We, the clergy, monastics, and lay delegates to the Twentieth Diocesan Assembly of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR), give thanks to God for the opportunity to gather together at Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in Sydney, Australia, to review the life and achievements of the Diocese over the past three years. As we stand on the threshold of the seventy-fifth anniversary of our God-preserved Diocese, we rejoice in its continuing growth and strength.Continue Reading

It was quite a cool morning and the lesser blessing of water was held outside at 8am presided over by the rector Archpriest Boris Ignatievsky.
The greeting of his Grace Bishop George of Sydney Australia and New Zealand was at 9am followed by a heartfelt and uplifting liturgy.
It was wonderful to concelebrate the liturgy with priests from other parishes in the diocese. Those in attendance were Archpriest Nikita Chemodakov Dean of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory rector, Saint Nicholas Church Fairfield, Archpriest Nikola Belich of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Archpriest Boris Ignatievsky rector, Archpriest Alexander Korjenevski rector, Saint George Church Carlton, Abbot Dorofei (Urusov) Cleric of Our Lady of Kazan Convent Kentlyn, Archpriest Dionisy Halim rector, Our Lady’s Dormition Church Wollongong and protodeacon Vasily Konstantinidis parish deacon.

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On Monday, 26 September 2022, the eve of the feast of The Exaltation of the Life-Giving Cross, His Grace George, Bishop of Sydney Australia and New Zealand celebrated the All-night vigil at Sts Peter and Paul’s Cathedral, Strathfield. Co-serving with His Grace were the cathedral clergy.

During the Great Doxology, Bishop George wearing all vestments carried the Cross to the middle of the church and the rite of the Exaltation of the Cross was served.

The rite of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was established in Jerusalem shortly after the finding of the Cross by Saint Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine in memory of that event and also the restoration of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.Continue Reading

On Sunday, 25 September 2022, the Apodosis of the Nativity of the Theotokos, His Grace Bishop George of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand, celebrated his first Divine Liturgy as the ruling bishop of this diocese at Sts Peter and Paul’s Cathedral in Strathfield. Co-serving with His Grace were the cathedral clergy.

Following the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy, the Ukase from the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, appointing Bishop George as the seventh ruling bishop of the Australian and New Zealand diocese was read and many years was intoned. Continue Reading

On Wednesday, 21 September, 2022, the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, during deliberations on the expansion of the episcopacy and clergy, appointed His Grace Bishop George of Canberra Ruling Bishop of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand with the title “of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand.

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On Monday, 19 September 2022, the funeral service for priest David Lloyd took place at the Holy Protection Church Cabramatta, NSW. The service was led by His Grace Bishop George of Canberra and co-serving with His Grace were eight priests and three deacons from the NSW deanery.

In accordance with the funeral service for a priest within the Russian Orthodox Church, the service included the chanting of psalms and various hymns, the reading of the canon for the departed, and the reading of five epistles and five gospels. Towards the end of the service a prayer of absolution was read. Fr David was laid to rest at Pinegrove Memorial Park cemetery at Minchinbury.Continue Reading

On Saturday, 17 September, 2022, at the end of all-night vigil at the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady “of the Sign” in New York, His Grace Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, newly-elected First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, emerged through the Royal Doors to the ambo in his black klobuk and common episcopal mantle. His Eminence Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and German and His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America then endowed the blue mantle and white klobuk to him, which he donned with the aid of attending subdeacons.Continue Reading

Поминовение нового Первоиерарха Русской Зарубежной Церкви на богослужениях для Австралийско-Новозеландской Епархии следует по следующей формуле:

1) До воскресенья, 5/18 сентября с.г. включительно, в положенном месте на мирной и сугубой ектеньях поминать по формуле: “о господине нашем Преосвященнейшем епископе Николае, избранном Первоиерарсе Русския Зарубежные Церкве“, а затем правящего архиерея.

2) На Великом же входе Божественной литургии и во время возгласа “В первых помяни…” поминать по следующей формуле: “господина нашего Преосвященнейшего Николая, избранного Первоиерарха Русския Зарубежные Церкве“, а затем правящего архиерея.

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Nicholas Olhovsky was born on 17 December, 1974, in Trenton, NJ.

In 1991, he graduated St Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Parish School in Lakewood, NJ, and in 1993, he graduated Hamilton West High School.

In 1998, he graduated from Holy Trinity Theological Seminary in Jordanville, NY, with a Bachelor of Theology Degree. During his studies at the seminary, he worked at Holy Trinity Monastery in the book-binding department and iconographical shop, and until 2002 in the monastery publishing concern.Continue Reading