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New Zealand’s Maori Convert To Orthodoxy

May 17, 2010 By admin 7 Comments

The indigenous Maori people in New Zealand are converting to Orthodoxy under the influence of Russian immigrants, the diocese in Russia’s Urals said on Monday, citing a Russian emigre.

According to a letter sent to relatives in the Urals by a Russian woman who married a student from New Zealand, Russian immigrants “maintain Russian traditions in every house.”

“Seeing the example of Russian immigrants, many indigenous New Zealanders convert to Orthodoxy,”

the woman wrote, as quoted by the diocese of Yekaterinburg.

“They baptize their children and give them Russian (Orthodox) names.”

The number of Russian immigrants to New Zealand increased after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. According to the most recent official nationwide census, carried out in 2006, a total of 4,581 residents said they were born in Russia. Unofficial figures estimate the Russian population in New Zealand has since grown to about 6,500, including first-generation children of Russian parents.

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Filed Under: News, Other Christians Tagged With: conversion, convert, Maori, New Zealand

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Comments

  1. Ruth says

    August 3, 2010 at 12:05 am

    Hello! I too am a Kiwi convert. I have not heard of a Maori family converting to Orthodoxy before reading this article. I know there have been baptisms of Maori who are married to an Orthodox spouse.

    Can anyone bear out the truth of this article? Is there indeed even one Maori family which has been baptised in the (Russian) Orthodox Church in NZ?

    Inquiring minds want to know.

  2. Fr. John says

    August 3, 2010 at 8:22 am

    Ruth,

    Thanks for posting. As a convert, we’d be most interested in your story.

    Inquiring minds want to know! Please consider it.

  3. cabellamy says

    November 4, 2013 at 12:55 am

    I am a american/australian convert, and I am moving to AUckland NZ in 2 months I hope you post again we could have a cuppa so? !

  4. Philip Edwards says

    December 26, 2013 at 3:35 pm

    Hi there, we are New Zealanders in the midst of converting to Orthodoxy and are interested in connecting with other converts to Orthodoxy. We are in Christchurch philipmaxedwards@gmail.com

  5. Fr. John says

    December 30, 2013 at 10:55 pm

    Welcome Philip. Let us know how we can help you.

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