On Monday 31 December the Dean of New South Wales, Mitred Archpriest Nikita Chemodakov, presided at the funeral service in our church of Alexandra Sorokina. Alexandra, who departed this life on 20 December, having received Holy Communion and anointing with oil on the previous day, was 90 years of age. She was afterwards laid to rest at Point Clare Cemetery. We offer our heartfelt condolences to Alexandra’s daughter Elena, son-in-law Ilia, and grandson Alexey. May God grant his newly-departed handmaiden rest with the saints and life everlasting!
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On Sunday 30 December we had Divine Liturgy for the Thirty-First Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Holy Forefathers, the Holy Prophet Daniel and the Three Holy Youths Ananias, Azarias and Misael (c.600 BC). As our parish rector was recovering following surgery we were unable to have a service on Saturday evening and Father Dionysios Halim presided at Divine Liturgy. In his sermon Father Dionysios spoke about the approaching Great Feast of the Nativity of Christ.
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On Saturday 15 December and Sunday 16 December we had services for the Twenty-Ninth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Holy Prophet Zephaniah (+635-605 BC). As our parish rector was recovering following surgery Father Dionysios Halim presided at these services. In his sermon at Divine Liturgy Father Dionysios spoke about the appointed reading from the Holy Gospel, Luke 18:18-27, the account of our Lord's conversation with the rich young ruler. Following Divine Liturgy our Ladies' Auxiliary served piroshki with Lenten fillings: potato, carrot, mushroom, cabbage and apple.
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On Saturday 15 December Father Dionysios Halim baptised Valentin, the infant son of Yekaterina Andreeva. Valentin was baptised in honour of the Hieromartyr Valentin, Bishop of Interamna in Italy (+273 AD). Valentin’s godparents were the parish rector, Archpriest James Carles, and Andonea Dickson. We warmly congratulate Yekaterina, her family, and the godparents, and we wish the newly-baptised servant of God Valentin many years!
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On Sunday 2 December we had Divine Liturgy for the Twenty-Seventh Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of Saint Philaret, Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna (+1867 AD). As our parish rector was recovering following surgery there was no service on Saturday evening and Priest Michael Storozhev – a cleric of the Saints Peter and Paul Diocesan Cathedral in Strathfield – presided at Divine Liturgy on Sunday. The customary prayers were offered for Orthodox Church unity and for peace in Ukraine. Following Divine Liturgy Father Michael congratulated parish protodeacon Father Martin Naef on his recent name-day (24 November, Saint Martin of Tours) and the choir sang “Many Years”. A light festive meal prepared by the parish Ladies’ Auxiliary was then served in Father Martin’s honour.
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Our Summer 2018-19 Schedule of Services is now available. Copies in PDF format are available in English here and in Russian here. Printed copies will be available in church from the weekend of 1-2 December. As our parish rector is receovering from surgery following a serious ankle injury there will be a reduced number of services over the Summer months. We apologise for any inconvenience.
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On Sunday 18 November our parish held its 2018 Annual General Meeting. The 2018 Annual Report was presented and, following a wide-ranging discussion of parish life and contemporary issues, accepted. Vladimir (“Rick”) Golovin, Bill Reid, Anna Kourbatov, Reader Paul Douriaguine, Anne Nielsen, and Nina Golovin were again elected to the Parish Council, and Matushka Marie Carles and Alla Karmadonoff were reappointed to the role of Child Safety Contact Persons.
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On Saturday 17 November and Sunday 18 November, we had services for the Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost and the day of commemoration of the Martyrs Galacteon and Epistime (+251 AD). At Divine Liturgy on Sunday, prayers were again offered for Orthodox Church unity and for peace in Ukraine. As it was also the anniversary of the election of Patriarch Tikhon and the day of commemoration of the Holy Fathers of the 1917-18 Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Prayer for the Prosperity of the Russian Church was also read. In his sermon the parish rector spoke about the faith of the Holy Fathers of the 1917-18 Council, many of whom were martyred for Christ, and of the continuing significance of their decisions in parish life. Following Divine Liturgy a collection was taken up to benefit the Fund for Assistance to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia and the final announcement concerning the 2018 parish Annual General Meeting was made.
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On the morning of Saturday 17 November, the parish rector baptised Elizabeth Odarchenko, the infant daughter of Vladimir and Ekaterina Odarchenko. Elizabeth, who was baptised in honour of the Righteous New Martyr Elizabeth, had as her godparents Sergey Stafeev and Natalia Samarkina. We warmly congratulate Vladimir and Ekaterina on the baptism of their daughter and wish the newly-illumined handmaiden of God Elizabeth many years.
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Our 2018 Annual Report, including the independently audited 2017-18 Financial Statements, is now available. The 2018 Annual Report will be presented to our parish Annual General Meeting (AGM) this coming Sunday, 18 November 2018. A copy of the report is available in PDF form here. Copies have been emailed to parish members this week and a small number of printed copies will be available at the AGM. We encourage our parishioners and friends with questions or comments in relation to our Annual Report to contact us.
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On Saturday 3 November and Sunday 4 November, we had services for the Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost and the day of commemoration of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. As Saturday 3 November was Saint Demetrius Saturday, a day of commemoration of the departed, there was a general memorial service prior to All-night vigil on Saturday evening. At Divine Liturgy on Sunday, prayers were again offered for Orthodox Church unity, for relief from drought in Australia, and for peace in Ukraine. At the end of the service a brief moleben was served before a copy of the Kazan Icon of the Mother God. Following Divine Liturgy announcements were made concerning the coming parish Annual General Meeting.
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On Saturday 20 October and Sunday 21 October we had services for the Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council (787 AD). At Divine Liturgy on Sunday, prayers were again offered for Orthodox Church unity, for relief from drought in Australia, and for peace in Ukraine. In his sermon the parish rector spoke about the work and significance of the Seventh Ecumenical Council, the council at which the Orthodox veneration of icons was restored. Following Divine Liturgy announcements were made concerning the coming parish Annual General Meeting and a collection to benefit refugees in south-eastern Ukraine displaced as a result of ongoing social and political turmoil in that country. Concerning Ukraine, the parish rector also spoke briefly about the late disturbances in life of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and of the response of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia to the situation.
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On Saturday 6 October and Sunday 7 October we had services for the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of Protomartyr and Equal-to-the-Apostles Thekla of Iconium (+1st Century). At Divine Liturgy on Sunday, prayers were again offered for Orthodox Church unity, for relief from drought in Australia, and for peace in Ukraine. After Divine Liturgy the parish rector congratulated our choir conductor Matushka Marie Carles on her approaching name-day (12 October, the day of commemoration of Saint Mary of Palestine) and wished her God’s help in all her work for the parish. “Many years” was then sung for her, and at a specially-prepared lunch afterwards the parish Sisterhood presented her with flowers and a gift.
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This year our Diocese will hold its eighth annual Orthodox Teen Retreat. Established in 2011, our Diocesan Teen Retreats cater for young people aged 14-17. This year’s Teen Retreat will be held to the south of Sydney at Stanwell Tops from Sunday 16 December until Friday 21 December. The theme is 'Bringing the saints to our lives'. For more information visit www.rocorteenretreat.info.
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On Saturday 29 September and Sunday 30 September we had services for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday after the Exaltation of the Cross, and in honour of Saint Sophia and her daughters, the martyrs Vera, Nadezhda and Lyubov (+137 AD). At Divine Liturgy on Sunday, prayers were again offered for Orthodox Church unity, for relief from drought in Australia, and for peace in Ukraine. After Divine Liturgy the clergy and faithful venerated the Holy Cross as the choir sang “Before Thy Cross, we bow down and worship Thee, O Master, and Thy holy resurrection, we glorify” and the troparion to the Cross, “Save, O Lord, Thy people”.
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On Wednesday 26 September and Thursday 27 September we had services for the Great Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. All-night vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves and the bringing-out of the Cross was served on Wednesday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Thursday morning. In his sermon at Divine Liturgy the parish rector spoke about the history and significance of the feast. Following Divine Liturgy, a small number of people gathered in the church hall for light refreshments. That evening, a moleben and akathist to the Great-Martyr Panteleimon were served.
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On Thursday 20 September and Friday 21 September we had services for the Great Feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God. All-night vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves was served on Thursday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Friday morning. Following Divine Liturgy, a small number of people gathered in the church hall for refreshments.
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This year our Diocese is again convening a Diocesan youth conference or "Syezd". Established in 1965 at the instigation of the ever-memorable Archbishop Sava (Raevsky, +1976), these conferences have been an important spiritual and social event for the youth of our Diocese ever since. This year’s conference – the theme of which is ‘The Life and Wisdom of the Holy Fathers’ – will be held from 27-31 December in Melbourne and is open to young people aged 18 - 30. More information is available here.
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On Saturday 15 September and Sunday 16 September we had services for the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of Right-believing Prince Peter and Princess Febronia (+1228 AD), Wonderworkers of Murom and patrons of family, love and faithfulness. Prior to All-night vigil on Saturday evening a general panikhida was served for all Orthodox Christians slain on the field of battle during the Great War. At Divine Liturgy on Sunday, prayers were offered for Orthodox Church unity, for relief from drought in Australia, and for peace in Ukraine. Following the Prayer before the Amvon we served a brief moleben to the saints at which all the married couples in our parish were commemorated by name. After Divine Liturgy a collection was taken up to assist the Synodal Liturgical Music Commission of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.
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On Saturday 1 September and Sunday 2 September we had services for the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost, the Afterfeast of the Dormition of the Mother of God, and the day of commemoration of the Holy Prophet Samuel (+11th Century BC). Prior to the evening service on Saturday a panikhida was served for the ever-memorable Hieromonk Seraphim (Rose) (+2 September 1982), a modern ascetic, translator and writer of great note. During the services the faithful venerated the beautifully-adorned shroud of the Mother of God. At Divine Liturgy prayers were again offered for peace in Ukraine and for rain.
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On Tuesday 26 March and Wednesday 27 March 2019 the clergymen of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese will gather in Sydney for their customary Great Lenten Pastoral Conference. On Tuesday evening the clergy will meet at the church of All Saints of Russia in Croydon for the Rule of Preparation for Holy Communion at 5.00pm and Lenten Matins and confession at 6.00pm. On Wednesday morning from 8.00am the Hours and the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts will be served at Saints Peter and Paul Diocesan Cathedral in Strathfield with Bishop George presiding and the clergy concelebrating. Those of the faithful who wish to do so are welcome to attend the service on Wednesday morning and – if properly prepared – to receive Holy Communion. Following Divine Liturgy the clergy will meet to discuss a range of pastoral and liturgical matters.
00021
Our Spring 2018 Schedule of Services - covering September, October and November - is now available. A copy of the English-language Spring 2018 Schedule of Services is available here, and a copy of the Russian-language Spring 2018 Schedule of Services is available here. Printed copies are available in both languages in church. Services of note during Spring are those for the Great Feasts of the Nativity of the Mother of God on 20-21 September and the Exaltation of the Cross on 26-27 September.
00022
On Saturday 18 August and Sunday 19 August, the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost, we had services for the Great Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. All-night Vigil with the blessing of five loaves, wheat, wine and oil was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy with the blessing of grapes, apples and other fruit was served on Sunday morning. We were joined on Sunday by friends from Newcastle and from Sydney. In accordance with Bishop George’s directive, prayers were offered at Divine Liturgy for relief from drought. Our small church was beautifully decorated with white vestments and fresh flowers and the feast-day was celebrated in our newly-renovated parish centre with great joy. Many remained behind after the Sunday service for refreshments and conversation in the church hall.
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On Monday 13 August and Tuesday 14 August we had services for the feast of the Procession of the Precious Wood of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord and in honour of the Holy Maccabean Martyrs (+166 BC). Prior to Matins on Monday evening a panikhida was served to mark the anniversary of the repose of the ever-memorable Archbishop Theodosy (Putilin) (+13 August 1980) and the fortieth day of the repose of Bishop Ilia (Kazantsev) of Birsk and Beloretsk (+5 July 2018). Following Divine Liturgy on Monday the Lesser Blessing of Water was served and there was a blessing of honey.
00024
On Wednesday 8 August and Thursday 9 August we had services in honour of the Great-Martyr and Healer Panteleimon. All-night vigil was served on Wednesday evening and the Lesser Blessing of Water, Divine Liturgy, and a moleben to Saint Panteleimon were served on Thursday morning. Concelebrating at All-night vigil, Divine Liturgy and the moleben were Archpriest Alexander Korjenevski , Rector of the parish of Saint George in Carlton, NSW, and Priest Dionysios Halim, a cleric of Saint John the Baptist Skete in Kentlyn, NSW. Following the services on Thursday those present enjoyed a festive meal in the newly-renovated church hall.
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On Saturday 4 August and Sunday 5 August we had services for the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God. These were the first services following the completion of a choir-loft in our parish centre that has greatly increased the size of our small church. Prior to All-night vigil on Saturday evening our parish rector served a panikhida to mark the fortieth day of the repose of Archpriest Simeon Kichakov (+25 June 2018). Joining us on Sunday morning in anticipation of our parish feast-day on 9 August were Bishop George, Protodeacon Alexander Kotlaroff, and a great many friends from Newcastle and from the Sydney parishes. In his sermon at Divine Liturgy Bishop George spoke about the history of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God and of the importance of seeking help in prayer from the Mother of God, Saint Panteleimon and all the saints. Following a moleben to Saint Panteleimon “Many Years” was intoned for the hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church and for the parish, its clergy and office-bearers. The parish rector then presented Protodeacon Alexander with an embroidered protodeacon’s orarion, a gift from the Gosford parish to mark the twentieth anniversary of his ordination to the diaconate. All later enjoyed a festive banquet at the East Gosford Progress Hall.
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The July 2018 issue of the official journal of the Australian-New Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia is now available in our parishes. As usual, it contains a range of interesting articles in both Russian and English. In Russian: Послание митрополита Восточно-Американского и Нью-Йоркского Илариона, Первоиерарха Русской Зарубежной Церкви, по случаю 100-летия мученической кончины святых и благоверных Царственных Страстотерпцев; "Прислужник Св. Иоанна Шанхайского - История Русского рассеяния"; "Созерцатель или созидатель" - памяти прот. Симеона Кичакова; and more. In English: "Why do we pray for the dead on the second, ninth and fortieth day of a person's repose, and what is the basis for the practice?"; "Eight tips for Christian parents on raising chldren in today's world"; "The life story of Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Vladimir"; and more. Copies are $5.00.
00027
In view of ongoing severe drought conditions in significant parts of Australia, His Grace Bishop George issued a directive on 1 August 2018 that all parishes and monasteries of the Diocese offer prayers for God’s mercy and for rain. These prayers will continue until further notice.
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On Monday 16 July and Tuesday 17 July we had night-time services to mark the centenary of the murder of Tsar Nicholas II and his family, the Royal Passionbearers of Russia, together with their faithful companions. All-night vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves commenced at 9.30pm on Monday and Divine Liturgy commenced in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Despite the lateness of the hour approximately a dozen people were able to attend the services, the majority of whom received Holy Communion at Divine Liturgy. The services ended after 2.00am with a brief moleben and the customary prayer of repentance. The Epistle of Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, on the 100th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of the Righteous Royal Passion-Bearers can be read in Russian here and and in English here. Holy Royal Passionbearers of Russia, pray to God for us!
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On Saturday 14 July and Sunday 15 July we had services for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the wonder-working "Akhtyrka" Icon of the Mother of God, the original of which is kept in the Diocesan Archbishop's Chapel of All Saints of Russia in Croydon, NSW. As the water with which the original icon was washed healed a sick child, a moleben with the Blessing of Water was served prior to Divine Liturgy on Sunday. Following the Prayer before the Amvon, prayers of blessing were read over a number of new items: gold vestments for the Holy Table and the Table of Oblation, silver zeon cups for altar use, silver candle-stands for the church, and gold covers for the icon-stands. In his sermon the parish rector spoke about the history of the “Akhtyrka” Icon and of the help we receive through the prayers of the Mother of God.
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On Saturday 30 June and Sunday 1 July we had services for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of Saint John the Wonderworker of Shanghai and San Francisco (+1966 AD). A brief moleben to the saint was served following the Prayer before the Amvon at Divine Liturgy on Sunday. At the veneration of the Cross at the end of Divine Liturgy the faithful were anointed with oil from Saint John’s shrine in San Francisco.
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On Saturday 16 June and Sunday 17 June we had services for the Third Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of Saint Metrophanes (Mitrofan), first Patriarch of Constantinople (+c.326 AD). Amongst the saints also commemorated on this day were All Saints of Belorussia, an icon of whom was set forth for veneration during both services. Receving Holy Communion for the first time at Divine Liturgy on Sunday was the newly-baptised Christopher Newton. Following the Prayer before the Amvon prayers of blessing were read over a copy of the revered Georgian Icon, “Glory of Iveria” ("Слава Грузинской Церкви") - a gift to our parish from Alexei Kozlovski and Svetlana Bolonina – and a set of liturgical books containing all the services for the first and last weeks of Great Lent – a gift from Evgenia Druganova. In his sermon the parish rector spoke about the importance of not “having it both ways” in the spiritual life, and of seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.
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On the weekends of 2-3 June and 9-10 June a number of volunteers gathered at our parish centre to prepare for and begin work on the construction of the new second floor. The teams working under Rick Golovin's leadership included Vlad Golovin, Chris Karmadonoff, Josh Koppman, George Karmadonoff, Craig Koppman, Joe Carles, Victor Bendevski, Philip Bendevski, Nickolay Kravchenko, Greg Alexandrovsky and Con Yakimov. The hall flooring was removed on Saturday 2 June and in a huge effort over two days on 9-10 June the hall air-conditioning unit and all the ducting was moved; the steel posts, bearers and joists for the floor above the hall were put in place; and the wooden flooring for the upper level was laid. Our Head Sister Nina Golovin fed the workers on Saturday 9 June and Kate Marcotrigiano prepared lunch on Sunday 10 June. God willing, the team will be back on site on the weekend of 23-24 June to install the choir loft in church. In addition to these major efforts work will continue on gyprocking and plastering, the electrics and the air conditioning, and the construction of an office and storage units upstairs.
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On Saturday 9 June the parish rector baptised one year-old Christopher, the son of Joel and Svetlana Newton. Christopher was baptised in honour of the Martyr Christopher and had as his sponsors Pressica Taber and the parish rector, Archpriest James Carles. We warmly congratulate Joel, Svetlana and Pressica and wish the newly-illumined servant of God Christopher many years!
00034
On Sunday 3 June our parish published an educational leaflet, 'What is prosphora?'. This leaflet, prepared in collaboration with our neighbouring parish of Saint Nicholas, Wallsend (Newcastle) explains the symbolism and use of prosphora, the small loaves of bread offered during Divine Liturgy. The leaflet also explains the commemoration of the names of the living and the departed at Divine Liturgy. Printed copies are available in church.
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On Saturday 2 June and Sunday 3 June we had services for the First Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of All Saints. At the end of Divine Liturgy a brief moleben was served for the children and young people of our parish, our Diocese and the whole Russian Orthodox Church Outisde Russia, the Sunday of All Saints being the Day of Youth of the Russian Church Abroad. As 3 June (22 May on the Julian Calendar) was also the feast-day of All Saints of Ufa - a group of twentieth-century martyrs and righteous ones from the Bashkortostan region of Russia - their icon and a cross containing the relics of Righteous Moses of Ufa (+1983), Righteous Zosima Ennatskaya (+1935), and Blessed Barbara Skvorchikhinskaya (+1966) - three of the most revered saints of Ufa - were set forth for veneration. In his sermon the parish rector spoke about the different paths to holiness of these three saints and of the need for each of us to pursue our own path to holiness.
00036
Our Winter 2018 Schedule of Services - covering June, July and August - is now available in PDF format. A copy of the English-language Winter 2018 Schedule of Services is available here, and a copy of the Russian-language Winter 2018 Schedule of Services is available here. Printed copies in both languages are now available in church.
00037
On Saturday 19 May and Sunday 20 May we had services for the seventh Sunday of Pascha and in honour of the three hundred and eighteen Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council convened in Nicaea in 325 AD. In his sermon at Divine Liturgy on Sunday the parish rector spoke about the history of the First Ecumenical Council and the enduring importance for Christian life of the decisons that it made.
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On Wednesday 16 May and Thursday 17May we had services for the Great Feast of the Ascension of the Lord. All-night vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves was served on Wednesday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Thursday morning. As it was on this feast-day in 2007 that the Act of Canonical Communion between the Russian Orthodox Church outside Russia and the Moscow Patriarchate was signed, the Prayer for the Prosperity of the Russian Church was read after the Augmented Litany and a brief service of thanksgiving was served following the Prayer before the Amvon. After the dismissal the parish rector spoke briefly about the traditional significance of the feast-day and about the unity of the Russian Orthodox Church.
00039
On the evening of Tuesday 15 May, the Eve of the Leave-taking of Pascha, a small group of parishioners gathered for the final Paschal Matins of the year. In accordance with the practice of the Russian Orthodox Church, Matins was served as it is during Bright Week – sung in its entirety, and with the doors to the sanctuary open. The icon of the Resurrection of the Lord was then returned to the sanctuary, the Shroud of Christ was removed from the Holy Table, and the church was made ready for the festive services for the Ascension of the Lord.
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On Saturday 5 May and Sunday 6 May we had services for the Fifth Sunday of Pascha - the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman (John 4:5-42) – and in honour of the Great Martyr, Trophy-bearer and Wonderworker George (+303 AD). In his sermon the parish rector spoke about the extraordinary conversation of Christ with the Samaritan Woman Photini by Jacob’s Well, her conversion and martyrdom, and the help received over the centuries through the prayers of Saint George. For the first time in our fourteen years at West Gosford refreshments were not offered after the service, our hall and kitchen having been closed in preparation for the construction of a second floor above the hall and a choir loft at the rear of the church. We hope to have this work finished by late July 2018.
00041
The April 2018 issue of the official journal of the Australian-New Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia is now available in our parishes. In addition to the Paschal Epistle of Metropolitan Hilarion in both Russian and English, there is a range of interesting articles in both languages. In Russian: "Догмат о Пресвятой Троице"; "Царь-Освободитель - 200 лет со дня рождения Александра II"; and more. In English: "Why on the right hand: The meaning of [wedding] rings in the Orthodox Tradition”; "A few tips on helping your children grow to become faithful Orthodox adults"; and more. Also included is a list of Diocesan recipients of the Partriarchal Medal commemorating the centenary of the re-establishment of the Patriarchate in the Russian Orthodox Church and a list of living and departed Diocesan clergy for commemoration in prayer. Copies are $5.00.
00042
Mid-Pentecost is the twenty-fifth day of Pascha, half-way to the Great Feast of Pentecost on the fiftieth day. On this day we commemorate Christ's teaching in the temple "in the midst of the Judaic feast" (John 7:14-30). Although we were again unable to have services on Wednesday 2 May, the day of Mid-Pentecost itself, on the eve of the feast we had Matins followed by the customary blessing of water. The blessing of water occurs on this day as a sign of the grace of the Holy Spirit and with reference to the "living water" promised by our Lord Jesus Christ to all that believe in Him (John 7:37-38).
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On Saturday 28 April and Sunday 29 April we had services for the Fourth Sunday of Pascha, the Sunday of the Paralytic. Receiving Holy Communion for the first time at Divine Liturgy on Sunday was the newly-baptised infant Amelia Bolonin. As 29 April was the tenth anniversary of the enthronement of Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral) as First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR), a moleben of thanksgiving was served following the Prayer before the Amvon. At the end of the service the parish rector spoke briefly about Metropolitan Hilarion’s election as First Hierarch and his wise leadership over the past ten years. In accordance with a directive of the ROCOR Synod of Bishops, 'Many Years' was then intoned for Metropolitan Hilarion and 'Eternal Memory' was sung for the ever-memorable Emperor Alexander II, the "Tsar-Liberator" assassinated in 1881, it being the two-hundredth anniversary of his birth.
00044
On Saturday 14 April and Sunday 15 April we had services for the second Sunday of Pascha, Thomas Sunday. At Divine Liturgy on Sunday the newly-baptised child Teagan (Katerina) Rochtchina received Holy Communion for the first time. Following the Prayer before the Amvon at the prayer at the breaking of the Artos was read. In place of a sermon, the parish rector read aloud the Paschal Epistle of Metropolitan Hilarion in Russian and in English. At the dismissal, pieces of the blessed Artos were given to the faithful.
00045
On Sunday 15 April, Thomas Sunday, the parish rector baptised Amelia Bolonin, the infant daughter and first child of Yuriy and Eugenia Bolonin. Amelia was baptised in honour of Righteous Emmelia of Caesarea. Her godparents were Alexei Kozlovski and Svetlana Bolonina. We warmly congratulate Yuriy, Eugenia, Alexei and Svetlana and wish the newly-baptised handmaiden of God Amelia many years!
00046
On Saturday 14 April, Bright Saturday, the parish rector baptised two year-old Teagan Rochtchina, the daughter of Marina Rochtchina. Teagan was given the name Katerina in baptism in honour of Great-Martyr Katherine of Alexandria. Her godmother was her maternal aunt, Anastasia Jeboult. We warmly congratulate Marina and Anastasia and wish the newly-baptised handmaiden of God Katerina many years!
00047
As is customary, this year our parish had a number of traditional services for Orthodox Holy Week and Pascha. Matins with the singing of "Behold, the Bridegroom comes" ("Се, Жених грядет") and the exapostilarion “Thy Bridal chamber” ("Чертог твой") was served in the evening on Sunday 1 April, Monday 2 April, and Tuesday 3 April. Vespers with the bringing out of the Shroud of Christ was served at midday on Friday 6 April and Matins with Lamentations before the Tomb of Christ was served that evening. On the morning of Saturday 7 April, Great and Holy Saturday and the Great Feast of the Annunciation, Divine Liturgy was served. On Saturday evening we had an early Midnight Office and procession followed by Paschal Matins and the blessing of Easter eggs and cakes. The Paschal Hours and Vespers were served on the morning of Sunday 8 April and festive foods were again blessed. Divine Liturgy was served on the morning of Monday 9 April, Bright Monday.
00048
At 5.00pm on Sunday 20 May 2018 a fundraising dinner will be held in the church hall at Saints Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Cathedral, 3 Vernon Street, Strathfield, to assist the Presentation Sisterhood in Bungarby, NSW, a monastic community of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. A French-themed dinner will be served, and during the evening well-known Serbian Orthodox priest Father Rade Radan will give a talk entitled 'Serpents and Doves'. Child-minding will be available. Tickets are $50.00 for adults, $40.00 for pensioners, and $15.00 for children aged 15 and younger. Seating will be at tables of 8. More information is available at https://cabrapokrov.org/fundraising-for-monasteries.
00049
On Sunday 29 April 2018 at 2.00pm at the Russian Club, 7 Albert Road, Strathfield, Orthodox Action Sydney will present its seventeenth charity concert, “Heart of Gold” 2018. The program will feature a mixture of classical music, Russian folklore, humour, and dancing. All funds raised will benefit orphaned and abandoned children and the needy in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. Tickets are $30.00 for adults, $25.00 for pensioners and students, and $10.00 for children 5-10 years of age. More information can be obtained by contacting Vera on 9747-3109 or Natasha on 9730-2367.
00050
Saints Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Institute (SCMOI) is the newly-established theological and higher learning institute of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. It provides undergraduate and postgraduate award courses by arrangement with the Adelaide College of Divinity and the Uniting College for Leadership and Theology. SCMOI is offering a free online lecture series on "Sexuality, Homosexuality and the Bible" beginning on Thursday 19 April 2018. Online registration is available here: https://www.scmoi.edu.au/free-lecture-series.
00051
On Saturday 31 March and Sunday 1 April we had services for the Great Feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, Palm Sunday. All-night vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil, five loaves and pussy-willow branches was served on Saturday evening, during which a great many people took the opportunity to confess their sins in preparation to receive Holy Communion on the following day. Prior to Divine Liturgy on Sunday the Lesser Blessing of Water was served. Our church was full to overflowing on the day of the feast, with well over 100 people present. Receiving Holy Communion for the first time was the newly-baptised infant Alexei Morozoff. Following the service a collection was taken up to assist the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem.
00052
On Saturday 31 March the parish rector baptised Boston Morozoff, the infant son and first child of Alexei and Carly Morozoff. In baptism Boston was given the name Alexei in honour of Saint Alexei the Man of God. His godparents were Alexander Mavritsky, Laura Barandiaran and Amaya Barandiaran. We warmly congratulate Alexei, Carly, Alexander, Laura and Amaya and wish the newly-baptised servant of God Alexei many years!
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On Thursday 29 March we had our final Great Compline for Great Lent in 2018. A small congregation gathered to read the psalms and prayers and to sing the familiar hymns. On the following morning, Friday 30 March, we had a clean-up of our parish centre in preparation for Holy Week and Pascha. The opportunity was also taken to decorate the church with palm branches in readiness for the Palm Sunday services on 31 March-1 April.
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Our services during the fifth week of Great Lent were Matins with the Great Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete and the reading of the Life of Saint Mary of Egypt on the evening of Wednesday 21 March and the General Service of Anointing on the evening of Sunday 25 March. At Matins on Wednesday 21 March the odes of the Great Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete were read alternately in Slavonic and English, and the Life of Saint Mary of Egypt was read in full in English. Known colloquially as “Saint Andrew’s Standing” (“Андреево стояние”), this solemn and edifying service commenced at 6.00pm and finished just before 10.00pm. On the evening of Sunday 25 March forty-six parishioners gathered for the General Service of Anointing. Although this service is ideally served by seven priests together, our distance from other parishes meant that it was served by our rector alone. Both Slavonic and English were used during the service.
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In addition to services on the weekend of 17-18 March, our services during the fourth week of Great Lent were Great Compline on the evening of Thursday 15 March and Vespers with the Fourth Passia on the evening of Sunday 18 March. At Vespers with the Fourth Passia on Sunday evening the akathist to the Divine Passion of Christ and chapters 18 and 19 of Saint John’s Gospel were read in Church Slavonic.
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On Saturday 17 March and Sunday 18 March we had services for the departed and for the Fourth Sunday in Great Lent, the day of commemoration of Saint John of the Ladder (+649 AD), Abbot of Mount Sinai and author of the The Ladder of Divine Ascent, a spiritual book of great and enduring significance in Orthodox spirituality. As Saturday 17 March was a day of commemoration of the departed, the service on Saturday evening was preceded by a general panikhida at which the ever-memorable Metropolitan Laurus (Skurla) (+16 March 2008), fifth First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, was commemorated, together with many departed hierarchs and clergymen of our Diocese, parishioners, relatives and friends. After the panikhida, koliva and other foods were blessed and shared. In his sermon on Sunday the parish rector made particular reference to Saint John's advice in The Ladder of Divine Ascent to laymen: "Do all the good you can; do not speak evil of anyone; do not steal from anyone; do not lie to anyone; do not be arrogant towards anyone; do not be absent from divine services; be compassionate to the needy; do not offend anyone; do not wreck another man's domestic happiness, and be content with what your own wives can give you. If you can behave in this way, you will not be far from the Kingdom of Heaven" (Step 1:21).
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Our services during the third week of Great Lent were Great Compline on the evening of Thursday 8 March and Vespers with the Third Passia on the evening of Sunday 11 March. At Vespers with the Third Passia on Sunday evening the akathist to the Divine Passion of Christ and chapters 22 and 23 of Saint Luke’s Gospel were read in English.
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In addition to services on the weekend of 3-4 March, our services during the second week of Great Lent were Great Compline on the evening of Thursday 1 March and Vespers with the Second Passia on the evening of Sunday 4 March. Great Compline is a simple, solemn and characteristically Lenten service of psalms and prayers, and in our parish it is the custom for all who wish to share in the reading to do so. At Vespers with the Second Passia on Sunday evening the akathist to the Divine Passion of Christ and chapters 14 and 15 of Saint Mark’s Gospel were read in Church Slavonic.
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On Saturday 3 March and Sunday 4 March we had services for the Second Sunday of Great Lent and in honour of Saint Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica (+AD 1359). As Saturday 3 March was a day of commemoration of the departed, the service on Saturday evening was preceded by a general panikhida at which a great many departed clergymen of our Diocese, parishioners, relatives and friends were commemorated by name. After the panikhida koliva and other foods were blessed and shared. Following Divine Liturgy on Sunday a collection was taken up to benefit the Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary in Jordanville, NY.
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This year our services during the First Week of Great Lent included Matins, the Hours, Typika and Vespers on Monday 19 February; Great Compline with the reading of the Great Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete each evening from Monday 19 February until Thursday 22 February; and Vespers with the First Passia on the evening of Sunday 25 February. During each week of Great Lent we will have a weeknight service and a Sunday evening service.
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On Saturday 17 February and Sunday 18 February we had services for Forgiveness Sunday, the final Sunday before the beginning of Great Lent. Divine Liturgy was immediately followed by Vespers, during which the church vestments were changed from festive blue – for the Great Feast of the Meeting of the Lord – to black, and the ordinary melodies gave way to the solemn melodies of Great Lent. In accordance with Orthodox practice, at the end of Vespers all present asked forgiveness of one another. Following the service the Ladies Auxiliary served pancakes with herring, smoked salmon, and sour cream.
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Our Autumn 2018 Schedule of Services - covering March, April and May 2018 - is now available in PDF format. It includes all our services for Great Lent, Holy Week, Pascha and the Great Feast of the Ascension of the Lord. A copy of the English-language Autumn 2018 Schedule of Services is available here, and a copy of the Russian-language Autumn 2018 Schedule of Services is available here. Both can also be accessed on our Services page, and printed copies are available in church.
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On Wednesday 14 February and Thursday 15 February we had services for the Great Feast of the Meeting of the Lord. On this day we commemorate the presentation of the Lord in the Temple on the fortieth day after his birth and his acknowledgement by the Righteous Symeon and the Prophetess Anna. All-night vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves was served on Wednesday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Thursday morning. Following the readings of the Hours and immediately prior to the commencement of Divine Liturgy, the Order for the Blessing of Candles on the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord was served. The Prayer before the Amvon was followed by a blessing of fruit – customary in many parishes of our Diocese on this day – and the dismissal was followed by a memorial litia for the ever-memorable Archbishop Paul (Pavlov), Ruling Bishop of our Diocese from 1980-1992, and for his Diocesan Secretary and friend, Archpriest Nicholas Grant. Vladyka Paul reposed on this feast-day in 1995, and Father Nicholas reposed on the eve of the feast-day that same year. Eternal memory!
00064
On the evening of Tuesday 6 February, the day of commemoration of Blessed Xenia of Saint Petersburg, a moleben with an akathist – a liturgical hymn in thirteen parts –to the saint was served. The moleben – or service of intercession – was served in Church Slavonic and the akathist was read in English. All our parishioners were commemorated by name together with those who have asked for our prayers and the family and friends of those present. Following the service the parish rector congratulated Nina Golovin, the Senior Sister, on the feast-day of the parish Ladies’ Auxiliary. Many years was sung for Nina and the members of the Ladies Auxiliary and for Xenia (Janet) Strickler, celebrating her name-day. Those present later gathered in the church hall for a light festive meal. Holy blessed Xenia, pray to God for us!
00065
On Saturday 3 February and Sunday 4 February we had services for the Sunday of the Prodigal Son – so named for the appointed Gospel reading, Luke 15:11-32 – and in honour of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia. A large number of people were present for Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning. It being an important feast-day in the Russian Orthodox Church, the Prayer for the Prosperity of the Russian Orthodox Church was read. In his sermon the parish rector spoke about the parable of the Prodigal Son as an encouragement to repentance and about the history and significance of the commemoration of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia. Following Divine Liturgy a collection was taken up for Orthodox Action, raising $195.00.
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The January 2018 issue of the official journal of the Australian-New Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia is now available in our parishes. In addition to the Nativity Epistle of Patriarch Kyrill in Russian and the Nativity Epistle of Metropolitan Hilarion in both Russian and English, there is a range of interesting articles in both languages. In Russian: "Памятник Царю-Мученику Николаю установлен в Австралии"; "Делегация Украиской Православной Церкви Московского Патриархата в Австралии" and more. In English: "Australian and New Zealand Seventh Annual Teen Retreat”; a number of articles about Orthodox Christian practices; and more. Also included are notices concerning recent ordinations and clergy movements. Copies are $5.00
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The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse completed its work late in 2017. The seventeen-volume Final Report of the Royal Commission, which looked into the history of abuse in a range of institutions and organisations in Australia including religious groups, was published on 15 December 2017. The Final Report Preface and Executive Summary summarises the findings and lists all the recommendations. There is also a brief guide to the Final Report. The Royal Commission made 28 recommendations that set out governance standards – including the ten Child Safe Standards – and compliance mechanisms designed to ensure that children stay safe in religious institutions. Our Parish Council is now familiarising itself with the findings and recommendations of the Royal Commission so as to develop, in conjunction with the Diocesan authorities, policies and procedures to ensure that our parish and our Diocese remain child-safe and child-friendly.
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On Saturday 20 January and Sunday 21 January we had services for the Sunday after Theophany. This year, the Sunday after Theophany coincided with Zaccheus Sunday, the final Sunday before the beginning of preparation for Great Lent. On this day the appointed Gospel reading is Luke 19:1-10, the account of the repentant tax collector Zaccheus of Jericho. In his sermon the parish rector noted the shift in focus in the life of the Church from the joy of the Great Feasts of the Nativity and the Baptism of Christ to the need for repentance. This shift is also evident in the Gospel reading appointed for the Sunday after Theophany, Matthew 4:12-17.
00069
On Thursday 18 January and Friday 19 January we had services for the Great Feast of Theophany, the commemoration of the Baptism of the Lord. All-night vigil - Great Compline and Matins with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves – was served on Thursday evening, and Divine Liturgy with the Great Blessing of Water was served on Friday morning. Following the service on Friday and during the days that followed, the parish rector visited parish homes to sprinkle the Holy Water and offer prayers for the health and salvation of the faithful.
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Over the weekend of 5 January – 7 January we had a number of services to prepare for and celebrate the Nativity of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ. Matins for the Eve of the Nativity and in honour of the Martyr Eugenia (+AD) was served on the evening of Friday 5 January. On the morning of Saturday 6 January Divine Liturgy and Vespers with the eight prophetic readings from the Old Testament were served, after which we decorated our small church for the main festive services. On Saturday evening we had All-night Vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves and on Sunday morning the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great. In place of a sermon, our parish rector read aloud the Nativity Epistle of Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York in Russian and in English. In accordance with parish custom, prayers of thanksgiving were offered at the end of the Christmas Day service to commemorate the deliverance of the Russian Church and Empire from the French and Twelve Other Nations on this day in 1812. Following the service many gathered in the church hall for a festive meal.