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2019 - The year in review - 31/12/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-12-31 23:55:01

In 2019 we celebrated 15 years of parish life in West Gosford. The renovation of our parish centre was effectively completed, with the office, meeting room and vestry all brought into use. We acquired new candle-stands and beautiful new church vestments in green, white and blue. We had nine baptisms: Rocco Ward, Alexander Tomachinsky, Sophia Grishina, Noemie Vitkovsky, Myron Markarov, Ellis King, Dominic Sytin, Natalia Karonin, and Martin Westcott.  Four of our parishioners departed this life: Reader Paul Douriaguine, Olga Itsikson, Ludmilla Roubanoff and Olga Erzikoff.  Great Feasts celebrated during the year include the Meeting of the Lord, the Annunciation of the Mother of God, the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday), the Ascension of the Lord, Pentecost, the Transfiguration of the Lord, The Nativity of the Mother of God, the Exaltation of the Cross, and the Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple.  In January we were honoured to receive the revered Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God.  In August Bishop George visited and the Russian Orthodox Male Choir of Australia sang at Divine Liturgy.  All the news from 2019 can be read here.  Glory be to God for all things!


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Pilgrimage to Tubabao, 17-27 February 2020 - 19/12/2019
Last updated: 2019-12-20 20:32:36

With blessing of His Grace Bishop George of Canberra, Abbot Dorofei (Urusov) will be leading a pilgrimage to the island of Tubabao in The Phillippines.  In 1949-50 Tubabao was a place of refuge for Russians leaving China after the communist victory there in 1949.  The great hierarch and wonderworker of the Russian diaspora, Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco, lived and served on Tubabao during this time.  This pilgrimage will honour the place of his prayer and commemorate the Russian presence on the island.  The program will include Divine Liturgy, a memorial service, benevolent work including a dinner for the children of the island, creative evenings, visits to natural attractions, and cultural activities.  Contact details are available here, and some historical information is available here.


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Services on 14-15 December, the Twenty-Sixth Sunday after Pentecost - 15/12/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-12-15 04:14:00

On Saturday 14 December and Sunday 15 December we had services for the Twenty-Sixth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Prophet Habbakuk (7th Century BC).  All-night Vigil was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning.  Following the Prayer before the Amvon a new gold protodeacon’s orarion and cuffs were blessed, and after the dismissal these were presented to our parish Protodeacon, Father Martin Naef.  Upon presenting them to Father Martin our parish rector congratulated him on his recent name-day (Saint Martin of Tours, 24 November) and commended him on his faithful service to the parish over the past eleven years.


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Services on 3-4 December, the Great Feast of the Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple - 04/12/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-12-07 05:09:34

On Tuesday 3 December and Wednesday 4 December we had services for 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 Tuesday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Wednesday morning.  At Divine Liturgy many of those present received Holy Communion.  In a departure from our usual practice, the morning service commenced at 8.00am rather than 9.00am, a practice that we are likely to adopt for weekday services in future.


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Services on 30 November-1 December, the Twenty Fourth Sunday after Pentecost - 01/12/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-12-07 04:58:34

On Saturday 30 November and Sunday 1 December we had services for the Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of Martyrs Platon of Ancyra (c.+302 AD) and Romanus of Caesarea (+303 AD).  All-night Vigil was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning.  A great many people were present on Sunday morning for our first morning service in four weeks.  Receiving Holy Communion for the first time at Divine Liturgy was the newly-baptised Martin Westcott.  Following the service on Sunday our church was cleaned and adorned in new blue vestments in preparation for the Great Feast of the Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple on 3-4 December.


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A baptism - Martin Westcott - 30/11/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-12-01 01:31:14

On Saturday 30 November the parish rector received into Orthodoxy a convert from the Anglican Confession, Martin Westcott.  With Bishop George’s blessing, a modified form of 'The Office for Receiving Converts from the Reformed Confession' was used in the place of the usual 'Prayers at the Making of a Catechumen', followed by the Holy Mysteries of Baptism and Chrismation.  Martin's sponsor was the parish rector, Archpriest James Carles, and his heavenly protector is Saint Martin of Tours (+397), one of the great saints of the Orthodox West.  May God grant his servant Martin, newly united to the Holy Orthodox Church, many years!


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The November 2019 meeting of the Parish Council - 22/11/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-11-22 21:17:16

On Tuesday 12 November our 2019-20 Parish Council met for the first time.  Convening by teleconference, the meeting included newly-elected members Kate Marcotrigiano and Alla Karmadonoff as well as our parish clergy and returning lay members Vladimir (“Rick”) Golovin, Anna Kourbatov, Nina Golovin, and Anne Nielsen.  The meeting heard reports on parish life and finances; considered charitable projects; discussed support for the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia Centenary Icon project; appointed office-bearers for 2019-20; approved membership applications; and finalised plans for participation in the Diocesan Assembly to be held in Strathfield from 14-17 November.  God willing, the Parish Council will meet next on Tuesday 10 December.


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Our Summer 2019-2020 Schedule of Services - 22/11/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2020-11-15 00:41:24

Our Summer 2019-2020 Schedule of Services - covering December, January and February - is now available in PDF format.  A copy of the English-language Summer 2019-2020 Schedule of Services is available here, and a copy of the Russian-language Summer 2019-2020 Schedule of Services is available here.  Printed copies in both languages will available in church as of the weekend of 30 November-1 December.  We will have a number of important services this Summer - for for the Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple, Christmas, Theophany, and more.  Please join us!


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The Nineteenth Diocesan Assembly of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese is held in Strathfield, NSW - 17/11/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2020-01-26 20:34:39

From the evening of Thursday 14 November until the afternoon of Sunday 17 November, our parish clergy Archpriest James Carles and Protodeacon Martin Naef, together with parish delegates Vladimir Golovin, Anna Kourbatov, and Nina Golovin, participated in the work of the Nineteenth Diocesan Assembly of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia and the associated divine services.  The Assembly was held on the grounds of Saints Peter and Paul Diocesan Cathedral in Strathfield, NSW.  On Friday and Saturday the Assembly heard reports and considered proposals concerning the life and administration of the Diocese and its various parishes, missions, monasteries and organisations.  Consideration was also given to the Diocesan observance of two significant anniversaries in 2020: the two hundredth anniversary of the first Russian Orthodox services in Australia, and the centenary of the foundation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.  On Saturday a Diocesan Council was elected to assist His Grace Bishop George of Canberra administer the Diocese over the coming three years.  On Sunday morning the gathering of clergy and delegates from across Australia and New Zealand culminated in Divine Liturgy at which His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada presided together with Bishop George.  During the Divine Liturgy a number of clergymen received awards for their service to the Holy Orthodox Church.  Photographs of the service are available here. Update on 22 January 2020: A copy of the final resolution of the Nineteenth Diocesan Assembly is available in Russian here and in English here.


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A baptism - Natalia Karonin - 09/11/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-11-22 20:04:31

On Saturday 9 November the parish rector baptised the infant Natalia, the first child of Christopher and Sandra Karonin.  Natalia, who was baptised in honour of the Martyr Natalia of Nicomedia, had as her godparents Matthew and Evgenia Shvetsoff.  We warmly congratulate Christopher, Sandra, Matthew and Evgenia, and pray that God will grant His newly-baptised handmaiden good health, every blessing from above, and many years!


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Services on 2-3 November, the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost - 03/11/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-12-15 04:21:02

On Saturday 2 November and Sunday 3 November, we had services for the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of Saint Hilarion the Great of Gaza (+371 AD).  Matins was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning.  As Saturday 2 November was Saint Demetrius Saturday, a day of commemoration of the departed, there was a general memorial service prior to Matins on Saturday evening.  At Matins and Divine Liturgy we were joined by Protodeacon German Polorotov of Saint Xenia Russian Orthodox Church, Tweed Heads.  Following the Prayer before the Amvon, new blue vestments for the altar and table of oblation, the church and altar servers were blessed.  At the dismissal, the protodeacons intoned Many Years for Metropolitan Hilarion – whose name-day it was – and for the parish rector – in anticipation of his name-day on 5 November.  A collection was then taken up for the Fund for Assistance to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, raising $233.00.


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Services on 19-20 October, the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost - 19/10/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-10-19 23:18:39

On Saturday 19 October and Sunday 20 October we had services for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of Saints Sergius and Bacchus in Syria (+290-303 AD).  All-Night Vigil was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning.  In his sermon the parish rector spoke about the life and witness of another saint commemorated on this day, Saint Jonah, bishop of Hankow, Manchuria (+1925).


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Our 2019 Annual General Meeting - 06/10/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-10-06 18:53:04

On Sunday 6 October our parish held its 2019 Annual General Meeting.  The 2019 Annual Report was presented and accepted.  Vladimir (“Rick”) Golovin, Anna Kourbatov, Anne Nielsen, Nina Golovin, Kate Marcotrigiano and Alla Karmadonoff were elected to serve on the 2019-20 Parish Council.  Alla Karmadonoff and Ludmilla Alexandrovsky were elected Child Safety Contact Persons, and Rick Golovin and Anna Kourbatov were chosen as parish delegates to the Nineteenth Diocesan Assembly


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Services on 5-6 October, the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost - 06/10/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-10-19 23:19:04

On Saturday 5 October and Sunday 6 October we had services for the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Conception of Saint John, the Forerunner and Baptiser of the Lord.  All-Night Vigil was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning.  In his sermon the parish rector spoke about the wondrous events surrounding the conception of Saint John (Luke 1:5-25), of the moment of conception as the beginning of each life, and of the ways in which God’s will can be accomplished through love in marriage.  Following the service the 2019 Annual General Meeting of our parish was convened.


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Our 2019 Annual Report - 29/09/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-09-29 08:13:15

Our 2019 Annual Report, including the independently audited 2018-19 Financial Statements, is now available.  The 2019 Annual Report will be presented to our parish Annual General Meeting (AGM) this coming Sunday, 6 October 2019.  A copy of the report is available in PDF form here.  Copies have been emailed to parish members this week .  We encourage our parishioners and friends with questions or comments in relation to our Annual Report to contact us.


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Services on 26-27 September, the Great Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross - 27/09/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-09-28 01:21:22

On Thursday 26 September and Friday 27 September we had services for the Great Feast of the Exaltation of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord.  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.  At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for Orthodox unity.


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Services on 20-21 September, the Great Feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God - 21/09/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-09-22 02:18:45

On Friday 20 September and Saturday 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 Friday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Saturday morning.  In his sermon the parish rector spoke of what is known concerning the circumstances of the birth of the Holy Virgin and of the significance of the feast-day.


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Services on 14-15 September, the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost - 15/09/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-09-15 04:27:45

On Saturday 14 September and Sunday 15 September we had services for the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Translation of the Relics of Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom, exemplars of love, faithfulness and family life.  All-night Vigil was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning. 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.  Immediately after the moleben the parish rector read the prayers of blessing over a new seven-branched lamp stand for our altar, three new candle stands for our church, a beautiful copy of the “Khabarovsk” Icon of the Mother of God (a gift from Evgenia Druganova and her family) and an icon of the Apostle Paul (a gift from the Douriaguine family in memory of Reader Paul Douriaguine).  At the end of the service an announcement was made concerning the forthcoming parish Annual General Meeting.


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Services on 31 August-1 September, the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost - 01/09/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-09-01 05:39:07

On Saturday 31 August and Sunday 1 September we had services for the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost, for the Afterfeast of the Dormition of the Mother of God, and in honour of Martyr Andrew Stratelates and the 2,593 soldiers martyred with him in Cilicia (+c.284-305 AD).  All-night Vigil was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning.  Following Divine Liturgy the parish rector announced that the 2019 Annual General Meeting of the parish would be held on Sunday 6 October 2019.


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Useful information about when weddings can be celebrated, together with a list of available dates in 2019 and 2020 - 30/08/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-08-30 23:10:41

In conjunction with Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, Wallsend, our parish has developed and published an explanation of the reasons why weddings cannot be celebrated on certain days and dates and during certain seasons. It incorporates a list of Sundays and Fridays on which weddings can be celebrated that has now been updated to include Sundays and Fridays in 2020.  This information, which can be accessed either here or via our ‘Needs’ page under ‘Weddings’, has been prepared to help our parishioners and friends when planning weddings in parishes of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. Should anyone have any questions about this information, please contact us.


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Our Spring 2019 Schedule of Services - 24/08/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-08-24 01:18:48

Our Spring 2019 Schedule of Services - covering September, October and November - is now available.  A copy of the English-language Spring 2019 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 as of Sunday 18 August.  Services of note during Spring are those for the Great Feasts of the Nativity of the Mother of God on Friday-Saturday 20-21 September and the Exaltation of the Cross on Thursday-Friday 26-27 September.  It is to be noted that we will not have services on the weekends of 28-29 September and 16-17 November.  On the weekend of 28-29 September Father James will be serving on the Mid-North Coast, and on the weekend of 16-17 November all Diocesan clergy will be serving at Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in Strathfield, NSW, in connection with the Nineteenth Diocesan Assembly.


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Services on 18-19 August, the Great Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord - 19/08/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-09-01 08:34:59

On Sunday 18 August and Monday 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 Sunday evening and Divine Liturgy with the blessing of grapes, apples and other fruit was served on Monday morning.  We were joined on Monday by friends from our neighbouring parish of Saint Nicholas, Wallsend (Newcastle).


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Services on 17-18 August, the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost - 18/08/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-08-31 01:15:07

On Saturday 17 August and Sunday 18 August we had services for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost, the Forefeast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, and in honour of Martyr Eusignius of Antioch (+362 AD).  All-night Vigil was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning.  In his sermon at Divine Liturgy the parish rector spoke about the appointed reading from the Holy Gospel, the account of Christ pacifying the stormy sea (Matthew 14:22-34), and about the courageous example of Martyr Eusignius.


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Services on 13-14 August, the Procession of the Precious Wood of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord - 14/08/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-08-16 22:40:13

On Tuesday 13 August and Wednesday 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 Divine Liturgy on Wednseday the Lesser Blessing of Water was served and after the Prayer before the Amvon there was a blessing of honey.  In his sermon at Divine Liturgy the parish rector spoke about the faithfulness of the Maccabean Martyrs to God's law, the history of the feast of the Cross on this day, and the way in which so many threads of the experience of God's people were woven together in this liturgical commemoration.


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Services on 8-9 August, the day of commemoration of the Great-Martyr and Healer Panteleimon - 09/08/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-08-10 07:57:44

On Thursday 8 August and Friday 9 August we had services in honour of the heavenly protector of our parish, the Great-Martyr Panteleimon.  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.  Joining our parish clergy for Divine Liturgy on Friday was Priest Dionysios Halim, the rector of the Holy Dormition Church in Wollongong, NSW.  Following the service on Friday many of those present gathered in the parish hall for a festive meal.


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Services on 3-4 August, the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost - 04/08/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-08-10 08:03:40

On Saturday 3 August and Sunday 4 August we had services for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, the day of commemoration of the Holy Myrrh-bearer and Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene.  In anticipation of our parish feast-day of the Great-Martyr Panteleimon on 9 August, His Grace Bishop George of Canberra visited us on Sunday and presided at Divine Liturgy.  The Russian Orthodox Male Choir of Australia sang at Divine Liturgy in place of our parish choir.  Serving together with Bishop George and our parish clergy was Archpriest Quentin de Castelbajac, rector of the parish of Saint John the Russian in Lyon, France.  A great many of our parishioners were present, together with friends from Newcastle and the Sydney parishes.  Prior to the service on Sunday there was a blessing of water and afterwards there was a moleben – or service of intercession – to Saint Panteleimon with the customary singing of many years.  Bishop George then presented the Diocesan Cross to Vladimir ("Rick") and Nina Golovin in recognition of their exemplary service to our parish.  After the services a festive lunch was held at the East Gosford Progress Hall.


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Now available - the July 2019 issue of "Word of the Church" ("Церковное Слово") - 01/08/2019
Last updated: 2019-08-09 20:36:29

The July 2019 issue of “Word of the Church” (“Церковное Слово”), 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: “Богородице-Казанский Монастырь готовится отметить 60-летие”; “Православный Богословский Институт Святых Кирилла и Мефодия”; “Храмы и их история память о Романовых за Рубежом”; “О неприкосновенности жизни человека с момента зачатия”; and more.  In English: material concerning the twentieth anniversary of the Holy Fathers Mission in Warrnambool, Victoria; an article about the July 2019 residential school of the Saints Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Institute; an interview with Metropolitan Onuphry (Berezovsky), Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church; lives of the Orthodox Popes of Rome; and an article about why some priests can refuse to be spiritual fathers.  Copies are $5.00.


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Services on 20-21 July, the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost - 21/07/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-07-21 09:08:42

On Saturday 20 July and Sunday 21 July we had services for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the appearance of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in 1579 AD.  All-night Vigil with the singing of the Magnification of the icon was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy with a moleben before the icon was served on Sunday morning.  In his sermon the parish rector spoke about the history of the Kazan Icon and the long Christian experience of help through the prayers of the Mother of God.


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A baptism – Dominic Sytin - 20/07/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-08-06 18:06:16

On Saturday 20 July the parish rector baptised Dominic Sytin, the infant child and second son of Dmytro Sytin and Hanna Sharandak.  Dominic, who was given the name Michael in baptism in honour of the Holy Archangel Michael, had as his godparents Igor Salyamon, Inna Saliamon, Yuriy Petrenko and Melania Scodellaro.  We warmly congratulate Dmytro, Hanna, and Dominic’s godparents, and pray that God will grant His newly-baptised servant good health, every blessing from above, and many years!


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Our Diocesan Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul celebrates its patronal feast - 12/07/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-07-13 03:39:17

On Thursday 11 July and Friday 12 July our parish clergy Archpriest James Carles and Protodeacon Martin Naef, together with a number of our parishioners, participated in services for the patronal feast of the Diocesan Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Strathfield, NSW.  On Thursday evening All-night Vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves was served with Bishop George presiding.  On Friday morning there was the Lesser Blessing of Water, a hierarchical Divine Liturgy, and a moleben to the Holy Preёminent Apostles Peter and Paul with a procession around the church.  At the services on Thursday evening and Friday morning the Cathedral clergy and clergy from other Sydney parishes concelebrated.  At the end of the service on Friday many parishioners were presented with beautiful parish Certificates of Appreciation for their work in support of the Cathedral.  A great many people then gathered in the parish hall for a festive lunch.  At lunch the Russian Orthodox Male Choir of Australia gave a brief concert.  A series of photographs can be viewed at the Cathedral Facebook page here, and some video footage of parts of the service can be viewed here.


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Services on 6-7 July, the Third Sunday after Pentecost and the commemoration of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist - 07/07/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-07-21 09:10:22

On Saturday 6 July and Sunday 7 July we had services for the Third Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Holy Glorious Forerunner, Prophet and Baptist John.  These were the first services in our church following repainting the the rehanging of our icons.  As Protodeacon Martin Naef had been invited to serve at Saints Peter and Paul Diocesan Cathedral on Sunday, our parish rector served Divine Liturgy alone.  In his sermon the parish rector spoke about the miraculous circumstances recorded in the Holy Gospel concerning the birth of Saint John the Baptist, of the place of Saint John in the life of the Orthodox Church, and of the enduring relevance of his call to repentance.


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The repose and funeral of Ludmilla Roubanoff - 27/06/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-07-13 03:01:28

Late on Wednesday 19 June we learned with great sorrow of the repose that evening of one of our oldest parishioners and a long-serving chorister, Ludmilla Roubanoff.  Ludmilla spent her childhood in Shanghai and knew Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco in her youth.  Like many Russian people from Shanghai, she came to Australia via the Phillipine island of Tubabao.  Her funeral was served in our church on Thursday 27 June.  At her funeral our parish rector spoke of Ludmilla's steadfast faith, service to the parish, and enduring love for Saint John.  She was afterwards laid to rest at Point Clare Cemetery.  May God grant her rest with Saint John and all the saints, and make her memory to be eternal!  Article updated on 13 July 2019.


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Services on 15-16 June, the Great Feast of Pentecost - 16/06/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-06-18 17:31:44

On Saturday 15 June and Sunday 16 June we had services for the Great Feast of Pentecost, the commemoration of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and disciples.  In accordance with Orthodox custom, prior to the services our small church was decorated beautifully with green branches.  All-night vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine oil and five loaves was served on Saturday evening, and Divine Liturgy with Vespers and the “kneeling prayers” was served on Sunday.  After the long service on Sunday many stayed back to help empty the church of icons and furnishings in preparation for painting.


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Services on 5-6 June, the Great Feast of the Ascension of the Lord - 06/06/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-06-09 02:40:32

On Wednesday Wednesday 5 June and Thursday 6 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.  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 at Divine Liturgy. 


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A service on the evening of Tuesday 4 June, the Eve of the Leavetaking of Pascha - 04/06/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-06-09 02:34:31

On the evening of Tuesday 4 June, the Eve of the Leavetaking 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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Services on 1-2 June, the Sixth Sunday of Pascha - 02/06/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-06-09 02:32:26

On Saturday 1 June and Sunday 2 June we had services for the Sixth Sunday of Pascha, the Sunday of the Blind Man.  This Sunday is so named because the reading from the Holy Gospel (John 9:1-38) appointed for Divine Liturgy gives an account of the healing by our Lord Jesus Christ of a man blind from birth.  In his sermon at Divine Liturgy the parish rector spoke about the continuing celebration of the Resurrection of Christ during the forty days of Pascha.  Following the service our Ladies’ Auxiliary served freshly-cooked piroshki with fillings of meat, mushroom, potato and apple.


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Russian and other Orthodox Kids' Camp, 15-20 December 2019 - 01/06/2019
Last updated: 2019-06-09 09:31:25

A group of young families working under the auspices of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin parish in Cabramatta, NSW, is again organising a camp for Russian and other Orthodox children and young people aged 8-17 to be held in Toukley, NSW - here on the Central Coast - from 15 December - 20 December 2019.  The cost will be $425.00 per person, or $399.00 if payment is made by 30 September 2019.  For those interested, more information is available here.


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The Nineteenth Diocesan Assembly of the Australian New-Zealand Diocese is to be held in November 2019 - 29/05/2019
Last updated: 2019-05-30 05:51:09

On 29 May 2019 His Grace Bishop George of Canberra advised parish rectors and monastic superiors that the Nineteenth Diocesan Assembly of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese would be convened at the Saints Peter and Paul Diocesan Cathedral in Strathfield, NSW, in November 2019.  Commencing on the evening of Thursday 14 November and concluding on the afternoon of Sunday 17 November, the Assembly will coincide with Diocesan celebrations of the thirty-fifth anniversary of Metropolitan Hilarion’s consecration to the episcopacy on 10 December 1984.  As all Diocesan clergy will be participating in the Assembly and associated commemorative activities, the only services in our Diocese on Saturday-Sunday 16-17 November will be at the Strathfield Cathedral.  Information about the Eighteenth Diocesan Assembly, held in Cabramatta in November 2016, is available here.


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The repose and funeral of Olga Ivanovna Itsikson - 23/05/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-05-24 22:10:23

On Tuesday 14 May 2019 we learned with sorrow of the repose of Olga Ivanovna Itsikson, our choir director from 2000-2015. Olga Ivanovna was born in Mukden, China, in 1935, and undertook secondary and further study in the city of Harbin. After coming to Australia in 1957 she graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 1965, working as a music teacher in New South Wales secondary schools for over 20 years. Olga Ivanovna also taught music at the parish Russian schools in Cabramatta and Strathfield for over 35 years. In 1980 she became the conductor of the church choir in the parish of Saint Vladimir, Centennial Park, and in 2000 she became the choir conductor in our parish. Olga Ivanovna was a steadfast servant of the Russian Orthodox Church and the wider Russian community for many years. In 1998 she received the Diocesan Jubilee Medal and in August 2015 she received the prestigious Diocesan Cross. After serving our parish faithfully in its formative years she retired due to illness in 2015.  Her funeral was served at the Saints Peter and Paul Diocesan Cathedral on Thursday 23 May 2019 with our parish clergy, Archpriest James Carles and Protodeacon Martin Naef, serving together with Priest Simon Nekipelov (All Saints of Russia parish, Croydon) and cathedral cleric Protodeacon Alexandar Kotlaroff.  She was afterwards laid to rest at Rookwaood Cemetery.  May God give her rest with the saints! 


00039
Our Winter 2019 Schedule of Services - 19/05/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-05-24 21:00:54

Our Winter 2019 Schedule of Services - covering June, July and August - is now available in PDF format.  Services of note during this period include those for Ascension on Wednesday-Thursday 5-6 June, for Pentecost on Saturday-Sunday 15-16 June, Bishop George’s visit on Sunday 4 August, the commemoration of Saint Panteleimon on Thursday-Friday 8-9 August, and for the Transfiguration of the Lord on Sunday-Monday 18-19 August.  A copy of the English-language Winter 2019 Schedule of Services is available here, and a copy of the Russian-language Winter 2019 Schedule of Services is available here.  Printed copies in both languages are now available in church.


00040
Services on 18-19 May, the Sunday of the Paralytic - 19/05/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-05-24 21:02:41

On Saturday 18 May and Sunday 19 May we had services for the Fourth Sunday of Pascha, the Sunday of the Paralytic.  This Sunday is so named because the appointed reading from the Holy Gospel (John 5:1-15) gives an account of the healing of a paralysed man by our Lord Jesus Christ.  Following the dismissal, a litia was served for the repose of the newly-departed Olga (Itsikson), our parish choir director from 2000-2015.  After the veneration of the Cross by the faithful, the thirty-year marriage of our parishioners Matthew and Vanessa (Xenia) Todd, adult converts to the Orthodox faith, was blessed according to the rite approved for this purpose by the 1983 Pastoral Conference of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.


00041
A baptism - Ellis King - 19/05/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-05-27 05:07:37

On Sunday 19 May the parish rector baptised Ellis King, an adult convert to the Orthodox faith.  Ellis, who was baptised in honour of the Prophet Elijah, had as his sponsor his sister-in-law Marina Melnikoff.  We warmly congratulate Ellis, his wife Ludmila, and his sponsor Marina.  May God grant his newly-baptised servant many years!


00042
Services on 4-5 May, Thomas Sunday - 05/05/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-05-05 01:24:15

On Saturday 4 May and Sunday 5 May we had services for the second Sunday of Pascha, Thomas Sunday.  Thomas Sunday is so named because the appointed reading from the Gospel (John 20:19-31) gives an account of the initial unbelief and subsequent belief of the Apostle Thomas.  Following the Prayer before the Amvon new icons of Saints Kuksha and Jonah of Odessa, given to our parish by a recent visitor to Ukraine, were blessed.  The prayer at the breaking of the Artos was then read.  In place of a sermon, the parish rector read aloud the Paschal Epistle of Metropolitan Hilarion.  At the dismissal, pieces of the blessed Artos were given to the faithful.


00043
Holy Week and Pascha in Gosford, 2019 - 29/04/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-04-30 20:25:56

This year our parish was again blessed to have 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 21 April, Monday 22 April, and Tuesday 23 April.  Matins and Divine Liturgy for Great and Holy Thursday were served on the evening of Wednesday 24 April and the morning of Thursday 25 April.  As Thursday 25 April was a public holiday in Australia a great many people were present for this Divine Liturgy, almost all of whom received Holy Communion.  Vespers with the bringing out of the Shroud of Christ was served at midday on Friday 26 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, Vespers with Divine Liturgy was served, with again almost all present receiving Holy Communion.  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 28 April and festive foods were again blessed. Divine Liturgy was served on the morning of Monday 9 April, Bright Monday.  After the morning services on Sunday and Monday a small group of the faithful gathered in the church hall for a festive meal.


00044
Now available - the April 2019 issue of "Word of the Church" ("Церковное Слово") - 24/04/2019
Last updated: 2019-05-05 00:27:15

The April 2019 issue of “Word of the Church” (“Церковное Слово”), 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: Пасхальное Послание Митрополита Илариона; "О призвании общественном служении женщины-христианки"; and more.  In English: The Paschal Epistle of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia; the Communique of the 2019 Lenten Conference of the Clergy of the Diocese; a brief obituary of Father Seraphim Slade;  details of a number of awards given to clergymen of the Diocese; and more.  Copies are $5.00.


00045
Services on 20-21 April, the Great Feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) - 21/04/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-04-22 23:34:15

On Saturday 20 April and Sunday 21 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, and five loaves was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning.  Pussy willows and palm branches were also blessed on Saturday evening.  For both services our small church was beautifully adorned with new green vestments and with palm branches.  A great many of the faithful confessed on Saturday evening and Sunday morning so as to receive Holy Communion.  Following Divine Liturgy on Sunday a collection was taken up to benefit the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem.


00046
Parish life during the sixth week of Great Lent - 19/04/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-04-22 21:39:01

On Wednesday 17 April a smal group of parishioners gathered in church for the final Great Compline of 2019.  In the Russian Orthodox tradition this service - composed of various psalms, prayers and hymns - is an important part of the observance of Great Lent.


00047
Services and activities during the fifth week of Great Lent - 14/04/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-04-15 02:06:45

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 10 April and the General Service of Anointing on the evening of Sunday 14 April.  At Matins on Wednesday 10 April 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 service commenced at 6.00pm and finished just after 9.30pm.  On the evening of Sunday 14 March forty-eight 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.  In addition to these services, on the morning of Saturday 13 April we had a major clean-up of our church and hall in preparation for Holy Week and Pascha.  


00048
Services on 6-7 April, the Great Feast of the Annunciation and the Fourth Sunday in Great Lent - 07/04/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-04-22 23:35:14

On Saturday 6 April and Sunday 7 April, the Fourth Sunday in Great Lent, 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 on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning.  In his sermon on Sunday morning the parish rector spoke about the willingness of the Mother of God to accept God's will despite her misgivings and her example to all in this regard.  Noting that Saint John of the Ladder was customarily commemorated on the Fourth Sunday in Great Lent, he also drew the attention of the faithful 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).


00049
Services during the fourth week of Great Lent - 07/04/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-04-22 21:43:14

In addition to All-night Vigil and Divine Liturgy for the Great Feast of the Annunciation on Saturday-Sunday 6-7 April, our services during the fourth week of Great Lent were Great Compline on the evening of Wednesday 3 April and Vespers with the Fourth Passia on the evening of Sunday 7 April.  At Vespers with the Fourth Passia on Sunday evening the akathist to the Divine Passion of Christ was read in English and chapters 18 and 19 of Saint John's Gospel were read in Slavonic.


00050
A baptism – Myron Markarov - 06/04/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-04-15 02:08:58

On Saturday 6 April 2019 the parish rector baptised Myron, the infant son of Anton Shcherbakov and Irina Markarova.  Myron, who was baptised in honour of Martyr Myron of Cyzicus (+250 AD), had as his godparents Vladimir Prokhorov and Alexandra Shcherbakova.  We warmly congratulate Anton, Irina, Vladimir and Alexandra and wish the newly-illumined servant of God Myron many years!


00051
The fortieth day of the repose of Reader Paul Douriaguine - 06/04/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-04-15 03:02:35

On the morning of Saturday 6 April, the fortieth day of the repose of Reader Paul Douriaguine, family members and a large group of friends gathered at his grave in Point Clare Cemetery.  Our parish rector served a pannikhida and kutiya was blessed.  May God grant rest to the soul of his departed servant, the Reader Paul!


00052
Services on 30-31 March, the Third Sunday in Great Lent - 31/03/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-04-15 03:01:23

On Saturday 30 March and Sunday 31 March we had services for the Third Sunday in Great Lent, the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross.  As Saturday 30 March was a day of commemoration of the departed there was a general pannikhida prior to the service on Saturday evening, at which we commemorated the departed hierarchs and clergy of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese, together with our departed parishioners, family members and friends.  Afterwards kutiya and sweet cakes were blessed.  In accordance with Orthodox custom an image of the Holy Cross, beautifully decorated with flowers, was set forth for veneration at the end of the Saturday evening service.  In his sermon at Divine Liturgy on Sunday the parish rector spoke about the importance of each individual Christian denying himself or herself, taking up his or her specific cross, and following after Christ (Mark 8:34-9:1).


00053
Services during the third week of Great Lent - 31/03/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-04-07 01:38:11

In addition to All-night Vigil and Divine Liturgy on Saturday-Sunday 30-31 March, our services during the third week of Great Lent were Great Compline on the evening of Wednesday 27 March and Vespers with the Third Passia on the evening of Sunday 31 March.  On Tuesday-Wednesday 26-27 March our parish clergy participated in the Great Lenten Pastoral Retreat of the Australian New Zealand Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.  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.


00054
The 2019 Australian-New Zealand Diocese Lenten Pastoral Conference - 27/03/2019
Last updated: 2019-04-07 01:34:37

On Tuesday 26 March and Wednesday 27 March 2019 the clergy of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese gathered in Sydney, NSW, for the customary Lenten Pastoral Retreat and Conference.  On Tuesday afternoon the clergy met for refreshments and fellowship in the hall of the Archbishop’s Chapel of All Saints of Russia in Croydon.  Lenten Matins was then served with the rector of the Croydon parish, Priest Simon Nekipelov, presiding.  During the service many of the clergy took the opportunity to confess and receive absolution.  In a departure from tradition, the Rule of Preparation for Holy Communion was not read prior to Matins; this allowed time after the service for an evening lecture by Archpriest Peter Heers, Lecturer in Dogmatic Theology at the Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary in Jordanville, NY.  On Wednesday morning the clergy gathered at the Diocesan Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Strathfield for the reading of the Hours and the concelebration of the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts.  Metropolitan Hilarion presided at Divine Liturgy, concelebrating together Bishop George, 28 priests and 16 deacons.  A complete list of participating clergymen is available here. The Russian Orthodox Male Choir of Australia sang at the service under the direction of a talented young conductor, Reader Nektary Kotlaroff.  During Divine Liturgy a number of Diocesan clergymen received awards for their service to the Holy Orthodox Church.  Of note, Mitred Archpriest Michael Proptopopov, Diocesan Chancellor and Dean of Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania, was awarded the right to wear the second pectoral cross, and Priest Dionysios Halim – who served in our parish during our rector’s absence late last year and early this year – was awarded the right to wear the gold pectoral cross.  Following Divine Liturgy, the clergy gathered in the church hall for a Lenten lunch prepared by the Cathedral Ladies’ Auxiliary.  After lunch, Metropolitan Hilarion opened the Pastoral Conference, expressing his joy at being back in the Diocese.  He noted many new faces and thanked Bishop George for his care for the Diocese.  He also thanked the clergy for their labours, noting that many worked in full-time secular employment in addition to their church responsibilities.  The presentations and discussion that followed were focused primarily on the blessing of marriages and on the preparation of candidates for baptism.  A selection of photographs and a communiqué are available here.


00055
Services during the second week of Great Lent - 24/03/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-03-29 19:00:24

Our services during the second week of Great Lent were Great Compline on the evening of Wednesday 20 March and Vespers with the Second Passia on the evening of Sunday 24 March.  At Vespers with the Second Passia on Sunday evening the akathist to the Divine Passion of Christ was read in English and chapters 14 and 15 of Saint Mark’s Gospel were read in Church Slavonic.


00056
Services during the first week of Great Lent - 17/03/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-04-07 00:31:42

This year we commenced Great Lent with Matins, the Hours, Typika and Vespers on Monday 11 March.  That evening, and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, we had Great Compline with the reading of the Great Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete.  In addition to services on the weekend of 16-17 March, we also had Vespers with the First Passia on the evening of Sunday 17 March.  Great Compline is a simple, solemn and characteristically Lenten service of psalms and prayers.  At Vespers with the First Passia on Sunday evening the akathist to the Divine Passion of Christ and chapters 26 and 27 of Saint Matthew's Gospel were read in English.


00057
A baptism – Noemie Vitkovsky - 17/03/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-04-15 02:11:26

On the afternoon of Sunday 17 March, the parish rector baptised Noemie, the daughter of Stanislav Vitkovskiy and Ekaterina Vitkovskaya.  Noemie, who was given the name Theodosia in baptism in honour of Martyr Theodosia of Tyre, had as her godmother Julia Gomina.  We warmly congratulate Stanislav, Ekaterina and Julia and wish the newly-illumined handmaiden of God Theodosia many years!


00058
Services on 16-17 March, the First Sunday in Great Lent - 17/03/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-04-07 00:29:27

On Saturday 16 March and Sunday 17 March we had services for the First Sunday in Great Lent, the Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy.  In accordance with the parish practice of the Russian Orthodox Church a brief Service of Supplication for Those in Error was offered after Divine Liturgy on Sunday.  The customary Diocesan-wide collection was then taken up to benefit the Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary in Jordanville, NY, raising $232.50.


00059
A service on Sunday 10 March, Forgiveness Sunday - 10/03/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-03-12 06:44:37

Late in the afternoon on Sunday 10 March we served Vespers for Forgiveness Sunday, the final Sunday before the beginning of Great Lent.  During this service the church vestments were changed from gold to black and the ordinary melodies gave way to the solemn melodies of Great Lent.  At the end of the service the parish rector gave a brief sermon on the importance of asking and bestowing forgiveness.  In accordance with Orthodox custom on this day all present then venerated the Holy Gospel, the Cross and the icons before asking forgiveness of one another.


00060
The funeral and burial of Reader Paul Douriaguine - 07/03/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2020-01-01 00:04:04

On Wednesday 6 March and Thursday 7 March our parish had a series of services for the repose of the soul of our dear friend and Parish Council member Reader Paul Douriaguine (+ 26 February). At 7.00pm on Wednesday evening Paul’s body was brought to the church and a Great Panikhida (“parastas”) was served, after which family and friends – in accordance with Orthodox custom – took it in turns to read each section ("kathisma") of the Psalter and the appointed prayers for the departed. This continued throughout the night, ceasing at 7.00am on Thursday morning. The Order of Preparation for Holy Communion was then read before the commencement of the Hours and Divine Liturgy at 8.00am.  A great many people gathered for the funeral service at 10.30am, amongst whom were Paul’s family, our parishioners, his many friends, and his work colleagues.  A small choir under the direction of Reader Eustratius Papageorgiou sang beautifully at the funeral service.  Paul was afterwards laid to rest at Point Clare Cemetery. A memorial meal was then held at our parish centre in West Gosford. May God grant forgiveness of sins and eternal rest to His newly-departed servant the Reader Paul!


00061
Services on 2-3 March, the Sunday of the Last Judgement and Meatfare Sunday - 03/03/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-03-12 06:34:55

On Saturday 2 March and Sunday 3 March we had services for the Sunday of the Last Judgement.  As Saturday 2 March was a day of commemoration of the departed, All-night Vigil on Saturday evening was preceded by a general memorial service at which prayers were particularly offered for the newly-departed Reader Paul Douriaguine (+26 February).  Receiving Holy Communion for the first time at Divine Liturgy on Sunday was the newly-baptised infant Alexander.  At the end of the Sunday service prayers of blessing were read over a new set of green vestments for the altar and church and a new set of black vestments for the rector, both sets of vestments being the work of the Convent of Saint Elisabeth in Minsk, Belarus.  A memorial litia was then served for Reader Paul, after which the parish rector offered condolences to the Douriaguine family on behalf of the parish.   At Bishop George’s request, a collection was taken up to benefit Saints Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Institute, the theological and higher education institute of the Australian and New Zealand Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.  It being just one week before the beginning of Great Lent, the parish Ladies’ Auxiliary served pancakes following the service.


00062
Our Autumn 2019 Schedule of Services - 01/03/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-03-01 21:44:09

Our Autumn 2019 Schedule of Services - covering March, April and May 2019 - is now available in PDF format.  It includes all our services for Great Lent, Holy Week and Pascha .  A copy of the English-language Autumn 2019 Schedule of Services is available here, and a copy of the Russian-language Autumn 2019 Schedule of Services is available here.  Both can also be accessed on our Services page, and printed copies are available in church.


00063
The death of Reader Paul Douriaguine - 26/02/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-03-12 06:46:14

On Tuesday 26 February we learned with profound grief of the sudden unexpected death of our dear friend, Parish Council member, and tonsured reader Paul Douriaguine (b. 1975).  We ask our parishioners and friends to pray fervently for the repose of his soul and for the consolation, in particular, of his grieving wife Elena and their children Alexey, Polina, Tatiana and Fyodor.


00064
Services on 16-17 February, the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee - 17/02/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-02-27 06:26:55

On Saturday 16 February and Sunday 17 February we had services for the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee and the Afterfeast of the Meeting of the Lord.  This Sunday, the first Sunday of preparation for Great Lent, is so named for the appointed reading from the Holy Gospel (Luke 18:10-14).  At Divine Liturgy on Sunday prayers were offered for Orthodox Church unity and for peace in Ukraine.  Following the Sunday service a collection was taken up to benefit Orthodox Action, raising $188.00.


00065
Services on 14-15 February, the Great Feast of the Meeting of the Lord - 15/02/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-02-27 06:15:12

On Thursday 14 February and Friday 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 (Luke 2:22-38).  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.  The Prayer before the Amvon was followed by a blessing of fruit – customary in many parishes of our Diocese on this day – and the customary blessing of candles.  After the dismissal a memorial litia was served 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.  May their memory be eternal!


00066
Services on 2-3 February, the Thirty-Sixth Sunday after Pentecost - 03/02/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-04-07 01:39:36

On Saturday 2 February and Sunday 3 February we had services for the Thirty-Sixth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of Venerable Maximus the Confessor (+662 AD) and Martyr Neophytus of Nicaea (+303-305 AD).  Our parish rector Archpriest James Carles presided at the services for the first time since seriously injuring his ankle in November 2018.  Following Divine Liturgy on Sunday the Ladies’ Auxiliary served a festive meal in honour of Father James’ name day (5 November) and the twentieth anniversary of his ordination as deacon (29 November) - the celebration of which had been delayed by his accident - and of his fiftieth birthday in late January.  At lunch Parish Council member Anya Nielsen congratulated Father James on behalf on the parish and he was presented with a beautiful new set of gold vestments.


00067
A baptism – Rocco James Ward - 28/01/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-01-30 06:27:40

On Monday 28 January the parish rector baptised Rocco Ward, the infant son of James Ward and Sara Fidock.  Rocco was baptised in honour of the Holy Apostle James, Brother of the Lord.  Rocco’s godparents were Lucia Kostava-Fidock, Demna Kostava-Fidock, Albert Haddad, and Priscilla Haddad.  We warmly congratulate James and Sara and Rocco’s godparents and we wish the newly-baptised servant of God many years!


00068
Services on 19-20 January, the Afterfeast of Theophany - 20/01/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-01-20 02:15:08

On Saturday 19 January and Sunday 20 January we had services for the Thirty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday after Theophany, and in honour of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, John.  Father Dionysios Halim presided at these services.  Concelebrating with Father Dionysios Halim after a two-month absence was our parish rector, Archpriest James Carles.  As there were no services in our parish for the Great Feast of Theophany the Great Blessing of Water was served at Divine Liturgy on Sunday following the Prayer before the Amvon.  Praying in church on Sunday were trainers and team members of the Russian Women's Rugby Sevens team, in Australia for the 2018–19 World Rugby Women's Sevens Series.


00069
Services on 5-6 January, the Eve of the Nativity of Christ - 06/01/2019
Category: Parish Life
Last updated: 2019-01-12 20:27:25

On Sunday 6 January we had services for the Sunday before the Nativity of Christ and in honour of the Holy Fathers, the ancestors of Christ from Adam to Joseph the Betrothed, together with the Righteous Ones of the Old Testament who lived in expectation of His coming.  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 and Vespers of the Nativity of Christ on Sunday.


00070
Now available - the January 2019 issue of "Word of the Church" ("Церковное Слово") - 01/01/2019
Last updated: 2019-01-01 04:47:40

The January 2019 issue of “Word of the Church” (“Церковное Слово”), 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 Архиерейского Синода Клиру и Пастве Русской Зарубежной Церкви”; "Патриаршество на Руси"; "Торжество Православия – торжество здравого смысла”; and more.  In English: “The Epistle of the Synod of Bishops to the Clergy and Flock of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia”; “Prototypes of the Nativity: What did prophets say about the coming of the Saviour?”; “Where do liturgical colours come from?”; “A list of last minute rules and suggestions in preparation for Great Lent”; and more.  Also included is a useful list of Diocesan parishes, monastic establishments and clergy.  Copies are $5.00.


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