cross above main entrance

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