Sts Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Institute
8 Apr 15: His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion First Hierarch of ROCOR Celebrates Patronal Feastday at Holy Annunciation Parish, Brisbane
On 6-7 April, 2015, we were blessed to welcome His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, our First Hierarch and Diocesan Bishop, to officiate at the celebration of the patronal (parish) feastday of the Holy Annunciation parish in Brisbane, which is the only full-time English language parish in the city of Brisbane.
On the eve of the feast, His Eminence celebrated the Great Vigil with Litia in the assistance of visiting clergy and lay people from all of the Russian Orthodox parishes of Brisbane.
The next day, Fr Alexander served the Lenten Hours and Typika were served, and then the Metropolitan was greeted at the entrance of the church by the clergy and people who, despite it being a workday and also the feast falling in Holy Week, were able to join us in our celebrations.
After His Eminence was vested, we were given further reason to celebrate with the tonsuring of Irenaeus Strickler to the minor clerical order of Reader assigned to the parish.
Concelebrating with His Eminence for the services of our Patronal Feastday were the following ROCOR clergy in Brisbane:
- Priest Alexander Borodin, Rector of Holy Annunciation Orthodox Church;
- Priest John Weir, Assistant priest at Blessed Virgin of Vladimir Orthodox Church, Rocklea;
- Priest Gabriel Lapardin, Rector of St Seraphim’s Church;
- Priest Andrew Smith, assistant priest at Holy Annunciation Orthodox Church;
- Priest Alexander Paramonov, assistant priest at St Nicholas Cathedral and St Ksenia of St Petersburg Church, Tweed Heads;
- Deacon Vasily Konstantinidis, deacon at Blessed Virgin of Vladimir Orthodox Church, Rocklea;
- Deacon Vladimir Bigdan, deacon at St Nicholas Cathedral
The parish choir was joined by visiting singers from other parishes, who all sang beautifully under the direction of Mr Gregory Scanlan, Choir Director of Holy Annunciation Parish.
At the conclusion of the Liturgy, after the Processional Moleben, His Eminence expressed his thanks and congratulations to the entire parish, and his special congratulations to the newly-tonsured Reader Irenaeus. In turn, Fr Alexander Borodin heartily thanked Metropolitan Hilarion for making the time to be at our parish during a busy schedule that only intensified at this time of year. Fr Alexander also thanked all of the visiting clergy and lay people and welcomed them to his humble parish.
After the service, most of the people who attended the service joined in with the parishioners to share in the light lunch that followed. In addition to utilising some borrowed marquees, we were able to enjoy the shade that came from being under our new shadecloth – installed only days beforehand – and to enjoy the presence of our Metropolitan and the joy of sharing each other’s company.
Photos available at: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.875601869166268.1073741859.118513774875085