This year we mourned the loss of ROCOR First Hierarch Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral) (+16 May 2022), who as Diocesan Bishop showed great kindness to our parish and did much to help Russian Orthodox unity in Newcastle.  As the COVID-19 pandemic continued, we continued to offer prayers for deliverance from the coronavirus.  From February we laboured under the shadow of armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine, offering prayers for peace.  We had just one baptism this year, that of an infant, Vasily Watson.  The funerals of Valentina Abramow (+23 January 2022) and Raisa Shalimov (+1 August 2022), two women with a long association with our parish, were served.  We participated in the Great Lenten Pastoral Conference in March, in services in June marking the fortieth day of Metropolitan Hilarion’s repose, and in the Twentieth Australian-New Zealand Diocesan Assembly in October.  Together with the Gosford parish we provided an English-Russian wall calendar commemorating the fortieth anniversary of the repose of the noted ascetic and writer, Hieromonk Seraphim (Rose) of Platina.  We received our new memorial table, new shrouds of Christ and of the Mother of God, and new sets of priests’ vestments in green and blue.  The renovation of our sacristy was completed. Our parish rector made pastoral visits to the Mid North Coast of New South Wales in January, May and July, and in November he was appointed rector of the Saint Symeon of Verkhoturye Orthodox Mission there.  All the news from 2022 can be read here.  Glory be to God for all things!

The December 2022 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 edition continues the beautiful glossy colour format introduced in December 2020.  Content includes the text in Russian and English of the Resolution of the Twentieth Diocesan Assembly held in October 2022, together with photographs from the Assembly and a list of clergy who co-served with Bishop George at Divine Liturgy on the final day of the Assembly; directives concerning clergy awards, the closure of a mission in Adelaide, and the opening of a mission on the Mid North Coast of NSW; a biography of the newest priest of our Diocese, Father Pavel Baksheev; reports and photographs on the life of the Diocese; the life and work of Archimandrite Pavel (Gruzdev), a Twentieth Century confessor and elder of the Russian Orthodox Church; and more.  Copies are $5.00.

On Saturday 17 December and Sunday 18 December we had services for the Twenty-Seventh Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of Venerable Sabbas the Sanctified (+532 AD).  Matins was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning.  At Divine Liturgy the parish rector was assisted by Deacon Michal Matys and prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine.  In his sermon the parish rector spoke about the formative influence of Saint Sabbas on the Typikon of the Orthodox Church.  Following Divine Liturgy there was a moleben to Saint Nicholas the wonderworker, archbishop of Myra in Lycia, in anticipation of his commemoration on Monday 19 December.  Many years was then sung for two parishioners: our warden Nikolai Goura and Parish Council member Dean (Nicholas) Crawford, both of whom celebrate their names-day on 19 December.  These were the final services in our parish for 2022.

In June 2019, with Bishop George’s blessing our parish rector began to make pastoral visits to the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, serving Divine Liturgy and performing baptisms.  On 8 December 2022, having received a detailed report on these pastoral visits, Bishop George formally established a missionary community on the Mid North Coast in honour of Saint Symeon of Verkhoturye.  The purpose of the mission is to make available Orthodox Christian prayers, sacraments, and teaching on the Mid North Coast; to acquire the material resources and local experience to effectively support this activity; and, in time, to establish a parish in the region.  The territory of the mission will encompass the coastal area from Forster-Tuncurry to Woolgoolga.  A copy of Bishop George’s Ukase can be viewed here.  More information about the Mid North Coast Mission is available here.

On 3 December 2022 the Australian-New Zealand Diocese of our Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia advertised a permanent part-time position for a Youth Coordinator.  The role of the Youth Coordinator will encompass evaulation, development and implementation of programs and activities for the youth of the Diocese.  More information about the position is available here.  Questions and expressions of interest should be directed to the Diocesan Office.  Additional information to help applicants:  Applications close 25 December 2022.  Send applications to the Diocesan Office with a cc to Protodeacon Alexander Abramoff.  Interviews are likely to be held during the first week of January, with 9 January 2023 the preferred start date.

Updated 12 March 2023: On the weekend of Saturday-Sunday 27-28 May 2022, the Australian-New Zealand Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia will celebrate the centenary of the founding of the parish of Saint Nicholas in Brisbane, the first Russian Orthodox parish in Australia.  As all Diocesan clergy will gather in Brisbane that weekend for a pastoral conference on Saturday morning and for participation in the commemorative services on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, there will be no services elsewhere in the Diocese.  An episcopal, ukase, or directive, can be viewed here. A poster with contact information and booking arrangements is available in English here and in Russian here.

On Saturday 10 December and Sunday 11 December we had services for the Twenty-Sixth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of Monk-Martyr Stephen the New (+767 AD).  Matins was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning. At both services, the parish rector was assisted by Deacon Michal Matys.  At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine.  Following Divine Liturgy the parish rector congratulated Father Michal on the recent first anniversary of his service in our parish and presented him with an embroidered orarion and cuffs, a joint gift from our parish and the Gosford parish.

On Saturday 26 November and Sunday 27 November we had services for the Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Holy Apostle Philip (+87 AD).  Matins was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning.  At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus.  In his sermon the parish rector spoke about the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), emphasising the relationship between love for God and love for one’s neighbour; the extraordinary call to love one’s neighbour as oneself; and of one’s neighbour as being simply any other person with whom we have contact.  Following Divine Liturgy on Sunday a litia was served for the ever-memorable founder of our parish, Archpriest John Lupish (+1977), Tuesday 22 November 2022 having been the forty-fifth anniversary of his repose.  After the service many of those present gathered in the church hall for a light meal, this practice having been re-established after a break of over two-and-a-half years.

The October 2022 issue of “Word of the Church” (“Церковное Слово”), the official journal of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR), is now available in our parishes. This edition continues the beautiful glossy colour format introduced in December 2020.  Content includes information in Russian and English about the September 2022 Council of Bishops; the election by that Council of Bishop Nicholas (Olhovsky) as Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York and First Hierarch of the ROCOR; and the appointment of Bishop George as Ruling Bishop of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese. Also included in both languages are articles on the repose of Queen Elizabeth II; the repose of Priest David Lloyd; the July 2022 Residential School of the Saints Cyril and Methodius Institute; the history of the Harbin Diocese of the ROCOR (with many wonderful photographs); and more.  Copies are $5.00.

Our Summer 2022-23 Schedule of Services - covering December, January and February - is now available in PDF format.  A copy of the English-language Summer 2022-23 Schedule of Services is available here, and a copy of the Russian-language Summer 2022-23 Schedule of Services is available here.  Printed copies will be available in church from the weekend of 26-27 November.   Services of note will be for the second day of the Great Feast of the Nativity Of the Lord (Christmas) on Sunday 8 January, and for the Sunday after the Great Feast of Baptism of the Lord (Theophany) on 23 January, a day on which we will have a Great Blessing of Water and commemorate Newcastle's former Theophany parish.  Although we will not have services this year for the summer feast of Saint Nicholas on 18-19 December, a moleben to the saint will be served after Divine Liturgy on Sunday 18 December.

On Saturday 12 November and Sunday 13 November we had services for the Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Apostles of the Seventy Stachys, Amplias, Urban, Narcissus, Apelles and Aristobulus (1st C. AD) and Martyr Epimachus of Alexandria (+250 AD).  Matins was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning.  At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and, in view of the rising number of cases, for deliverance from the coronavirus.  In his sermon the parish rector spoke about Christ's miraculous healing of the demon-possessed man (Luke 8:26-39); His miracles as signs of both His divine power and His love for humanity; and the need for a response to both those things.  He spoke about the different forms of response evident in the lives of the saints commemorated, commending in particular Saints Spyridon and Nicodemus, prosphora-bakers of the Kiev Caves (+12th C. AD), for the simplicity and faithfulness of their Christian lives.

Father Mark Woloszyn is a priest of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia serving in the Holy Virgin Protection (“Pokrov”) Cathedral in East Brunswick, VIC.  He requires expensive surgical treatment for a serious medical condition, and two appeals have been initiated to raise funds to assist him.  The first, from Bishop George, is detailed here.  It includes details of a Diocesan bank account to which donations can be made.  The second, a GoFundMe appeal, is detailed here.  At this second link some additional information is provided concerning Father Mark’s circumstances.  We encourage those who wish to help Father Mark to respond directly to one of these two appeals.  Note: The appeal from Bishop George was updated on 3 November 2022.

On Saturday 29 October and Sunday 30 October services for the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Prophet Hosea (+829 BC) and Monk-Martyr Andrew of Crete (+767 AD) were held at Saints Peter and Paul Diocesan Cathedral in Strathfield, NSW.  Matins was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning.  As almost the entire complement of the clergy of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese was in Sydney for the Twentieth Diocesan Assembly, most of our parishes and missions had no services.  Our parish rector served at the cathedral together with Bishop George and 49 other priests and deacons.  On Sunday morning a reader was tonsured for the Hobart parish, a number of clerics received ecclesiastical awards, and a priest was ordained for the Dandenong parish.  At the Prayer before the Amvon a moleben of thanksgiving was served for the work of the Diocesan Assembly.  Following Divine Liturgy, Diocesan Chancellor Mitred Archpriest Michael Protopopov congratulated Bishop George on his recent appointment by the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia as Ruling Bishop of our Diocese, presenting him with the gift of a panagia on behalf of the clergy. 

On Saturday 22 October and Sunday 23 October we had services for the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council (Nicaea, 787 AD) and the Venerable Elders of Optina Hermitage.  Matins was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning.  At Divine Liturgy the parish rector was assisted by Deacon Michal Matys and prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine.  Following Divine Liturgy our much-loved parishioner and long-serving (2012-2022) treasurer, Anu Kinnunen, was presented with a parish Certificate of Appreciation and a copy of our ‘Newcastle’ Icon of the Mother of God.  This was Anu’s final service in our parish, as she and her husband are returning to Europe after living in Australia for many years.  After the parish rector thanked Anu for her diligent service and her valued contributed to the social and liturgical life of the parish, ‘Many Years’ was sung for her.

The Twentieth Diocesan Assembly of our Australian-New Zealand Diocese is to be held at the Saints Peter and Paul Diocesan Cathedral in Strathfield, NSW, from the evening of Thursday 27 October until the afternoon of Sunday 30 October 2022.  As all Diocesan clergy will be participating in the Assembly, the only services in our Diocese on Saturday-Sunday 29-30 October will be at the Strathfield Cathedral.  Our parish delegates to the Assembly will be the parish rector and Subdeacon Luke Goura.  Information about the Nineteenth Diocesan Assembly, held in Strathfield in November 2019, is available here.  More information about the Twentieth Diocesan Assembly will be shared as it becomes available.  Update, 12 October 2022:  A copy of the Diocesan Assembly agenda is available here.

On Saturday 8 October and Sunday 9 October we had services for the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian (+ Second Century AD).  Matins was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning.  At both services, the parish rector was assisted by Deacon Michael Matys.  At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine.

On Sunday 25 September our parish held its 2022 Annual General Meeting.  The 2022 Annual Report was presented and accepted.  A Statement of Commitment to Child Safety was adopted that will guide our parish as it works to ensure that our children are valued, safe, and involved in parish life.  Irene Lupish, Olga Bogacheva, Lucea Szabunia and Dean (Nicholas) Crawford were elected to serve on the 2022-23 Parish Council, and Subdeacon Luke Goura was chosen to represent the parish at the Twentieth Diocesan Assembly to be held in Strathfield in October 2022.

On Saturday 24 September and Sunday 25 September we had services for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost and for the Apodosis of the Nativity of the Mother of God.  Matins was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning.  At these services, our parish for the first time commemorated Metropolitan Nicholas (Olhovsky) in his new capacity as First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia and Bishop George in his new capacity as Ruling Bishop of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese.  At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus.  Following the services on Sunday an announcement was made concerning the parish Annual General Meeting to be held that afternoon.

Our 2022 Annual Report, including the independently audited 2021-22 Financial Statements, is now available.  It includes information about the governance of our parish and gives a little parish history.  It also summarises the life and activity of the parish in 2021-22 and provides details of some future projects.  A copy of the report, which will be formally presented to our parish Annual General Meeting on Sunday 25 September 2022, is available here.  We encourage our parishioners and friends with questions or comments concerning our Annual Report to contact us.

On Saturday 10 September and Sunday 11 September we had services for the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost and in memory of the Beheading of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist of the Lord, John.  Matins was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning.  At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine, for deliverance from the coronavirus, and for the aid of the forthcoming Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. In accordance with the practice of the Russian Orthodox Church on this feast of Saint John the Baptist, a litia for all Orthodox soldiers, sailors and airmen slain in battle was served immediately after Divine Liturgy.  With Bishop George's blessing, prayers were also offered for the repose of the soul of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (+9 September 2022).  Following the services on Sunday an announcement was made concerning the parish Annual General Meeting to be held on Sunday 25 September 2022.

On Saturday 27 August and Sunday 28 August we had services for the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost and the Great Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God.  All-night Vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning.  At both services the parish rector was assisted by Deacon Michael Matys.  At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus.  As on this day it was 73 years since the first Russian Orthodox services in the Hunter Valley, a moleben of thanksgiving was served at the end of Divine Liturgy.  Following Divine Liturgy an announcement was made concerning the parish Annual General Meeting to be held on Sunday 25 September 2022.  Afterwards, our parishioners and friends gathered in the church hall for a light festive meal.

Our Spring 2022 Schedule of Services - covering September, October and November - is now available in PDF format.  A copy of the English-language Spring 2022 Schedule of Services is available here, and a copy of the Russian-language Spring 2022 Schedule of Services is available here.

On Saturday 13 August and Sunday 14 August we had services for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Procession of the Precious Wood of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord and the Holy Maccabean Martyrs (+166 BC).  On this day the Russian Orthodox Church also commemorates the Baptism of Rus' in 988 AD and the feast of the Most Merciful Saviour and the All-Holy Theotokos, established in 1162 AD to commemorate the simultaneous victory of Byzantine and Russian forces over their enemies.   Matins with the bringing out of the Cross was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning.  At both services the parish rector was assisted by Deacon Michael Matys.  At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus.  At the end of Divine Liturgy on Sunday there was a Blessing of Water and, in accordance with the custom of the Russian Orthodox Church, a blessing of honey.  The honey, a gift to our parish and the Gosford parish in memory of the departed servants of God Anna, Olga and Nestor, Michael and Alla, and Evgenia, was afterwards shared amongst those present.  In his sermon the parish rector spoke about the various historical events and saints commemorated on this day and the way in which they bear witness to the continuing relationship between God and His people.

On Saturday 23 July and Sunday 24 July we had services for the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost, the day of commemoration of Great-Martyr Euphemia the All-Praised (+304 AD) and Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga, princess of Russia (+969 AD).  Matins was served on Saturday evening, and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning.  At both services the parish rector was assisted by Deacon Michael Matys.  At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus.  At the end of Divine Liturgy on Sunday prayers of blessing were read over a beautiful new embroidered image of the Mother of God for veneration at services for the Great Feast of the Dormition.

On Saturday 9 July and Sunday 10 July we had services for the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, the day of commemoration of Venerable Sampson the Hospitable of Constantinople (+c.530 AD).  Matins was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning.  At both services the parish rector was assisted by Deacon Michael Matys.  At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus.  Drawing on the appointed reading from the Apostol, Romans 6:18-23 (§93, Servants of righteousness), the parish rector spoke in his sermon on Sunday about being servants of righteousness rather than servants of sin.

In conjunction with Saint Panteleimon Russian Orthodox Church, Gosford, our parish has commenced a review of its child safe policy and procedures to give effect to the Child Safe Standards.  The Child Safe Standards are based on the research and consultation conducted by Australia’s Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.  Now enshrined in law by amendments to the Children’s Guardian Act 2019 (NSW), the Child Safe Standards provide a framework for creating organisations that are inclusive and safe for children.  One of our first steps has been to draft a Statement of Commitment to Child Safety, a copy of which can be viewed here.  We are also working on a new and comprehensive Child Safe Policy; new role descriptions and complaint-handling procedures; and a new Child Safe Code of Conduct.  We will seek comments on all these documents from our parishioners and friends, as well as from the Diocesan and civil authorities, before implementing and formally launching the new policy and procedures later this year.

The June 2022 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 edition continues the beautiful glossy colour format introduced in December 2020.  Content includes details of March 2022 clergy awards, including an awards to our own parish rector; articles relating to the May 2022 repose and burial of Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral) and to the Diocesan observance of the fortieth day of his repose; biographical materials, reflections, and photographs of Vladyka Hilarion; the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of divine service of Mitred Archpriest Michael Protopopov; articles on the reestablishment of canonical communion between the Serbian and Macedonian Orthodox Churches; and more.  Copies are $5.00.

On Monday 27 June, a meeting of the Parish Council was held.  This was the first meeting of the Parish Council in 2022 and the first face-to-face meeting since September 2019.  The parish rector tabled detailed reports covering the life of the parish and the wider church from October 2021 until June 2022.  Decisions were made concerning requests for assistance, donations and collections, and new acquisitions.  A report was given on the implementation of new financial management software and the new reports were tabled and discussed.  Suggested changes to the scheduling of services, particularly during Great Lent and at Pascha, were noted and endorsed.  It was agreed that our parish Annual General Meeting would be held on Sunday 25 September 2022.  The Parish Council will meet again in July to discuss several policy documents and a draft Annual Report.

On Thursday 23 June and Friday 24 June, clergy of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese gathered at Saints Peter and Paul Diocesan Cathedral in Strathfield, NSW, to offer prayers on the fortieth day of the repose of Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral), Ruling Bishop of our Diocese since 1996 and First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia since 2008.  Friday 24 June was also the day of commemoration of the wonder-working “Kursk-Root” Icon of the Mother of God, the “Directress” of the Russian Diaspora; of the wonder-working “Tabynsk” Icon of the Mother of God, revered by both the Russian Orthodox faithful and the Chinese people in Harbin, China, where it was kept from 1918 until 1948; of the Holy Apostles Bartholomew and Barnabas; and of the of the Hieromartyr Mitrophan and 222 other New Martyrs of China, slain during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900.  All-night Vigil was served on Thursday evening, with Mitred Archpriest Gabriel Makarov presiding and Protodeacons Alexander Abramoff and Vasily Konstantinidis assisting.  All the clergy vested for the singing of the magnification of the Mother of God before copies of the two wonder-working icons.  On Friday morning the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served, with Mitred Archpriest Michael Protopopov presiding and twenty-eight other clergymen concelebrating.  His Grace Bishop George of Canberra, recovering from illness, prayed in the altar on both days.  Following Divine Liturgy a panikhida was served for our departed First Hierarch, with the kontakion “With the saints give rest” sung together by the choir, clergy and all the faithful.  The clergy, their spouses, and special guests later gathered in the cathedral hall for a commemorative meal.  Over lunch there was discussion of Vladyka Hilarion’s gentleness, kindness, and pastoral warmth, characteristics that remained steadfast even as he rose in the church hierarchy; the possibility of a memorial within the cathedral grounds to all our departed Diocesan bishops; and missionary efforts in Vladyka’s memory.  Many years was sung for Bishop George, the Administrator of the Diocese, and for Archpriest Barnabas Jellings, celebrating his name-day that day.

On Saturday 25 June and Sunday 26 June we had services for the Second Sunday after Pentecost, the day of commemoration of All Saints who have shone forth in the land of Russia.  Matins was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning.  At Divine Liturgy the parish rector was assisted by Deacon Michael Matys and prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus.  Following Divine Liturgy on Sunday there was  a memorial litia for the evr-memorable Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral), Friday 24 June having been the fortieth day of his repose.

On Saturday 11 June and Sunday 12 June we had services for the Great Feast of Pentecost.  All-night Vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves was served on Saturday evening.  Prior to the service our small church had been beautifully decorated with flowers and green branches in honour of the life-giving Holy Spirit.  On Sunday morning, the Hours and Divine Liturgy were immediately followed by Vespers with the reading of the customary "kneeling prayers".  At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus.  At the end of the services on Sunday the faithful were reminded of a Diocesan collection to assist the Saints Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Institute, the theological and higher education institute of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.

Updated 7 June 2022: On Friday 24 June, the day of commemoration of the wonderworking “Kursk-Root” and “Tabinsk” Icons of the Mother of God and of Hieromartyr Mitrophan and 222 other New Martyrs of China, slain during the Boxer Rebellion (+1900), Bishop George and the clergy of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese will gather at Saints Peter and Paul Diocesan Cathedral in Strathfield to observe the fortieth day of the repose of Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral).  A brief biography of Metropolitan Hilarion is available here.  Bishop George's directive may be viewed here.  All-night Vigil will be served from 6.00pm on Thursday and the Hours, Divine Liturgy and a panikhida will be served from 9.00am on Friday.  Clergy have been asked to wear blue vestments.  All are welcome to attend these services.

Since the repose of Metropolitan Hilarion on Monday 16 May 2022, the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) has made several decisions concerning church life.  On Tuesday 17 May it was resolved, amongst other things, that our newly-reposed First Hierarch be especially commemorated at each Divine Liturgy during the Paschal season and that a panikhida be served on the fortieth day of his repose, Friday 24 June; that the name of Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany be commemorated during the divine services in all ROCOR churches immediately following the commemoration of Patriarch Kyrill; and that Bishop George of Canberra would be appointed Acting Ruling Bishop of the Australian-New-Zealand Diocese.  On Monday 23 May it was resolved, amongst other things, to convene a Council of Bishops in New York from 13-21 September 2022 with the purpose of electing a new ROCOR First Hierarch; and to especially commemorate Metropolitan Hilarion on Sunday 26 June, the Second Sunday after Pentecost, as well as on the fortieth day of his repose.

Our Winter 2022 Schedule of Services - covering June, July and August - is now available.  Services of note during this period include those for the Great Feast of Pentecost on 11-12 June; for the beginning of the Dormition Fast and the Procession of the Wood of the Cross on 13-14 August; and for the Great Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God on 27-28 August.  A copy of the English-language Winter 2022 Schedule of Services is available here, and a copy of the Russian-language Winter 2022 Schedule of Services is available here.  Printed copies in both languages are also available in church.

On Saturday 21 May and Sunday 22 May we had services for the Fifth Sunday of Pascha, the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman, and in honour of the Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas from Myra in Lycia to Bari, Italy, in 1087 AD.  This was the patronal feast-day of our church.  All-night Vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning. Divine Liturgy on Sunday was preceded by the Lesser Blessing of Water and followed by a moleben to Saint Nicholas.  At Divine Liturgy the parish rector was assisted by Deacon Michal Matys and prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus.  Following the moleben the parish rector congratulated those present and spoke about the unfailing help that Christians throughout the centuries have found in the prayers of Saint Nicholas.  Many of our parishioners then gathered in our church hall for a festive meal, the first such gathering in two years.

On Saturday 21 May, immediately before All-night Vigil for the Fifth Sunday of Pascha and in honour of Saint Nicholas, our parish rector served a panikhida for the newly-reposed Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral), First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia and much-loved Ruling Bishop of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese for over twenty-five years.  Following the service, our rector spoke spoke briefly concerning Vladyka Hilarion’s great humility, kindness and pastoral dedication.

On Saturday 7 May and Sunday 8 May we had services for the Third Sunday of Pascha, the Sunday of the Myrrhbearers.  Matins was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning.  At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus.  At the end of Divine Liturgy the Artos was cut and distributed.

The April 2022 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 edition continues the beautiful glossy colour format introduced in December 2020.  Content includes Metropolitan Hilarion’s 2022 Paschal Epistle in Russian; the Ukase concerning Priest Alexei Jukoff’s transfer from Dandenong to Adelaide to assist and then replace the retiring rector of the Saint Nicholas parish, Archpriest Vladimir Deduhin; a Russian-language obituary of the late ever-memorable Protodeacon Constantine Moshegov; information about the 2022 Great Lenten Pasoral Conference of our Diocese; Part II of ‘The Relationship Between the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia and the Serbian Orthodox Church in Australia in the period from 1950 until 1969’, the English-language text of a lecture presented to the ROCOR Centenary Conference; and more.  Copies are $5.00.

This year, our parish again had a number of traditional services for Holy Week and Pascha.   Divine Liturgy was served in the morning on Great Thursday, 21 April.  On Great Friday, 22 April, Vespers with the bringing out of the Shroud of Christ was served in the afternoon.  On Saturday 23 April Midnight Office was served late in the evening, with Paschal Matins and Divine Liturgy following in the early hours of 24 April, the Sunday of Pascha.    Easter baskets with cakes, eggs and other festive foods were blessed following Matins.  At the services on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the parish rector was assisted by Deacon Michal Matys.

On Saturday 9 April and Sunday 10 April we had services for the Fifth Sunday of Great Lent, the commemoration of Saint Mary of Egypt.  Matins was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning.  At both services the parish rector was assisted by Deacon Michal Matys.  At Divine Liturgy on Sunday prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus. Following the Prayer before the Amvon on Sunday, prayers of blessing were read over a new Shroud ("плащаница") of Christ, new blue and green sets of priests' vestments donated in memory of the departed servants of God Michael and Alla, and an analogion cover embroidered with an image of the Holy Trinity.  All these items were the work of the Saint Elisabeth Convent in Minks, Belarus.

On Saturday 26 March and Sunday 27 March we had services for the Third Sunday of Great Lent, the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross. Matins with the bringing out of the Cross was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning.  At both services the parish rector was assisted by Deacon Michal Matys.  As Saturday 26 March was a day of commemoration of the departed, a general panikhida was served immediately before Matins on Saturday evening.  As an act of kindness in memory of the departed, several people attending the panikhida brought non-perishable foods to be passed to a local charitable organisation for relief of the homeless.  At Divine Liturgy on Sunday prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus.

On Saturday 12 March and Sunday 13 March we had services for the First Sunday of Great Lent, the Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy.  Matins was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning.  Prayers were offered for the restoration of peace between Russia and Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus.  Following the Prayer before the Amvon, a brief moleben was served ‘For the Conversion of Those in Error’, at which prayers were offered for those who oppose the truth of the Gospel with heresy and for those who have fallen away from the Holy Orthodox Church through schism.  In his sermon, the parish rector spoke about the restoration of the icons to the churches on the First Sunday of Great Lent in 843 AD, the event leading to the establishment of the Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, and about the essential place of icons in the defence of the doctrine of the Incarnation of Christ.  At the end of Divine Liturgy, a collection was taken up to benefit the Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary in Jordanville, New York.

Early in the evening on Sunday 6 March, Forgiveness Sunday, we had Vespers with the rite of asking forgiveness.  During this service the church vestments were changed from gold to black and the festive melodies gave way to the solemn Lenten melodies.  At the end of the service the parish rector spoke briefly about the Gospel injunction to grant forgivenss to others if we are to hope for forgiveness from God (Matthew 6:14-15).  Following this, all present venerated the Gospel, the Cross, and the Holy Icons, and asked forgiveness of one another in accordance with Orthodox custom.

On Saturday 26 February and Sunday 27 February we had services for the Sunday of the Last Judgement.  Matins was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning.  As Saturday was a day of commemoration of the departed, a general panikhida was served immediately before Matins on Saturday evening.  As an act of kindness in memory of the departed, several people attending the panikhida brought non-perishable foods and sanitary items to be passed to a local charitable organisation for relief of the homeless.  At Divine Liturgy on Sunday prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus.  Following Divine Liturgy, a collection as taken up to benefit Orthodox Action.  Afterwards, the Ladies’ Auxiliary served pancakes in the church hall.

On 24 February 2022 Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia and Ruling Bishop of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese, issued an 'Archpastoral Epistle to the Clergy and Flock of the Eastern American and Australian-New Zealand Dioceses on Great Lent and on the Events on the Holy Ukrainian Land.'  The Epistle can be read in Russian here and in English here.

Our Autumn 2022 Schedule of Services - covering March, April and May 2022 - is now available in digital format.  It includes all our services for Great Lent, Holy Week, Pascha and our patronal feast of Saint Nicholas.  A copy of the English-language Autumn 2022 Schedule of Services is available here, and a copy of the Russian-language Autumn 2022 Schedule of Services is available here.  Both can also be accessed on our Services page, and printed copies will be available in church from the weekend of 26-27 February.

On Saturday 12 February and Sunday 13 February we had services for the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee.  Matins was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning.  Prior to the service on Saturday evening, prayers of blessing were read over our new memorial table, largely the work of the late ever-memorable Protodeacon Vasily Hadarin (+13 February 2021), and a panikhida was served for him.  At Matins and Divine Liturgy our parish rector was assisted by Deacon Michael Matys.  Also assisting at both services was Subdeacon Irenaeus (Ryan) Strickler, now living in the Hunter Valley and teaching at the University of Newcastle.  In his sermon at Divine Liturgy, the parish rector spoke about emulating the humility of the Publican and the virtue of the Pharisee while avoiding the sinfulness of the one and the foolish pride of the other.  Following Divine Liturgy on Sunday, the first anniversary of Protodeacon Vasily’s repose, he was again commemorated at a memorial litia. 

On Thursday 3 February our parish rector served the funeral of Valentina Abramow, née Katonin.  Both the Abramow and Katonin families have a long and important association with our parish.  Valentina, who was born in Europe in 1943, departed this life on 23 January 2022.  She was laid to rest in Wallsend Cemetery, a short distance from her parents Michael and Maria.  We offer heartfelt condolences to Valentina’s husband of nearly 55 years, Eddie; to their children Michael, Natalie and Phillip; to her grandchildren; and to her sister Anna.  Memory eternal!

On Saturday 22 January and Sunday 23 January we had services for the Thirty-First Sunday after Pentecost, for the Sunday after Theophany, and in honour of Saint Theophan the Recluse of Vysha Monastery (+1894).   Matins was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy with the Great Blessing of Water was served at on Sunday morning.  At Divine Liturgy and the Blessing of Water our parish rector was assisted by Deacon Michael Matys.  Following the blessing of water a brief moleben of thanksgiving was served for the work of the former (1994-2009) Theophany parish in Mayfield, Newcastle, the remaining members of which joined our parish in 2009, and Eternal Memory was sung for the departed founders, parishioners and benefactors of that parish.

On Saturday 8 January and Sunday 9 January we had services for the Twenty-Ninth Sunday after Pentecost and the Sunday after the Nativity of Christ.  Matins was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning.  At Divine Liturgy the Prayer in time of Devastating Epidemic was read.  In place of a sermon at Divine Liturgy, the parish rector read aloud Metropolitan Hilarion’s Nativity Epistle in both Russian and English.

Our parish often receives enquiries about the Holy Trinity Orthodox Monastery of Monkerai and its founder, Father John MacPherson.  To help consistently answer such enquiries and to provide some history, to date, of an interesting episode in the history of Russian Orthodoxy in the Hunter Region, some information has been compiled here.