Australian and New Zealand Diocese (ROCOR)

Saint 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. (more…)

On 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.

On 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. (more…)

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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On Saturday, 2 July 2016 the Australian and New Zealand Diocese will be commemorating the 50 year anniversary of the repose of St John of Shanghai and San Francisco.

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On 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. (more…)

On 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. (more…)

On 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. (more…)

Christ is risen!

Every year, we are filled with spiritual joy and ecstasy when we hear these words and reverently participate in the exalted solemnity of the paschal divine services, which remind us of Christ’s glorious victory over sin, evil and death, for we celebrate “the demise of death, the destruction of Hades, the beginning of a new and everlasting life” (from the Paschal Canon). His Beatitude, Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky), who passed into eternity 80 years ago, penetratingly observed that every feast is a sacrament. And Pascha is the feast of feasts and triumph of triumphs. The gracious power of this mystical celebration fills with joy, comforts, strengthens for the bearing of life’s cross, restores one’s inner powers, and imbues one with the spiritual vigilance and undaunted courage to endure all the sorrows and sufferings that beset us in this life. (more…)