Saint Nicholas' is an Orthodox Christian parish of East Slavic tradition serving Newcastle and the Hunter Valley. It includes Orthodox Christians of Belarussian, Ukrainian, Russian, Macedonian, and other backgrounds. We are a parish of the Australian and New Zealand Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. The Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, a self-governing part of the Russian Orthodox Church, is completely independent in pastoral, educational, administrative, management, property, and civil matters. Our parish is doctrinally Orthodox, liturgically traditional, and welcoming to all. In our services we use English, the language of this country, together with Church Slavonic, the liturgical language of the Slavic peoples. Established in 1952, our parish is the oldest continuously functioning Orthodox parish in the Hunter Valley and one of the oldest in our Diocese. Visiting our parish
We usually have services on the second and fourth Sundays of each month and on the preceding Saturday evenings. Our Schedule of Services can be viewed here. Our church is generally only open when we have services. Visitors are always welcome! If you would like to contact us before visiting, it is best to send an email. We check this inbox regularly and will respond to messages within 24 hours. You can also contact us in the same way to arrange baptisms and memorial services. The availability of our parish priest
Our parish priest, Archpriest James Carles, serves in a voluntary capacity. He does not live in the Hunter Region but travels here from the Central Coast for services. Like many clergymen of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, he has secular employment during the week. He is also presently undertaking full-time tertiary study. In addition to our parish, Father James has responsibility for Saint Panteleimon Russian Orthodox Church in Gosford and Saint Symeon of Verkhoturye Orthodox Mission on the New South Wales Mid North Coast. As a result, his pastoral availability is strictly limited to scheduled services in the three communities and “needs” such as baptisms, weddings, end-of-life care, and funerals. Confessions are only heard during evening services or before Divine Liturgy. Molebens and memorial services may be arranged after Divine Liturgy on Sundays. Father James can be contacted by email here.
Supporting our parish
Our parish is a small one that relies on community support and the voluntary service of our clergy to make ends meet. If you find this website to be of interest or of assistance, please consider helping us. Donations may be made directly to our bank account:
St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church BSB: 032-509 Account number: 281104
May the Lord bless you! Forthcoming services and activities
Services on 21-22 May, the feast of the Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas - 22/05/2026
On Thursday 21 May and Friday 22 May we will have services commemorating the Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas from Myra in Lycia to Bari, Italy, in 1087 AD. This is the patronal feast-day of our church. All-night Vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves will be served at 6.00pm on Thursday and the Hours and Divine Liturgy will be served at 9.00am on Friday. Divine Liturgy will be preceded by the Lesser Blessing of Water at 8.00am. For a moleben to Saint Nicholas and a festive lunch we will wait until Sunday 24 May when more of our parishioners and friends are able to be present. Parish Life
Services on 23-24 May, the Seventh Sunday of Pascha - 10/05/2026
On Saturday 23 May and Sunday 24 May we will have services for the Sunday of the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, the Seventh Sunday of Pascha. On this day we will also commemorate Saints Cyril (+869 AD) and Methodius (+885 AD), enlighteners of the Slavs. Matins will be served at 6.00pm on Saturday and the Hours and Divine Liturgy will be served at 9.00am on Sunday. Following Divine Liturgy there will be a moleben to Saint Nicholas with a procession around the church and a festive lunch in honour of the patronal feast of our parish, celebrated on Friday 22 May. 00001
Services on 9-10 May, the Fifth Sunday of Pascha - 10/05/2026
On Saturday 9 May and Sunday 10 May we had services for the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman, the Fifth Sunday of Pascha. Matins was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning. At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for the unity of the Orthodox Church, peace in Ukraine, and peace in the Holy Land. On Sunday we were joined by visitors from Sydney and by a number of people attending an Orthodox Christian service for the first time. 00002
Services on 18-19 April, the Second Sunday of Pascha - 19/04/2026
On Saturday 18 April and Sunday 19 April we had services for Thomas Sunday, the Second Sunday of Pascha. Matins was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning. At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for the unity of the Orthodox Church, peace in Ukraine, and peace in the Holy Land. At the end of Divine Liturgy the Prayer at the breaking of the Artos was read and pieces of the Artos were distributed to the faithful. 00003
Russian Orthodox Holy Week and Pascha in Wallsend, 2026 - 12/04/2026
This year, our parish again had a small number of traditional services for Holy Week and Pascha. Matins with the reading of the Twelve Passion Gospels was served in the evening on Thursday 9 April and Vespers with the bringing out of the Shroud of Christ was served in the afternoon on Friday 10 April. On Saturday 11 May Midnight Office was served late in the evening, with Paschal Matins and Divine Liturgy following in the early hours of 12 May, the Sunday of Pascha. Easter baskets with cakes, eggs and other festive foods were blessed following Matins. A great many people then remained for Divine Liturgy, after which there was a small celebration in the church hall. Church & Community Life
Now available - the March 2026 issue of "Word of the Church" ("Церковное Слово") - 31/05/2026
The March 2026 issue of “Word of the Church” (“Церковное Слово”), the official journal of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, is now available in our parishes. This is the first issue for 2026. Content includes articles in English and Russian on the blessing of land for a new church in Tweed Heads; an article about the Diocesan Youth conference (“Syezd”) held in Adelaide in December 2025; a report on an event in November 2025 commemorating the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the text of a paper given there; episcopal directives; and more. Copies are $5.00. |
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