This year we mourned the loss of three people dear to us: Nestor Petroff (+16 January 2022), a much-loved parishioner who contributed greatly to parish life over the years; Protodeacon Constantine Moshegov (+30 January 2022), a long-standing friend of our parish, the brother-in-law of our own Protodeacon Martin Naef, and a respected Diocesan cleric; and ROCOR First Hierarch Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral) (+16 May 2022), who as Diocesan Bishop blessed the establishment of our parish, suggested that it be named in honour of Saint Panteleimon, and gifted us a portion of the saint’s relics. As the COVID-19 pandemic continued, we continued to offer prayers for deliverance from the coronavirus. From February we laboured under the shadow of armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine. We offered prayers for peace and gave assistance to Ukrainian refugees living on the Central Coast. We had ten baptisms this year – one was of a young woman, Kaylah (Ksenia) Gray, and the others were of infants: Nikolai Karonin, Mila Potalitsyna, Agata Chylinksi, Michael Gorbatovskiy, Arina Rudyk, Orla Krikunov, Michael Odarchenko, Vera Rebrova and Sophia Trigg. A long-standing friend of our parish, Craig Koppman, was received into Orthodoxy by chrismation. Stephen Williamson and Helena Markovtsev were married in our church in May. We participated in the Great Lenten Pastoral Conference in March, in services in June marking the fortieth day of Metropolitan Hilarion’s repose, and in the Twentieth Australian-New Zealand Diocesan Assembly in October. Together with the Wallsend parish we provided an English-Russian wall calendar commemorating the fortieth anniversary of the repose of the noted ascetic and writer, Hieromonk Seraphim (Rose) of Platina. The manufacture of a new iconostasis for our parish centre was completed in Moscow in August and work began to bring it to Australia for installation. We were given a beautiful icon of the Martyr Ludmila. Our parish rector made pastoral visits to the Mid North Coast of New South Wales in January, May and July, and in November he was appointed rector of the Saint Symeon of Verkhoturye Orthodox Mission there. All the news from 2022 can be read here. Glory be to God for all things!
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On Saturday 24 December and Sunday 25 December we had services for the Twenty-Eighth Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers, and in honour of Venerable Herman of Alaska (+1836). All-night Vigil was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning. At All-night Vigil the magnification was also sung for Saint Spyridon of Tremithus, wonderworker (+348 AD), another great saint commemorated on this day. The parish rector was assisted at both services by Deacon Michal Matys, and our choir and congregation were augmented by friends from Sydney and interstate holidaying on the Central Coast. At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine.
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The December 2022 issue of “Word of the Church” (“Церковное Слово”), the official journal of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, is now available in our parishes. This edition continues the beautiful glossy colour format introduced in December 2020. Content includes the text in Russian and English of the Resolution of the Twentieth Diocesan Assembly held in October 2022, together with photographs from the Assembly and a list of clergy who co-served with Bishop George at Divine Liturgy on the final day of the Assembly; directives concerning clergy awards, the closure of a mission in Adelaide, and the opening of a mission on the Mid North Coast of NSW; a biography of the newest priest of our Diocese, Father Pavel Baksheev; reports and photographs on the life of the Diocese; the life and work of Archimandrite Pavel (Gruzdev), a Twentieth Century confessor and elder of the Russian Orthodox Church; and more. Copies are $5.00.
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On Sunday 18 December and Monday 19 December we had services in honour of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, archbishop of Myra in Lycia (+342 AD). All-night Vigil was served on Sunday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Monday morning. As our parish rector has generally served in the Wallsend parish on this day, this was the first time in many years that our parish had services in honour of Saint Nicholas. At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine, and our choir and congregation were augmented by friends from Sydney holidaying on the Central Coast. Receiving Holy Communion for the first time at Divine Liturgy was the newly-baptised infant Sophia Trigg.
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On 3 December 2022 the Australian-New Zealand Diocese of our Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia advertised a permanent part-time position for a Youth Coordinator. The role of the Youth Coordinator will encompass evaulation, development and implementation of programs and activities for the youth of the Diocese. More information about the position is available here. Questions and expressions of interest should be directed to the Diocesan Office. Additional information to help applicants: Applications close 25 December 2022. Send applications to the Diocesan Office with a cc to Protodeacon Alexander Abramoff. Interviews are likely to be held during the first week of January, with 9 January 2023 the preferred start date.
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Updated 12 March 2023: On the weekend of Saturday-Sunday 27-28 May 2022, the Australian-New Zealand Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia will celebrate the centenary of the founding of the parish of Saint Nicholas in Brisbane, the first Russian Orthodox parish in Australia. As all Diocesan clergy will gather in Brisbane that weekend for a pastoral conference on Saturday morning and for participation in the commemorative services on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, there will be no services elsewhere in the Diocese. An epsicopal ukase, or directive, may be viewed here. A poster with contact information and booking arrangements is available in English here and in Russian here.
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In June 2019, with Bishop George’s blessing our parish rector began to make pastoral visits to the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, serving Divine Liturgy and performing baptisms. On 8 December 2022, having received a detailed report on these pastoral visits, Bishop George formally established a missionary community on the Mid North Coast in honour of Saint Symeon of Verkhoturye. The purpose of the mission is to make available Orthodox Christian prayers, sacraments, and teaching on the Mid North Coast; to acquire the material resources and local experience to effectively support this activity; and, in time, to establish a parish in the region. The territory of the mission will encompass the coastal area from Forster-Tuncurry to Woolgoolga. A copy of Bishop George’s Ukase can be viewed here. More information about the Mid North Coast Mission is available here.
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Following Divine Liturgy on Sunday 4 December, a meeting of the Parish Council was held. As it was the first Parish Council meeting since our Annual General Meeting in October 2022, office-bearers for 2022-23 were appointed. The parish rector tabled a detailed report on the life of the parish and the wider church for the period June-December 2022 and reports on parish finances were presented. Consideration was given to arrangements for the transportation of our new iconostasis, now completed, from Moscow to Australia, a project complicated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A plan to ensure an adequate parish response to mandatory Diocesan collections was endorsed, and it was agreed that there would be a general church clean-up on Saturday 31 December in preparation for Orthodox Christmas. The Parish Council will next meet in early 2023.
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On Saturday 3 December and Sunday 4 December we had services for the Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost and the Great Feast of the Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple. All-night Vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning. The parish rector was assisted on Saturday evening by Deacon Michal Matys and on Sunday morning by Protodeacon Martin Naef and Deacon Michal. At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine. At both services, our choir and congregation were augmented by friends from the Sydney parishes holidaying on the Central Coast. Following Divine Liturgy a memorial litia was served for Tatiana Elgin-Borodin (+5 December 2014), and many of those present afterwards gathered in the church hall for a light meal.
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The October 2022 issue of “Word of the Church” (“Церковное Слово”), the official journal of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR), is now available in our parishes. This edition continues the beautiful glossy colour format introduced in December 2020. Content includes information in Russian and English about the September 2022 Council of Bishops held in New York; the election by that Council of Bishop Nicholas (Olhovsky) as Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York and First Hierarch of the ROCOR; and the appointment of Bishop George as Ruling Bishop of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese. Also included in both languages are articles on the repose of Queen Elizabeth II; the repose of Priest David Lloyd; the July 2022 Residential School of the Saints Cyril and Methodius Institute; the history of the Harbin Diocese of the ROCOR (with many wonderful photographs); and more. Copies are $5.00.
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On Saturday 19 November October and Sunday 20 November we had services for the Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Thirty-Three Martyrs of Melitene (+290 AD) and Venerable Lazarus of Mount Galesion (+1053 AD). All-night Vigil was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning. At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus. In his sermon the parish rector spoke about Christ’s raising of the daughter of Jairus and his healing of the woman with an issue of blood (Luke 8:41-56), miracles that occurred in response to faith and which showed both Christ’s divinity and His compassionate mercy.
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Our Summer 2022-23 Schedule of Services - covering December, January, and February - is now available in PDF format. A copy of the English-language Summer 2022-23 Schedule of Services is available here, and a copy of the Russian-language Summer 2022-23 Schedule of Services is available here. Printed copies will be available in church as of the weekend of 19-20 November. Services of note will be for the Great Feasts of the Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple on 3-4 December; Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker on 18-19 December; the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) on 6-7 January; the Baptism of the Lord (Theophany) on 18-19 January; and the Meeting of the Lord on 14-15 February. NOTE: During December we will vary our usual schedule by having services on the first and fourth Sundays of the month instead of the first and third Sundays.
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On Saturday 5 November October and Sunday 6 November we had services for the Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Icon of the Mother of God, ‘Joy of All Who Sorrow’. All-night Vigil was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning. The services were held in the presence of a copy of the ‘Joy of All Who Sorrow’ Icon belonging to friends of the parish and brought to Australia from Russia many years ago via China and Brazil. At Divine Liturgy the parish rector was assisted by Protodeacon Martin Naef and prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine. In his sermon the rector spoke about the history of the ’Joy of All Who Sorrow’ Icon, about Christian experience of help through the prayers of the Mother of God, and about the connection between veneration of the Mother of God and the Orthodox Christian doctrine of the Incarnation of Christ. Following Divine Liturgy a general moleben to the Mother of God was served before the icon. An announcement was then made concerning two appeals to assist Diocesan cleric Priest Mark Woloszyn.
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Father Mark Woloszyn is a priest of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia serving in the Holy Virgin Protection (“Pokrov”) Cathedral in East Brunswick, VIC. He requires expensive surgical treatment for a serious medical condition, and two appeals have been initiated to raise funds to assist him. The first, from Bishop George, is detailed here. It includes details of a Diocesan bank account to which donations can be made. The second, a GoFundMe appeal, is detailed here. At this second link some additional information is provided concerning Father Mark’s circumstances. We encourage those who wish to help Father Mark to respond directly to one of these two appeals. Note: The appeal from Bishop George was updated on 3 November 2022.
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On Saturday 29 October and Sunday 30 October services for the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Prophet Hosea (+829 BC) and Monk-Martyr Andrew of Crete (+767 AD) were held at Saints Peter and Paul Diocesan Cathedral in Strathfield, NSW. Matins was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning. As almost the entire complement of the clergy of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese was in Sydney for the Twentieth Diocesan Assembly, most of our parishes and missions had no services. Our parish clergy served at the cathedral together with Bishop George and 48 other priests and deacons. On Sunday morning a reader was tonsured for the Hobart parish, a number of clerics received ecclesiastical awards, and a priest was ordained for the Dandenong parish. At the Prayer before the Amvon a moleben of thanksgiving was served for the work of the Diocesan Assembly. Following Divine Liturgy, Diocesan Chancellor Mitred Archpriest Michael Protopopov congratulated Bishop George on his recent appointment by the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia as Ruling Bishop of our Diocese, presenting him with the gift of a panagia on behalf of the clergy.
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On Saturday 15 October and Sunday 16 October we had services for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of Hieromartyr Dionysius the Areopagite, bishop of Athens (+96 AD). All-night Vigil was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning. At Divine Liturgy the parish rector was assisted by Protodeacon Martin Naef and Deacon Michal Matys and prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine. In his sermon the rector spoke about the principles for Christian life set out in the appointed readings: to be cheerful givers, sharing our abundance with those less fortunate than ourselves (2 Corinthians 9:6-11); and to love our enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return (Luke 6:31-36).
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The Twentieth Diocesan Assembly of our Australian-New Zealand Diocese is to be held at the Saints Peter and Paul Diocesan Cathedral in Strathfield, NSW, from the evening of Thursday 27 October until the afternoon of Sunday 30 October 2022. As all Diocesan clergy will be participating in the Assembly, the only services in our Diocese on Saturday-Sunday 29-30 October will be at the Strathfield Cathedral. Our parish delegates to the Assembly will be the parish rector, Archpriest James Carles; Protodeacon Martin Naef; Anna Kourbatov; and Alexey Kozlovski. Information about the Nineteenth Diocesan Assembly, held in Strathfield in November 2019, is available here. More information about the Twentieth Diocesan Assembly will be shared as it becomes available. Update, 12 October 2022: A copy of the Diocesan Assembly agenda is available here.
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On Saturday 1 October and Sunday 2 October we had services for the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost, the Afterfeast of the Exaltation of the Cross, and in honour of Martyrs Trophimus, Sabbatius and Dorymedon (+276 AD). All-night Vigil was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning. At these services, our parish for the first time commemorated Metropolitan Nicholas (Olhovsky) in his new capacity as First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia and Bishop George in his new capacity as Ruling Bishop of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese. At Divine Liturgy the parish rector was assisted by Protodeacon Martin Naef and prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus.
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On the evening of Monday 26 September All-night Vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves and the bringing-out of the Cross was served for the Great Feast of the Exaltation of the life-Giving Cross of the Lord. Regrettably, we were this year unable to have Divine Liturgy on Tuesday 27 September, the day of the feast itself.
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On Tuesday 20 September and Wednesday 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 Tuesday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Wednesday morning. At both services the parish rector was assisted by Deacon Michal Matys and prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus.
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On Sunday 18 September our parish held its 2022 Annual General Meeting. The 2022 Annual Report was presented and accepted. A Statement of Commitment to Child Safety was adopted that will guide our parish as it works to ensure that our children are valued, safe, and involved in parish life. Vladimir (“Rick”) Golovin, Anna Kourbatov, Anne Nielsen, Nina Golovin, Kate Marcotrigiano and Alexei Kozlovski were elected to serve on the 2022-23 Parish Council, and Anna Kourbatov and Alexei Kozlovski were chosen to represent the parish at the Twentieth Diocesan Assembly to be held in Strathfield in October 2022.
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On Saturday 17 September and Sunday 18 September we had services for the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of Right-believing Prince Peter and Princess Febronia (+1405 AD), Wonderworkers of Murom and heavenly patrons of love, faithfulness, and family life. All-night Vigil was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning. At Divine Liturgy the parish rector was assisted by Protodeacon Martin Naef and Deacon Michal Matys. Prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine, for deliverance from the coronavirus, and for the aid of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia currently meeting in New York. Following the Prayer before the Amvon there was a moleben to Saints Peter and Fevronia at which all the married couples in our parish were commemorated by name. After the dismissal an announcement was made concerning the parish Annual General Meeting to be held that afternoon.
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Our 2022 Annual Report, including the independently audited 2021-22 Financial Statements, is now available. It includes information about the governance of our parish and gives a little parish history. It also summarises the life and activity of the parish in 2021-22, reflects on challenges and accomplishments, and provides details of some future projects. A copy of the report, which will be formally presented to our parish Annual General Meeting on Sunday 18 September 2022, is available here. We encourage our parishioners and friends with questions or comments concerning our Annual Report to contact us.
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On Saturday 3 September and Sunday 4 September we had services for the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost, for the Afterfeast of the Dormition, and in honour of Martyr Aganthonicus of Nicomedia and his companions (+305-311 AD). All-night Vigil was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning. At Divine Liturgy the parish rector was assisted by Protodeacon Martin Naef and prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus. We were joined on Sunday by friends visiting from Newcastle and Sydney. Following Divine liturgy an announcement was made concerning the parish Annual General Meeting to be held on Sunday 18 September 2022.
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Our Spring 2022 Schedule of Services - covering September, October and November - is now available in PDF format. A copy of the English-language Spring 2022 Schedule of Services is available here, and a copy of the Russian-language Spring 2022 Schedule of Services is available here.
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On Saturday 20 August and Sunday 21 August we had services for the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, the Afterfeast of the Transfiguration, and in honour of Saint Emilian the Confessor, bishop of Cyzicus (+c.815 AD). All-night Vigil was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning. At Divine Liturgy the parish rector was assisted by Protodeacon Martin Naef and prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus. Following Divine liturgy an announcement was made concerning the parish Annual General Meeting to be held on Sunday 18 September 2022.
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On Thursday 18 August and Friday 19 August we had services for the Great Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. All-night Vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves was served on Thursday evening, and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Friday morning. At Divine Liturgy the parish rector was assisted by Deacon Michal Matys, and prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus. At the end of Divine Liturgy there was a blessing of fruit and of honey. The honey, a gift to our parish and the Wallsend parish in memory of the departed servants of God Anna, Olga and Nestor, Michael and Alla, and Evgenia, was afterwards shared amongst those present.
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On Monday 8 August and Tuesday 9 August we had services in honour of Great Martyr Panteleimon (+305 AD), the heavenly patron of our parish. All-night Vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves was served by the parish rector on Monday evening. On Tuesday morning, the lesser blessing of water was followed by the Hours, Divine Liturgy and a moleben to Saint Panteleimon. We were joined for these services by friends from the Wallsend, Cabramatta, Croydon and Strathfield parishes. At Divine Liturgy the parish rector was assisted by Protodeacon Martin Naef, and prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus. Following the services on Tuesday, a festive lunch was held in the parish hall for our parishioners and friends.
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On Saturday 6 August and Sunday 7 August we had services for the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost. All-night Vigil was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning. At Divine Liturgy the parish rector was assisted by Protodeacon Martin Naef and Deacon Michal Matys, and prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus.
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On Saturday 16 July and Sunday 17 July we had services for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, the day of commemoration of the Holy Royal Martyrs of Russia (+1918). All-night Vigil was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning. At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus. Following the service on Sunday a panikhida was served for our departed and ever-memorable parishioners, Nestor (+16 January 2022) and Olga (+18 July 2020) Petroff.
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On Monday 11 July and Tuesday 12 July we had services in honour of the Holy Glorious and All-Praised Leaders of the Apostles, Peter and Paul. All-night Vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves was served on Monday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Tuesday morning. At Divine Liturgy we were joined by friends from Sydney holidaying on the Central Coast. The usual prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus.
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In conjunction with Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, Wallsend, our parish has commenced a review of its child safe policy and procedures to give effect to the Child Safe Standards. The Child Safe Standards are based on the research and consultation conducted by Australia’s Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Now enshrined in law by amendments to the Children’s Guardian Act 2019 (NSW), the Child Safe Standards provide a framework for creating organisations that are inclusive and safe for children. One of our first steps has been to draft a Statement of Commitment to Child Safety, a copy of which can be viewed here. We are also working on a new and comprehensive Child Safe Policy; new role descriptions and complaint-handling procedures; and a new Child Safe Code of Conduct. We will seek comments on all these documents from our parishioners and friends, as well as from the Diocesan and civil authorities, before implementing and formally launching the new policy and procedures later this year.
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On Saturday 2 July and Sunday 3 July we had services for the Third Sunday after Pentecost. All-night Vigil was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning. At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus. In his sermon the parish rector spoke about the practice of the Russian Orthodox Church of commemorating saints of various regional areas on this day, and of a firm intention to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness (Matthew 6:3) as the ground on which sanctity can flourish.
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The June 2022 issue of “Word of the Church” (“Церковное Слово”), the official journal of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, is now available in our parishes. This edition continues the beautiful glossy colour format introduced in December 2020. Content includes details of March 2022 clergy awards, including awards to our own parish clergy; articles relating to the May 2022 repose and burial of Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral) and to the Diocesan observance of the fortieth day of his repose; biographical materials, reflections, and photographs of Vladyka Hilarion; the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of divine service of Mitred Archpriest Michael Protopopov; articles on relations between the Russian and Ukrainian Orthodox Churches and the reestablishment of canonical communion between the Serbian and Macedonian Orthodox Churches; and more. Copies are $5.00.
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On Thursday 23 June and Friday 24 June, clergy of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese gathered at Saints Peter and Paul Diocesan Cathedral in Strathfield, NSW, to offer prayers on the fortieth day of the repose of Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral), Ruling Bishop of our Diocese since 1996 and First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia since 2008. Friday 24 June was also the day of commemoration of the wonder-working “Kursk-Root” Icon of the Mother of God, the “Directress” of the Russian Diaspora; of the wonder-working “Tabynsk” Icon of the Mother of God, revered by both the Russian Orthodox faithful and the Chinese people in Harbin, China, where it was kept from 1918 until 1948; of the Holy Apostles Bartholomew and Barnabas; and of the of the Hieromartyr Mitrophan and 222 other New Martyrs of China, slain during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900. All-night Vigil was served on Thursday evening, with Mitred Archpriest Gabriel Makarov presiding and Protodeacons Alexander Abramoff and Vasily Konstantinidis assisting. All the clergy vested for the singing of the magnification of the Mother of God before copies of the two wonder-working icons. On Friday morning the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served, with Mitred Archpriest Michael Protopopov presiding and twenty-eight other clergymen concelebrating. His Grace Bishop George of Canberra, recovering from illness, prayed in the altar on both days. Following Divine Liturgy a panikhida was served for our departed First Hierarch, with the kontakion “With the saints give rest” sung together by the choir, clergy and all the faithful. The clergy, their spouses, and special guests later gathered in the cathedral hall for a commemorative meal. Over lunch there was discussion of Vladyka Hilarion’s gentleness, kindness, and pastoral warmth, characteristics that remained steadfast even as he rose in the church hierarchy; the possibility of a memorial within the cathedral grounds to all our departed Diocesan bishops; and missionary efforts in Vladyka’s memory. Many years was sung for Bishop George, the Administrator of the Diocese, and for Archpriest Barnabas Jellings, celebrating his name-day that day.
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On Tuesday 21 June, a meeting of the Parish Council was held. The parish rector tabled a detailed report on the life of the parish and the wider church during April, May, and June 2022. It was agreed that this year’s celebration of our patronal feast-day of Saint Panteleimon would be a modest event with a parish lunch in the church hall following the services on Tuesday 9 August. Donations to the Diocesan Mission Fund and to assist Ukrainian refugees now living on the Central Coast were approved. Suggested changes to the scheduling of services, particularly during Great Lent and at Pascha, were noted and endorsed. It was agreed that our parish Annual General Meeting would be held on Sunday 18 September 2022. The Parish Council will meet again in July to discuss our iconostasis project, a number of policy documents, a draft Annual Report, and the 2021-22 financial reports.
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On Saturday 18 June and Sunday 19 June we had services for the First Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday of All Saints. All-night Vigil was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning. At Divine Liturgy the parish rector was assisted by Deacon Michal Matys, and prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus. The newly baptised Orla (Mary) Krikunov received Holy Communion for the first time. In his sermon, the parish rector spoke about the history and significance of the commemoration of All Saints on the First Sunday after Pentecost. He also spoke about the Day of Youth of the Russian Church Abroad, noting with regret that this commemoration had yet to be deeply established in the life of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.
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On Saturday 18 June the parish rector baptised Orla Krikunov, the infant daughter and first child of Nicholas Krikunov and Sophie Hayden. Orla, who had as her godparents Elyse Lufi and Nathan Murray, was in baptism given the name Mary in honour of Saint Mary of Egypt. The Krikunov family has been associated with our parish from the very beginning, and Nicholas was in his youth an altar server here. We warmly congratulate Nicholas, Sophie, Elyse and Nathan, and wish the newly-baptised Orla Mary many years!
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Updated 7 June 2022: On Friday 24 June, the day of commemoration of the wonderworking “Kursk-Root” and “Tabinsk” Icons of the Mother of God and of Hieromartyr Mitrophan and 222 other New Martyrs of China, slain during the Boxer Rebellion (+1900), Bishop George and the clergy of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese will gather at Saints Peter and Paul Diocesan Cathedral in Strathfield to observe the fortieth day of the repose of Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral). A brief biography of Metropolitan Hilarion is available here. Bishop George's directive may be viewed here. All-night Vigil will be served from 6.00pm on Thursday and the Hours, Divine Liturgy and a panikhida will be served from 9.00am on Friday. Clergy have been asked to wear blue vestments. All are welcome to attend these services.
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On Saturday 4 June and Sunday 5 June we had services for the Seventh Sunday of Pascha, the Sunday of the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council. All-night Vigil was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning. At Divine Liturgy the parish rector was assisted by Protodeacon Martin Naef, and prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus. In his sermon, the parish rector spoke about the history and significance of the First Ecumenical Council in 325 AD. At Bishop George’s request, a collection was taken up to assist the Saints Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Institute.
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On Wednesday 1 June and Thursday 2 June 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. On Thursday the small number of people present included visitors from Newcastle and Canberra. As it was on this feast-day in 2007, fifteen years ago this year, that canonical communion was re-established within the Russian Orthodox Church, the Prayer for the Prosperity of the Russian Church was read at Divine Liturgy and a moleben of thanksgiving was served following the Prayer before the Amvon. At Divine Liturgy prayers were also offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus.
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On the evening of Tuesday 31 May, the Eve of the Apodosis of Pascha, we served the final Paschal Matins of 2022. 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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Since the repose of Metropolitan Hilarion on Monday 16 May 2022, the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) has made several decisions concerning church life. On Tuesday 17 May it was resolved, amongst other things, that our newly-reposed First Hierarch be especially commemorated at each Divine Liturgy during the Paschal season and that a panikhida be served on the fortieth day of his repose, Friday 24 June; that the name of Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany be commemorated during the divine services in all ROCOR churches immediately following the commemoration of Patriarch Kyrill; and that Bishop George of Canberra would be appointed Acting Ruling Bishop of the Australian-New-Zealand Diocese. On Monday 23 May it was resolved, amongst other things, to convene a Council of Bishops in New York from 13-21 September 2022 with the purpose of electing a new ROCOR First Hierarch; and to especially commemorate Metropolitan Hilarion on Sunday 26 June, the Second Sunday after Pentecost, as well as on the fortieth day of his repose.
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Our Winter 2022 Schedule of Services - covering June, July and August - is now available. Services of note during this period include those for the Great Feast of the Ascension of the Lord on Wednesday-Thursday 1-2 June; for Saints Peter and Paul on Monday-Tuesday 11-12 July; for our patronal feast of Saint Panteleimon on Monday-Tuesday 8-9 August; and for the Great Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord on Thursday-Friday 18-19 August. A copy of the English-language Winter 2022 Schedule of Services is available here, and a copy of the Russian-language Winter 2022 Schedule of Services is available here. Printed copies in both languages are also available in church.
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On Saturday 14 May and Sunday 15 May we had services for the Fourth Sunday of Pascha, the Sunday of the Paralytic. All-night Vigil was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning. At Divine Liturgy the parish rector was assisted by Protodeacon Martin Naef, and prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus.
00045
On Saturday 30 April and Sunday 1 May we had services for the Second Sunday of Pascha, Thomas Sunday. All-night Vigil was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning. At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus. At the end of Divine Liturgy on Sunday the Artos was cut and distributed.
00046
The April 2022 issue of “Word of the Church” (“Церковное Слово”), the official journal of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, is now available in our parishes. This edition continues the beautiful glossy colour format introduced in December 2020. Content includes Metropolitan Hilarion’s 2022 Paschal Epistle in Russian; the Ukase concerning Priest Alexei Jukoff’s transfer from Dandenong to Adelaide to assist and then replace the retiring rector of the Saint Nicholas parish, Archpriest Vladimir Deduhin; a Russian-language obituary of the late ever-memorable Protodeacon Constantine Moshegov; information about the 2022 Great Lenten Pasoral Conference of our Diocese; Part II of ‘The Relationship Between the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia and the Serbian Orthodox Church in Australia in the period from 1950 until 1969’, the English-language text of a lecture presented to the ROCOR Centenary Conference; and more. Copies are $5.00.
00047
This year, our parish again had a number of traditional services for Holy Week and Pascha. Matins with the reading of the Twelve Passion Gospels was served in the evening on Thursday 21 April, Vespers with the bringing out of the Shroud of Christ at midday on Friday 22 April, Matins with Lamentations before the Tomb of Christ in the evening on Friday 22 April, and Divine Liturgy in the morning on Saturday 23 April. On Saturday evening we had an early Midnight Office and procession followed by Paschal Matins and the blessing of Easter baskets with cakes, eggs, and other festive foods. Paschal Vespers was served at 11.00am on the morning of Pascha, Sunday 24 April. The parish rector was assisted by Deacon Michal Matys on Thursday evening, by Protodeacon Martin Naef at Vespers on Friday and at the services on Saturday evening, and by both deacons together on Saturday morning.
00048
On Sunday 17 April we had services for the Sixth Sunday in Great Lent, Palm Sunday. A blessing of water was served by the parish rector early on Sunday morning, following which there was a blessing of pussy willows and palms. The Hours and Divine Liturgy were then served as usual, with Protodeacon Martin Naef assisting the parish rector. At Divine Liturgy on Sunday prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus.
00049
On Tuesday 6 April and Wednesday 7 April we had services for the Great Feast of the Annunciation of the Mother of God. All-night Vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves was served at on Wednesday evening, and the Hours, Typika, Vespers and Divine Liturgy were served on Thursday morning. At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus.
00050
In addition to services for the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent, Great Compline was served on the evening of Wednesday 30 March and Vespers with the Fourth Passia was served in the evening on Sunday 3 April. At the Passia, the last such service for 2022, chapters 18 and 19 of Saint John’s Gospel were read in English.
00051
On Saturday 2 April and Sunday 3 April we had services for the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent. Matins was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning. As Saturday 2 April was a day of commemoration of the departed, a general panikhida was served immediately before Matins on Saturday evening. As an act of kindness in memory of the departed, those attending the panikhida brought non-perishable foods and personal care items to be passed to a local charitable organisation for relief of the homeless. At Divine Liturgy on Sunday prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus. Our parish rector was assisted at Divine Liturgy by Protodeacon Martin Naef. Following the Prayer before the Amvon, prayers of blessing were read over a new green set of priests’ vestments - donated in memory of the departed servants of God Michael and Alla - and other church items.
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On Tuesday-Wednesday 22-23 March our parish clergy participated in the Great Lenten Pastoral Conference of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese. As part of the proceedings, Divine Liturgy was served at the Saints Peter and Paul Diocesan Cathedral, Strathfield, on the morning of Wednesday 23 March, with Bishop George of Canberra presiding and 37 priests and deacons of our Diocese concelebrating. During Divine Liturgy both Father James and Father Martin received ecclesiastical awards in recognition of their service to the Holy Orthodox Church. On Wednesday evening Great Compline was served in our own parish, and on the evening of Sunday 27 March we had Vespers with the Third Passia. At the Passia, chapters 22 and 23 of Saint Luke’s Gospel were read in English.
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On Saturday 19 March and Sunday 20 March we had services for the Second Sunday of Great Lent. Matins was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning. As Saturday 19 March was a day of commemoration of the departed, a general panikhida was served immediately before Matins on Saturday evening. As an act of kindness in memory of the departed, those attending the panikhida brought non-perishable foods and personal care items to be passed to a local charitable organisation for relief of the homeless. At Divine Liturgy on Sunday prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus. In the evening on Sunday, our parish rector served Vespers with the Second Passia. At the Passia, chapters 14 and 15 of Saint Mark’s Gospel were read in English.
00054
On the first four evenings of the First Week of Great Lent (March 7-13), Great Compline with the reading of the Great Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete was served. The canon, psalms and prayers were read in Church Slavonic and English, with those present participating in the reading. In addition, on the evening of Sunday 13 March we had Vespers with the First Passia. At the Passia, chapters 26 and 27 of Saint Matthew's Gospel were read in English.
00055
On Saturday 5 March and Sunday 6 March we had services for the Sunday of Forgiveness. All-night vigil was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning. The rector was assisted at Divine Liturgy by Protodeacon Martin Naef and Deacon Michal Matys. Prayers were offered for an end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus. Following Divine Liturgy, Vespers with the rite of asking forgiveness was served. During Vespers the church vestments were changed from gold to black and the festive melodies gave way to the penitential Lenten melodies. At the end of Vespers, all present venerated the Holy Icons, the Gospel, and the Cross, and asked forgiveness of one another.
00056
On Saturday 5 March our parish was given a beautiful icon of the Holy Martyr Ludmila (+927AD), Princess of the Czechs and grandmother of Saint Wenceslaus (or Vyacheslav, +935 AD), the "Good King Wenceslaus" of the much-loved English Christmas carol. A gift from a dear friend of our parish, Ludmila Melnikoff, both the icon and the carved wooden case are the work of the Saint Elisabeth Convent in Minsk, Belarus. Upon the arrival of the icon in our church, a moleben to Saint Ludmila was served before it by our parish rector. Prayers were also offered for an end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus. Present for the service were Ludmila, her husband Ellis King, her sister Veronica, and our Head Sister, Nina Golovin. We hope to have a similar moleben each year on the day of commemoration of Saint Ludmila, 29 September. May God richly bless his servant Ludmila, together with her family, for her kindness and generosity!
00057
On 24 February 2022 Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia and Ruling Bishop of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese, issued an 'Archpastoral Epistle to the Clergy and Flock of the Eastern American and Australian-New Zealand Dioceses on Great Lent and on the Events on the Holy Ukrainian Land.' The Epistle can be read in Russian here and in English here.
00058
On Saturday 19 February and Sunday 20 February we had services for the Sunday of the Prodigal Son and the Afterfeast of the Great Feast of the Meeting of the Lord. All-night vigil was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning. The rector was assisted at All-night Vigil by Deacon Michal Matys and at Divine Liturgy by Deacon Michal and Protodeacon Martin Naef. At Divine Liturgy, the Prayer in time of Devastating Epidemic was read. Following Divine Liturgy, a collection was taken up to benefit Orthodox Action and our Ladies' Auxiliary served pancakes.
00059
Our Autumn 2022 Schedule of Services - covering March, April and May 2022 - is now available in digital format. It includes all our services for Great Lent, Holy Week and Pascha. A copy of the English-language Autumn 2022 Schedule of Services is available here, and a copy of the Russian-language Autumn 2022 Schedule of Services is available here. Both can also be accessed on our Services page, and printed copies are available in church as of the weekend of 19-20 February.
00060
On Monday 14 February and Tuesday 15 February we had services for the Great Feast of the Meeting of the Lord. All-night Vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves was served on Monday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Tuesday morning. For Divine Liturgy we were joined by friends from Sydney, Newcastle and the Gold Coast. In accordance with Orthodox tradition and the custom of many Australian parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, there was a blessing of candles and of fruit at the end of Divine Liturgy. Following Divine Liturgy the parish rector spoke about the events commemorated; about the traditions of blessing candles and fruit; and about four ever-memorable clergymen of our Diocese: Archbishop Paul (Pavlov) (+15 February 1995), Archpriest Nicholas Grant (+14 February 1995), Protodeacon Vasily Hadarin (+13 February 2021), and Protodeacon Constantine Moshegov (+ 30 January 2022, ordained deacon 15 February 2007). A memorial litia was then served for them, and after those present had venerated the Cross, a panikhida was served for Glafira Lanzetti (+16 February 2021), the mother of long-time parishioner Katerina Korolkevich-Rubbo.
00061
On Sunday 6 February the parish rector, Archpriest James Carles, baptised Nikolai, the second child of Christopher and Sandra Karonin and a baby brother to Natalia. Nikolai, who was baptised in honour of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, had as his godparents Vanessa Garling and Father James. We warmly congratulate Christopher, Sandra, and Vanessa, and pray that God will grant His newly-baptised servant good health, every blessing from above, and many years!
00062
On Saturday 5 February and Sunday 6 February we had services for the Thirty-Third Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia. Matins was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning. Our parish rector was assisted at Divine Liturgy by Protodeacon Martin Naef and Deacon Michal Matys. Receiving Holy Communion for the first time at Divine Liturgy was the newly baptised servant of God, Ksenia Gray. This year, the Thirty-Third Sunday after Pentecost was Zaccheus Sunday, so named because of the reading from the Gospel of Luke (Luke 19:1-10) concerning the conversion of Zaccheus the tax-collector, one of the great Biblical models of repentance. This Gospel reading is always appointed to the final Sunday before the beginning of the preparatory period for Great Lent.
00063
On Saturday 5 February the parish rector, Archpriest James Carles, baptised 23 year-old Kaylah Gray. Kaylah, who had as her godparents Raisa Zyza and Father James, was in Holy Baptism given the name Ksenia in honour of Blessed Ksenia of Saint Petersburg. In addition to her godparents, Kaylah’s mother, grandmother and sister were present for the service. We warmly congratulate the newly-baptised Ksenia, and pray that God will grant her many years!
00064
Many of our parishioners and friends will already have heard the grievous news of the untimely repose, on Sunday 30 January 2022, of Protodeacon Constantine Moshegov, a respected and much-loved clergyman of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese, an accomplished eye surgeon, and a long-standing friend of our parish. Father Constantine was the brother-in-law of our own Protodeacon Martin Naef. We offer heartfelt condolences to Father Constantine’s widow, Matushka Natalie, and to their children Sophia and Julian; to Father Martin, Matushka Tatiana and family; to Father Constantine's mother, sister and wider family; and to the parish of All Saints of Russia, Croydon, of which he has been such an integral part for over twenty years. Divine Liturgy will be served at Saints Peter and Paul Diocesan Cathedral, Strathfield, at 7.30am on Saturday 5 February; the funeral service for the newly-reposed Protodeacon Constantine will follow at 9.30am. Participating clergymen have been asked to wear white vestments. The burial will be at Rookwood Cemetery (Russian Orthodox Section 3, Grave 514A) at 12.00pm. For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed online here. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to Orthodox Christian monasteries with a request for daily prayers for Protodeacon Constantine’s repose. May God give him rest with the saints!
00065
On Tuesday 18 January and Wednesday 19 January we had services in honour of the Great Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Theophany. All-night Vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves was served on Tuesday evening and Divine Liturgy with the Great Blessing of Water was served on Wednesday morning. The rector was assisted on Tuesday evening by Deacon Michal Matys. At Divine Liturgy, the Prayer in time of Devastating Epidemic was read. As is customary at this time of year, we were joined by friends from Sydney holidaying on the Central Coast.
00066
On Saturday 15 January and Sunday 16 January we had services for the Thirtieth Sunday after Pentecost and the Sunday before Theophany. Matins was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning. The rector was assisted at Matins by Deacon Michal Matys and at Divine Liturgy by Deacon Michal and Protodeacon Martin Naef. At Divine Liturgy, the Prayer in time of Devastating Epidemic was read. Following Divine Liturgy a panikhida was served for our newly-departed parishioner, Nestor Petroff, and a moleben was served for the health of Protodeacon Constantine Moshegov of the Archbishop's Chapel of All Saints Of Russia (Croydon, NSW), Sister Anastasia of the Presentation of the Mother of God Convent (Bungarby, NSW), and all those suffering illness as a result of the coronavirus.
00067
Updated 19 January 2022: On Thursday 6 January and Friday 7 January we had services for Christmas, the Great Feast of the Nativity of Christ. Our small church had been beautifully prepared beforehand with green vestments and a Christmas tree. All-night Vigil – Great Compline, Matins and the First Hour – with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves was served on Thursday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Friday morning. As Protodeacon Martin Naef had again been asked to assist with the hierarchical services at Saints Peter and Paul Diocesan Cathedral, our parish rector served alone. At Divine Liturgy Craig Koppman received Holy Communion for the first time. At the end of Divine Liturgy, we had a brief moleben of thanksgiving to observe the anniversary of the deliverance on Christmas Day in 1812 of the Russian Church and Empire from the invasion of the French and twelve other nations. In place of a sermon at Divine Liturgy, the parish rector read aloud Metropolitan Hilarion’s Nativity Epistle in both Russian and English.
00068
With the blessing of Bishop George, on Monday 3 January December the parish rector received Craig Koppman, a longstanding and well-known friend of our parish, into the Orthodox Church by chrismation. Upon his reception into Orthodoxy Craig took the name Alexander in honour of Saint Alexander Nevsky. Craig has a rich history of involvement in our parish from the very earliest days, having assisted with fundraising, building, and social events. He and his wife Tammey (née Golovin) were married in our church in 2006, and their daughters Emily and Chloe were baptised here. We warmly congratulate the newly illumined Craig-Alexander, praying that our merciful God will grant him good health and many years!
00069
On Saturday 1 January and Sunday 2 January we had services for the Twenty-Eighth Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday of the Holy Fathers, and in honour of Saint John of Kronstadt (+1909). All-night Vigil was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday. As Protodeacon Martin Naef had been asked to assist with the hierarchical services at Saints Peter and Paul Diocesan Cathedral, Strathfield, our parish rector served Divine Liturgy alone.