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.