Sts Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Institute
10 Jul 10: St John the Wonderworker of Shanghai & San Francisco Parish Feast Day, Gunning
On Saturday the 20th June / 3rd July, around 60 faithful from across Australia came to Gunning, NSW, to celebrate the patronal feast of St John Wonderworker of Shanghai & San Francisco.
The faithful gathered at the Gunning local Anglican Church, which was made available to the local Orthodox community to celebrate the Vigil and the Divine Liturgy for St John of SF. The Chapel of St John being to small to accommodate the expected visitors for the Feast Day.
The joyful gathering of so many people from a variety of backgrounds and nationalities, including Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, made the feast that was celebrated in the English language, a truly special, spiritual and memorable event for all.
Joining Fr Seraphim Slade, who leads the Australian Orthodox Indigenous Community ROCOR and the Chapel of St John of SF in Gunning, were Archpriest Ilija Dragosavljevic from the St Sava Serbian Orthodox Parish (Farrer, Canberra); Priest David Lloyd from Archangel Michael Church (Blacktown, Sydney); Priestmonk Kyril, Deacon Emil Mishriky and Reader Edward Waters from the Chapel’s Brother Mission of Holy Ascension (Melbourne); Deacon Stephen Mackay from St Vladimir’s (Centennial Park, Sydney) and Reader Stephen Shott from St John the Baptist Church Canberra.
A combined English-language choir from several Parishes in NSW and VIC and including some members from the All Saints Kentlyn choir, under the direction of Julianne Martinov, sang with great piety, spiritual joy and beauty.
Fr Seraphim gave a sermon at the end of the Divine Liturgy where he spoke, among other things, about how a portrait of St John of SF attracted him to the Orthodox Faith and particularly to ROCOR. Also the congregation received an Icon and a commemorative card portraying St John of SF and some cotton balls dipped in the holy oil from the oil lamp that hangs above the relics of St John of SF in the Protection Cathedral San Francisco USA.
A magnificent festive luncheon, prepared by Matushka Helen Slade and the faithful, was held at the Gunning Showgrounds Hall. At the conclusion of the luncheon, Many Years were sung to Fr Seraphim and Matushka Helen Slade.
