Australian and New Zealand Diocese (ROCOR)

On Friday, 4 July 2025, the funeral service for the newly reposed Archpriest John Weir was prayerfully held in Brisbane, Queensland. The day began with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy for the Departed at 8:00am at the Church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God in Rocklea. The liturgy was led by Archpriest Gabriel Makarov and clergy of the Australian and New Zealand Diocese.

At 10:00am, the funeral service commenced, headed by His Eminence George, Archbishop of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand. His Eminence was co-served by clergy from the Australian and New Zealand Diocese, many of whom had served with Fr John over the years.

The service was movingly sung by a male choir under the direction of Reader Nektary Kotlaroff. The faithful filled the church, with more than 300 people in attendance — a reflection of Fr John’s profound impact on the lives of so many.

Following the funeral service, a procession of the cross took place around the church, with the body of Fr John being solemnly carried as clergy and faithful sang hymns of farewell.

Archpriest John Weir was then laid to rest at Mt Gravatt Cemetery, surrounded by family, friends, clergy, and parishioners who came to pay their final respects.

A wake was held afterward at St Nicholas Cathedral in Woolloongabba, where memories and stories were shared of a beloved priest, father, and spiritual shepherd. Fr John was deeply loved and respected for his humble nature, pastoral care, and unwavering dedication to Christ and His Church. Over the years, he spiritually guided many and touched countless hearts with his warmth, wisdom, and compassion.

Archpriest John Weir

The future Fr John Weir was born in July 1969 and adopted by Graham and Dawn Weir who raised him in the Roman Catholic Faith. On 5th April 1996 (the eve of Lazarus Saturday that year), he was received by bapKsm into the Orthodox faith by Fr Vladimir Boikov at the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God Russian Orthodox Church, Rocklea Brisbane. He chose to honour St John the Long-suffering of the Kiev Caves.

John married Marina Chipizubov at the same parish in September 1996 and were later blessed with two daughters, Lydia and Alexandra.

John was ordained to the diaconate in 2004, and into the priesthood in 2007 at the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God Parish by His Eminence Archbishop Hilarion (Kapral). Priest John was assigned to St Nicholas Cathedral as the assistant to the rector Fr Gabriel Makarov.

In 2009, the Holy Annunciation Orthodox Church, which had been a parish under the Orthodox Church in America, and which had been without a priest and services for some years, petitioned the now Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR), to be received into that jurisdiction as an English language mission, and to be assigned a priest. As a result of this petition, the parish was received into ROCOR and Fr John was reassigned from St Nicholas Cathedral to be rector of that parish. As the parish had been bereft of a priest and services for some years the task required enormous efforts to re-build parish life. Fr John served at Holy Annunciation as rector until 2010, while continuing to work in his secular job.

In 2010, he was released by Metropolitan Hilarion from the rectorship at Holy Annunciation and returned to St Nicholas Cathedral. Then, in 2011, he was reassigned to the parish where he was baptised, married and ordained – Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, as assistant priest to support Fr Michael Klebansky. On Fr Michael’s repose in 2016, Fr John was appointed temporary administrator of the parish for a short time before continuing on in the role of assistant priest after the appointment of Fr Alexander Borodin as rector. He continued in this role until 2019 when, at the request of Fr Gabriel Makarov, he was again transferred to St Nicholas Cathedral to assist Fr Gabriel with the substantial workload at that parish.

In 2021, he was elevated to the dignity of Archpriest for his diligent pastoral service in Christ’s Holy Church.

Fr John passed away from a heart attack on 24 June 2025 at the age of 55. He is survived by his Matushka Marina, daughters Lydia and Alexandra, son-in-law reader Nektary and granddaughter Martha.

He will be remembered for his sincere love for the Lord Our God, his patience, loving attitude towards all people, kindness, integrity and humility.

May God grant rest to His faithful servant, Archpriest John, in a place of brightness, a place of refreshment, where all the righteous repose