Australian and New Zealand Diocese (ROCOR)

Most Reverend fellow archpastors, most honorable fathers, God-loving monastics, dear brothers and sisters, faithful children of the Russian Church Outside Russia!

With heartfelt love I greet all of you with the great, all-joyous Feast of the Nativity of Christ!

All that took place in the sacred cave of Bethlehem on that joyous night of the coming into this world of the Son of God bears a deep imprint of humility. The Omnipotent God Himself, the Creator of the world, the One who holds all in the palm of His hand, becomes a creature, one of us. He humbles himself even “unto death upon the cross,” all in order to save man. The most blessed Virgin, contemplating the mystery of our salvation, humbly accepts the prophecy of St. Simeon, who foretells the pain her motherly heart would endure, pierced by the double-edged sword. (more…)

On Sunday, 30th December 2012, the participants of the Youth Syezd attended the Divine Liturgy at St Nicholas Cathedral, Brisbane.

The liturgy was led by His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad and sung antiphonally by a male choir and a youth choir. His Eminence was co-served by the local clergy and clergy from different parts of the Diocese. On the 6th hour, reader Alexander Paramonov was elevated to the rank of subdeacon and during the Little Entrance, His Eminence awarded priests John Weir and Gabriel Lapardin the right to wear the skufia. (more…)

On Saturday, the 29th of December 2012, the participants of the Youth Syezd attended the All Night Vigil at St Seraphim’s Parish, Brisbane. The vigil was led by His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad and sung by a male choir made up of clergy and parishioners from the 4 parishes in Brisbane. His Eminence was co-served by the local clergy and clergy from different parts of the diocese. The service was followed by a meal in the newly renovated church hall catered by the sisterhood. (more…)

On 10/23 December 2012, the 29th Sunday after Pentecost, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, served the Divine Liturgy together with the cathedral clergy – Archpriest George Lapardin and Protodeacon Alexander Kotlaroff.

After the liturgy, the sisterhood held a lunch for the clergy and members of the parish council in honour of Vladyka’s return. (more…)

Православная церковь отмечает день святых апостолов Петра и Павла 12 июля. Главный русский православный храм в Сиднее, носящий имя первоверховных апостолов, отмечал в этот день свой престольный праздник.

Несмотря на рабочий день, в собор, расположенный на тихой улочке недалеко от станции Стратфилд, на службу пришло более четырехсот человек. Всех, подходящих к храму, встречает красивая мозаичная икона, установленная над главным входом. Над этой мозаикой целый год работали в Свято-Преображенском монастыре в Бомбала. В центре ее изображен Иисус Христос, вручающий покровителями храма — апостолам Петру и Павлу — венец и меч. Приходской совет прилагает немало усилий для обновления храма, где появились новые иконы. Не так давно был проведен ремонт прицерковного зала. В планах приходского совета — внутренняя роспись храма. В следующем году сиднейский Петропавловский собор будет отмечать 60 лет со дня своего основания. (more…)

On Sunday the 10th of June, the Feast of All Saints was celebrated at the old monastery Church of All Saints, Kentlyn, NSW by His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion. A part of the original monastery building erected in the 1960’s at Our Lady of Kazan Monastery, All Saints Church is well known to the older generations of Sydney’s Russian community. With the blessing of the late Abbess Evpraxia, and her successor Abbess Maria, this modest church has, since Thomas Sunday 1999, been the home of a small, but dedicated congregation which uses English in their worship, the only ROCOR congregation in Sydney to do so. Around 80 parishioners and visitors, representing many cultural traditions: Russian, Serbian, Greek, Cypriot, Austrian, Palestinian, Irish, Lebanese, Romanian, Syrian, British, Filipino and Australian, were joined by Abbess Maria and the monastery sisterhood at the feast day service. (more…)

The Great Feast of Pentecost was celebrated at Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in Strathfield by His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, together with the cathedral clergy – Archpriest George Lapardin, Priest Simeon Nekipelov, Protodeacon Boris Evstigneev and Protodeacon Alexander Kotlaroff.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy the service of Vespers together with the Pentecost Kneeling Prayers was completed by His Eminence and the above named clergy. (more…)

Starting from the reading of the 12 Passion Gospels His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, celebrated the services of Holy Week and the Glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ at Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, Strathfield.

Concelebrating with His Eminence were the clergy of the Cathedral – Archpriest George Lapardin, Priest Simeon Nekipelov, Protodeacon Boris Evstigneev and Protodeacon Alexander Kotlaroff.

On Bright Monday Archpriest George Lapardin and Priest Simeon Nekipelov were joined by Deacon Andrew Morgan from the Holy Protection Church in Cabramatta.

Below is a photo-gallery from Holy Thursday through to Bright Monday. (more…)