On Friday, February 7, 2025, at the premises of the Croatian Club Sydney ‘The Concord Club’, a group of friends and supporters of the Croatian Orthodox Church (HPC) held a fundraising meeting to produce a documentary film whose main goal would be to promote the Croatian Orthodox Church both in Croatia and around the world.

As the participants of this gathering pointed out, the Republic of Croatia is perhaps the only country in the world that does not have its own registered Orthodox Church, but rather “our” servile politicians have handed over autocephaly to the hostile country of Serbia, which reaps great material and financial benefits from the budget of Croatian taxpayers.

All those who came to this gathering and supported this initiative became an instrumental part of this important undertaking.

Based on the agreed cooperation with the “Podcast Velebit” team, based in Zagreb, not only will the historical truth about the existence of the HPC, which dates to the beginning of the 17th century, be encouraged but also the current difficult state in which the HPC and its Archbishop Aleksandar find themselves will be highlighted to the world.

The Croatian diaspora is acutely aware of the difficult legal and ecumenical paths that need to be taken in the restoration and revival of the HPC, but with the firm knowledge that it possesses legitimacy for this important sovereign idea that seeks to ensure religious freedom to the estimated 65,000 members of the Croatian Orthodox believers.

Those present at this gathering were reminded that the HPC is still, after being illegally abolished by the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes in 1920, the only church whose operation is not allowed as a registered religious body in the entire European Union despite the fact that it was restored as a legitimate church in 1942, a fact recognised by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople the following year.

After the Yugoslav Partisans occupied Zagreb on 9 May 1945, the Croatian Orthodox Church was abolished, and Germogen was arrested. He, along with all 33 priests of the Croatian Orthodox Church, was court-martialled on 29 June 1945 and executed by firing squad the next day, at the age of 84.

On 23 September 2010 the Synod of Bishops of the Russian True Orthodox Church (RIPC) held in the Church of Saint John of Kronstadt in Odessa, Ukraine, declared him a martyr.

This was the first-and only-time during World War 2 when an entire church was eliminated by an occupying force.

The HPC now refer to him as St. Germogen, the first saint of the Croatian Orthodox Church.

While the Serbian Orthodox Church still insists on promoting the disproven lie that the Croatian Orthodox Church was first created during the existence of the NDH, the historical truth and fact is that this church existed from 1707, and in this regard, we have a duty and honour to fight for the religious freedom of all Orthodox Christians who live in Croatia and who do not wish to adhere to the Serbian Orthodox Church and its anti-Croatian message.

This includes almost 10,000 Homeland War veterans who were Eastern Orthodox believers and who refused to fall under the Serbian Orthodox Church, and who defended our Croatia from Serbian aggression during the 1990’s Homeland War.

This is just one of many reasons why it is our human, Christian and national duty and honour to help in the revival of the Croatian Orthodox Church. A documentary film about the true history of the Croatian Orthodox Church is what the Croatian diaspora can and will contribute to the Republic of Croatia.

This documentary film whose content will spread freely around the world, without pro-Serbian and false political interference, and it is firmly believed that now such is one of the greatest treasures the Diaspora can give to the glorious history of religious freedom in independent Croatia.

To date, many people and organisations have already donated to this project, and others have also contacted the HPC about how they can donate to this project. Every monetary gift is of crucial importance, regardless of whether it is small or large.

Every monetary gift over two dollars can be shown as a donation for tax purposes in Australia, or the so-called “Tax Deductible donation”.

It is estimated that approximately 25,000 AU$ will be needed to complete this project. All those who have already promised to donate their contribution to this project are hereby called upon to make their payment as soon as possible, and all people of good will are invited to help this project with their monetary gift in the process of revival of the Croatian Orthodox Church in Croatia and thank you all in advance!

While the association can be contacted via email at croatianorthodox@gmail.com for bank payment details.

Donations can also be left at the The Concord Club’: Attention to the Manager.

THIS ARTICLE IN THE CROATIAN LANGUAGE/ ČLANAK NA HRVATSKOM JEZIKU, Hrvati Australije u akciji pomaganja obnovi Hrvatske pravoslavne crkve/OVDJE