: Maslenitsa in Newcastle, NSW

On Friday, 24 February, close to 100 people gathered in the parish hall of Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, in Wallsend, Newcastle, for an evening of festivity, folk tradition, and friendship.  The parish Ladies Auxiliary, together with helpers from the wider Russian community in Newcastle, had cooked over 500 pancakes, and the tables were laden with herring, caviar, smoked salmon, sour cream and cottage cheese.  Tea and cakes were served afterwards. (more…)

: Invitation For Young Adults to Join a Goodwill Visit to the Indonesian Orthodox Church

Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
Diocese of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand

 With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion

Goodwill Youth Visit
to the Indonesian Orthodox Church

 30th of June – 9th of July, 2012

 

An invitation is extended to young adults (18 – 30) to join a Goodwill Visit to the Indonesian Orthodox Church, (Gereja Orthodox Indonesia), the Indonesian Deanery of our diocese. The trip will include 2 nights in Jakarta, 2 nights in Solo and four nights in Bali. (more…)

: Announcement – Diocesan Pastoral Retreat and Conference 2012

: Fundraiser at All Saints of Russia Church, Croydon

The Church of All Proclaimed Saints of Russia in Croydon, Sydney, chose the Sunday of the Prodigal Son, and the Feast of the Three Hierarchs to hold it’s annual ‘shashlik’ (kebab) fundraiser.

Perhaps the timing was not the best because it turned out that the event clashed with a few other orthodox luncheons and so Sydney’s Russian Orthodox Churchgoers were torn between various events.

Thought the turnout was small compared to previous years, the event was a success. The meat used was premium lamb and the accompaniments and beverages on offer were also of high standard. People willingly supported the event with generous donations and the small parish was grateful for the financial assistance. (more…)

: Ordination at Holy Annunciation Church, Woolloongabba

On 10-11 February 2012 His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion made an archpastoral visit to the Holy Annunciation Parish, celebrating Vigil and Divine Liturgy and ordaining Andrew Smith to the rank of Deacon.

The Holy Relics of Saint Innokenty of Irkutsk were also present in the church for veneration.

Deacon Andrew is assigned to the Holy Annunciation parish.

(more…)

: His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion arrives in Australia

His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, has arrived in Australia and is expected to stay till 10 April 2012.

: Relics of Saint Innokenty of Irkutsk arrive in Australia

Saint Innokenty lived during the reign of Tsar Peter I and became the first bishop of the Diocese of Irkutsk. He taught reading and writing to the local Buryat children, painted icons, built chapels and churches, prayed and preached.

As Priest Alexander Abiduev of Holy Trinity Church in Ulan-Ude, Russia, explained, “After a fire in the church of Voznesensky Monastery, where he was buried, though the church was burned to the ground, his relics were unharmed and discovered to be incorrupt. When he was to be re-interred, it was found that even his vestments survived. The local believers began to notice miraculous healings and miracles occurring from his relics.  When people saw this, they started to pray to the saint, and many of their pleas were answered. With time, this led to the decision to canonize him and count him among the saints.” (more…)

: Invitation – Youth Talk on “The Soul After Death”

: Relics of Saint Innokenty of Irkutsk to visit Australian & New Zealand Diocese – 5 to 19 February 2012

The Holy and Wonderworking Relics of Saint Innokenty, first bishop of Irkutsk,
will visit the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand from
5 to 19 February 2012.

(more…)

: Invitation – Talks by Fr Kosmas at Saint George Church, Carlton