Australian and New Zealand Diocese (ROCOR)

On Tuesday, November 1, 2016, the anniversary of the canonization of St John of Kronstadt by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in 1964, and of the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia in 1981, His Grace Bishop George of Canberra, Vicar of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, celebrated Divine Liturgy in the church dedicated to the saint in Dandenong. His Grace was joined by Protopriest Michael Protopopov, Dean of Victoria, and other clergymen. At the end of Liturgy, a moleben was performed with a procession of the cross around the senior-care center, after which a trapeza luncheon was offered. (more…)

Объявление: Божественная литургия 17 ноября состоится в Св. Покровском храме, Кабраматта а не в Петропавловском соборе Страдфильд.

On 16 August 2016 Protodeacon Christopher Henderson reposed to the Lord.

Please find below Father Christopher’s biography and information regarding his funeral details.

Christopher Henderson was born in Carlton, NSW, on 20 November 1942.  After secondary studies at Canterbury Boys’ High School he studied Optometry at the University of New South Wales, graduating in 1965 and establishing a practice in Liverpool, NSW.  In 1965, he also married Julie Ann Piddington.  (more…)

On Thursday, 18th August 2016, His Grace Bishop George arrived at the Holy Transfiguration Monastery located at the foot of the Snowy Mountains to celebrate the feast day of the Monastery.

On the eve of the feast day, His Grace together with Abbot Sergei, the brethren of the Monastery and visiting clergy from NSW and VIC served the all night vigil and the Divine Liturgy. The Church was filled with visiting pilgrims and local parishioners. (more…)

On Saturday the 13th and Sunday the 14th of August 2016, His Grace Bishop George served the All-Night Vigil and Divine Liturgy for the feast of the Procession of the Honourable Wood of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord at Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral Strathfield NSW.

Following the Divine Liturgy, His Grace performed the Lesser Blessing of the Waters as it is practiced in the Russian Orthodox Church. Because of the Blessing of Waters, this first Feast of the Savior in August is sometimes called ‘Savior of the Water’. New gathered honey may also be blessed on this day, which is why the Feast is also called ‘Savior of the Honey’. (more…)

On Friday 5 August and Saturday 6 August we had festive services in anticipation of the feast of our patron saint, the Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon, on 9 August.  Prior to the services, our small church was beautifully decorated with flowers by Ekaterina Waters.

On Friday evening All-night Vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves was served by the rector of the Archbishop’s Chapel of All Saints of Russia (Croydon, NSW), Priest Simon Nekipelov, and by our parish deacon, Father Martin Naef.  Joining them for the litia and the polyeleos were our parish rector, Priest James Carles, and Priest Dionysios Halim of Saint John the Baptist Skete (Kentlyn, NSW). (more…)

On Monday the 11th and Tuesday 12th July 2016, the feast day of Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, divine services were held in the Diocesan Cathedral, Strathfield NSW in honour of the parish’s feast day.

The All-Night Vigil was led by His Grace Bishop George of Canberra joined by Archpriest George Lapardin Dean, Saints Peter and Paul Diocesan Cathedral (Strathfield, NSW), Archpriest Nikolai Cleric, Serbian Orthodox Church, Priest James Carles Rector, Saint Panteleimon Church (Gosford, NSW), Priest Dionisy Halim Cleric, Saint John the Baptist Skete (Kentlyn, NSW), Hieromonk Philip (Balingit), together with Saints Peter and Paul Diocesan Cathedral deacons, Alexander Kotlaroff, Constantine Moshegov and Michael Storozhev. (more…)

Saint John the Baptist Cathedral in Canberra celebrated its parish feast day on Sunday 10 July 2016. The Cathedral rector, His Grace Bishop George accompanied by Protodeacon Alexander Kotlaroff and 2 sub-deacons arrived in Canberra from Sydney on Saturday, 9 July 2016.

The All-night vigil was served at 5pm by His Grace along with the Cathedral dean Archpriest Alexander Morozow, Abbot Sergei from Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Bombala, Protodeacon Alexander Kotlaroff and Deacon Michael Storozhev clerics of Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, Strathfield.

On Sunday morning, Fr Alexander Morozow served the molelen with the lesser blessing of the waters and at 9am the clergy greeted the Cathedral rector. During the reading of the 6th hour, Bishop George tonsured Stephen David into a reader then the Divine Liturgy was celebrated. (more…)