5ausprotmichaellifuneral16_016_jpgOn Tuesday, May 17, 2016, the anniversary of the reestablishment of unity within the Russian Orthodox Church (2007), the clergymen of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand celebrated Divine Liturgy in Holy Virgin Protection Church in Cabramatta, having performed vigil and parastas in the presence of the coffin containing the body of the late Mitred Protopriest Michael Li, who died last week.

After Divine Liturgy, His Grace Bishop George of Canberra, Vicar of the Diocese, led the funeral service to a large gathering of worshipers who came to pray for the late pastor. During the eulogies read at the commemorative luncheon that followed the burial, the clergymen and laity stressed the decades of ascetic life of the priest, who endured a great deal of suffering for the sake of Orthodox Christianity, and his humble nature, humility, hard work and love for divine services.Continue Reading

fr_michael_storozhev_12On May 10, 2016, the feast of Radonitsa, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilaron, The First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad paid an archpastoral visit to Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY USA.

During the reading of the Hours, Metropolitan Hilarion tonsured seminarian from the Australian and New Zealand Diocese Michael Storozhev a reader and ordained him a subdeacon. Following the Eucharistic Canon, subdeacon Michael was ordained to the diaconate.

Deacon Michael is assigned to Sts Peter and Paul Cathedral, Strathfield where he will fulfil his diaconate duties.Continue Reading

pascha_melbourne_2016_1В ночь на 1 мая в Покровском Кафедральном соборе православные Мельбурна вместе встретили и отпраздновали Пасху. В канун праздника Светлого Христова Воскресения мало кто остается спать дома.

В самый главный праздник верующие целыми семьями приходят на праздничную службу в церковь. Полунощная служба началась около 12 ночи, но люди пришли пораньше. Так как с 8 часов шли чтения «Деяния Святых Апостолов», когда любой человек может подойти и прочитать главу на том языке, который является для него родным. В то же время настоятель Покровского собора в Мельбурне отец Николай (Карыпов) проводил освящение пасхальных яств.Continue Reading

pascha_2016_9Ночь на Пасху в этом году выдалась в Сиднее особенно теплая и тихая. В 11 вечера термометр еще показывал 22 градуса. Кажется природа радуется вместе с тысячей православных людей, собравшихся в Петропавловском соборе и возле него в эту Пасхальную ночь на праздничную службу. Возглавил её епископ Канберрский Георгий, ему сослужили ключарь собора, протоиерей Георгий Лапардин и протодиакон Александр Котляров.Continue Reading

pastirskoe_2016_33В четверг 24-го марта и в пятницу 25-го марта 2016 г. в Сиднее собралось духовенство Австралийско-Новозеландской Епархии на обычное великопостное пастырское говение и совещание. Эти даты были выбраны поскольку пятница 25-го была государственным празником, облегчая приезд многих из духовенства, занятых в светских должностях.

В четверг после обеда духовенство собралось для общения на чашку чая в зале архиерейской церкви Всех Свв. Земли Российской в Кройдоне. Вечером вычитали правило перед причащением, затем служилась утреня. Хор из духовенства вёл пение и чтение служб на церковно-славянском и английском языках. Преосвященный Георгий, епископ Канберский читал акафист во время правила, а настоятель Кройдонского прихода свящ.Симеон Некипелов служил утреню.Continue Reading

pastirskoe_2016_33On Thursday 24 March and Friday 25 March 2016 the clergy of the Australian and New Zealand Diocese gathered in Sydney, NSW, for the customary Lenten Pastoral Retreat and Conference.  These dates had been chosen as Friday 25 March was a public holiday, making attendance easier for the many clergymen with secular work commitments.

On Thursday afternoon the clergy gathered for refreshments and fellowship in the hall of the Archbishop’s Chapel of All Saints of Russia in Croydon.  In the evening, the Rule of Preparation for Holy Communion was read and Lenten Matins was served.  The clergy formed the choir for the services, singing and reading in both Church Slavonic and English.  His Grace Bishop George of Canberra read the akathist during the Rule of Preparation for Holy Communion and the rector of the Croydon parish, Priest Simon Nekipelov, presided during Matins.Continue Reading

holy_annunciation_2016Holy Annunciation Orthodox Church, Brisbane, was pleased to welcome His Grace, Bishop George of Canberra, to preside at our patronal feastday.  On the eve of the feast, after a discussion with some of the youth of our parishes, His Grace arrived at Holy Annunciation.  He was greeted by the clergy of our parish, together with clergy from our Deanery, and the Great Vigil service was celebrated.

The next day, the Lenten Hours and Typika were served.  After this, Bp George was greeted on his arrival, was vested, and proceeded to celebrate the Hierarchal Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom – the first Liturgy that His Grace had served at our parish – followed by a cross-procession.Continue Reading

thrid_week_lent_cathedral2016_12На 3-й неделе Великого поста, Преосвященнейший Георгий Епископ Канберрский совершил Богослужения в Петропавловском Кафедральном соборе в г. Стратфильде. Его Преосвященству сослужили ключарь собора прот. Георгий Лапардин и соборный протодиакон Александр Котляров.

По окончании Божественной Литургии, Владыко Георгий освятил землю для пристройки нового прицерковного зала.Continue Reading

archbishop_savaA lecture prepared by Very Rev Dr Michael Protopopov on the “Life and Legacy of Archbishop Sava Raevsky” which was delivered to the Australian and New Zealand clergy at the Pastoral Retreat  on Friday 25 March 2016.

Archbishop Sava was born Theodore Feodorovich Raevsky on 10 February 1892 in the city of Efmenov in the Tula Province, just south of Moscow. Theodore Raevsky Snr was a public servant who managed a number of country estates for the local nobility, whilst his mother, Alexandra Troitsky, was the daughter and granddaughter of priests. Young Theodore was sent to study at the Tula Theological Seminary at his mother’s insistence, from which he graduated in 1911. He then enrolled in the history and philosophy section of the School of Jurisprudence, at the Warsaw University, which, in 1916, was evacuated to Rostov-on-Don because of the proximity of the German Front.Continue Reading