sts_peter_paul_2016_1On Monday the 11th and Tuesday 12th July 2016, the feast day of Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, divine services were held in the Diocesan Cathedral, Strathfield NSW in honour of the parish’s feast day.

The All-Night Vigil was led by His Grace Bishop George of Canberra joined by Archpriest George Lapardin Dean, Saints Peter and Paul Diocesan Cathedral (Strathfield, NSW), Archpriest Nikolai Cleric, Serbian Orthodox Church, Priest James Carles Rector, Saint Panteleimon Church (Gosford, NSW), Priest Dionisy Halim Cleric, Saint John the Baptist Skete (Kentlyn, NSW), Hieromonk Philip (Balingit), together with Saints Peter and Paul Diocesan Cathedral deacons, Alexander Kotlaroff, Constantine Moshegov and Michael Storozhev.Continue Reading

st_john_canberra_2016_9Saint John the Baptist Cathedral in Canberra celebrated its parish feast day on Sunday 10 July 2016. The Cathedral rector, His Grace Bishop George accompanied by Protodeacon Alexander Kotlaroff and 2 sub-deacons arrived in Canberra from Sydney on Saturday, 9 July 2016.

The All-night vigil was served at 5pm by His Grace along with the Cathedral dean Archpriest Alexander Morozow, Abbot Sergei from Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Bombala, Protodeacon Alexander Kotlaroff and Deacon Michael Storozhev clerics of Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, Strathfield.

On Sunday morning, Fr Alexander Morozow served the molelen with the lesser blessing of the waters and at 9am the clergy greeted the Cathedral rector. During the reading of the 6th hour, Bishop George tonsured Stephen David into a reader then the Divine Liturgy was celebrated.Continue Reading

kursk_2016On Tuesday, July 19, 2016, the Korenny Pilgrim Center near the Kursk-Root Hermitage in Russia hosted the opening of the 9th International Concord of Orthodox Youth. The main focus of this conference is the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the Russian presence on Mt Athos, Greece. A group of Australian and New Zealand youth from the Diocese flew to Kursk under the guidance of Protodeacon Alexander Abramoff cleric of the Holy Protection Cathedral, Melbourne to participate in the conference. Please click here for more information.

diocesan_council_july_2016On Thursday 23 June 2016 meetings of the Board of the Russian Orthodox Church (NSW) Property Trust and the Diocesan Council were held at the Diocesan House in Croydon, NSW.  Participating in this full day of meetings were Diocesan Administrator Bishop George, Diocesan Chancellor Mitred Archpriest Michael Protopopov, and Diocesan Council members Archpriest George Lapardin, Priest James Carles, Protodeacon Alexander Abramoff, Nicholas Nedachin, Alexander Bialocerkowski, Lubov Cowall and Nicholas Wirubov. Metropolitan Hilarion participated in the meeting of the Property Trust by telephone.Continue Reading

Beloved in the Lord Brothers and Sisters:

I send my heartfelt greetings on the feast of All Saints, and the Day of Orthodox Youth celebrated on this day, which was established by the Russian Church Abroad seven years ago.
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5ausprotmichaelklebanskyfuneral16_031_jpgOn Thursday, May 19, 2016, the feast day of Prophet Job the Much-Suffering, His Grace Bishop George of Canberra, Vicar of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, celebrated Divine Liturgy at the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God Church in Rocklea after which he officiated at the funeral of the late Mitred Protopriest Michael Klebansky. He was joined by 15 priests, three deacons and a large gathering of worshipers, among whom were relatives and the many followers of the late priest.Continue Reading

5ausprotmichaellifuneral16_016_jpgOn Tuesday, May 17, 2016, the anniversary of the reestablishment of unity within the Russian Orthodox Church (2007), the clergymen of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand celebrated Divine Liturgy in Holy Virgin Protection Church in Cabramatta, having performed vigil and parastas in the presence of the coffin containing the body of the late Mitred Protopriest Michael Li, who died last week.

After Divine Liturgy, His Grace Bishop George of Canberra, Vicar of the Diocese, led the funeral service to a large gathering of worshipers who came to pray for the late pastor. During the eulogies read at the commemorative luncheon that followed the burial, the clergymen and laity stressed the decades of ascetic life of the priest, who endured a great deal of suffering for the sake of Orthodox Christianity, and his humble nature, humility, hard work and love for divine services.Continue Reading

fr_michael_storozhev_12On May 10, 2016, the feast of Radonitsa, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilaron, The First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad paid an archpastoral visit to Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY USA.

During the reading of the Hours, Metropolitan Hilarion tonsured seminarian from the Australian and New Zealand Diocese Michael Storozhev a reader and ordained him a subdeacon. Following the Eucharistic Canon, subdeacon Michael was ordained to the diaconate.

Deacon Michael is assigned to Sts Peter and Paul Cathedral, Strathfield where he will fulfil his diaconate duties.Continue Reading