Australian and New Zealand Diocese (ROCOR)

The Diocesan Administration wishes to inform all clergy and parishioners that Priest Ioann (Ian) Bojko, the last priest of the Orthodox Church in America still residing in Australia, passed away after a long illness on 25th January 2013. Fr John was rector of the Holy Annunciation Church in Brisbane and it was in his term of office that the parish joined ROCOR and became a parish of the ANZ Diocese.

Fr Ioann was a gentle soul and his passing will be greatly felt by all. (more…)

More than 50 young people between the ages of 14 and 17 years from all over Australia and also from New Zealand, enthusiastically attended the second Teen Retreat organised at the end of 2012 by the Australian Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR). 

This year’s retreat followed a successful retreat for this age group in 2011 with many of the same young people attending for the second time and encouraging their friends to attend also.  (more…)

The 48th Annual Youth Conference was held in Brisbane this year from 27th to 31st December 2012. The theme of the Conference was “From the Womb to beyond the Tomb”. The Conference venue was the Rydges Hotel in the Southbank district of Brisbane. This year’s conference attracted attendees from the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Canada, United States, New Zealand and from all capital cities of Australia. 58 young people in total registered together with clergy from our Diocese. The clergy were headed by our own archbishop, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion who attended the whole conference. Many young people living in Brisbane attended the organised functions and the lectures. Altogether there were 87 people who registered for the conference. (more…)

Concerning the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the Romanov Dynasty,the Synod of Bishops has resolved:

1. To decree that abbots and abbesses and rectors of the monasteries and parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia are to commemorate the Royal Passion-Bearers during the dismissal of Liturgies in the following manner: “The Holy Righteous Passion-Bearers Tsar-Martyr Nicholas, Tsarina Alexandra, Tsarevich Alexei, Tsarevnas Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia; Holy Martyrs Grand Duchess Elizabeth and Nun Barbara and those martyred with them,” to commence on January 1/14 until the end of 2013.
2. And before the veneration of the cross during the first Sunday of Great Lent, to sing Eternal Memory to the Righteous Tsars and Tsarinas of the Romanov Dynasty and to “all members of the family of the All Russian Imperial House,” in accordance with the Rite of the Triumph of Orthodoxy.
3. The general celebration of the 400th anniversary of the Romanov Dynasty will be held at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Toronto, Canada, on September 5-8, 2013, to coincide with a Russian Orthodox conference and a session of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

It was also proposed by Bishop Peter; and resolved by the Synod: “To instruct the clergymen of all monasteries and churches of the Russian Church Abroad, on the Sunday before the Nativity of Christ, to prayerfully mark the 200th anniversary of the victory over Napoleon, commemorating Righteous Tsar Alexander Pavlovich and all the Orthodox leaders and warriors who laid down their lives for the Faith, the Tsar and Fatherland.”

Собратья-архипастыри, всечестные отцы, боголюбивые иноки и инокини, дорогие братья и сестры, верные чада Русской Зарубежной Церкви!

С любовью и добрым сердцем приветствую  всех с великим и всерадостным праздником Рождества Христова!

Все, что совершилось в священной  пещере Вифлеемской в эту радостную  ночь пришествия в мир Сына Божия, все это носило глубокую печать смирения. Сам Всемогущий Бог, Творец мира, содержащий все в Своей длани, становится тварью, одним из нас, смиряет Себя «даже до смерти крестной» (Флп. 2, 8), чтобы спасти человека. Преблагословенная Дева, созерцая духовно тайну нашего спасения, смиренно принимает то проречение Симеоново, которое предвозвещало ей боль обоюдо острого меча, поражающего Ее материнское сердце. (more…)

Most Reverend fellow archpastors, most honorable fathers, God-loving monastics, dear brothers and sisters, faithful children of the Russian Church Outside Russia!

With heartfelt love I greet all of you with the great, all-joyous Feast of the Nativity of Christ!

All that took place in the sacred cave of Bethlehem on that joyous night of the coming into this world of the Son of God bears a deep imprint of humility. The Omnipotent God Himself, the Creator of the world, the One who holds all in the palm of His hand, becomes a creature, one of us. He humbles himself even “unto death upon the cross,” all in order to save man. The most blessed Virgin, contemplating the mystery of our salvation, humbly accepts the prophecy of St. Simeon, who foretells the pain her motherly heart would endure, pierced by the double-edged sword. (more…)

On Sunday, 30th December 2012, the participants of the Youth Syezd attended the Divine Liturgy at St Nicholas Cathedral, Brisbane.

The liturgy was led by His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad and sung antiphonally by a male choir and a youth choir. His Eminence was co-served by the local clergy and clergy from different parts of the Diocese. On the 6th hour, reader Alexander Paramonov was elevated to the rank of subdeacon and during the Little Entrance, His Eminence awarded priests John Weir and Gabriel Lapardin the right to wear the skufia. (more…)