Sts Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Institute
2 Jan 26: Brisbane Youth Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Kazan Convent Kentlyn
From 26-30 December 2025, Fr Gabriel Makarov accompanied a group of 18 youth to the Kazan Convent in Kentlyn to stay at the convent and fulfill physical obediences with the aim of acquiring some spiritual experience and contributing to the monastery and its sisters through their physical labour.
With the blessing of Archbishop George and the convent’s Abbess Maria (Miros), the pilgrimage was organised by the Brisbane St Nicholas Cathedral Youth and included youth from 3 other parishes in the Northern Deanery. During the convent stay, 4 other young men from Perth and Sydney also joined the group and participated in much of the pilgrimage programme.
For most of the youth, this was their first visit to a Russian Orthodox monastery. The days were filled with prayer, church services and of course, obediences. A series of uplifting spiritual talks were given by Abbess Maria, Fr Nikita Chemodakov, Abbott Dorofei (Urusau) and Fr Gabriel Makarov, covering a very wide range of topics previously suggested by the youth. At various times, Abbess Maria also took aside the young ladies in the group and spoke to them separately.
After Liturgy on Sunday, Matushka Maria led the pilgrims on a walking excursion of the extensive convent grounds and surrounds. A visit was made to “Monk Guri’s cave” at the very edge of the surrounding Eucalypt bushland, where Matushka recounted some details of Fr Guri (Demidov’s) monastic and hermitic struggles and his founding of the original St John the Baptist Skete in 1960 when he arrived in Australia from China as a Russian refugee. The pilgrimage group was very taken by this history and sang “Memory eternal” for Fr Guri’s repose. A short distance from the cave the pilgrims visited the newly established St John the Baptist Skete, also nestled in an area adjacent to the bushland, located on the historic sites of the previous Diocesan printing press and candle-making factory. The skete’s rector, Fr Joachim (Ross), greeted the youth and showed them the current church where services are regularly celebrated and the very fine new and future church, which is still in mid-construction stage. Fr Joachim spoke of the challenges, difficulties and joys of his monastic and missionary struggles. Once again, the youth were deeply touched by Fr Joachim’s description of his own journey to Orthodoxy and his monastic calling and labours.
On the second-last day of the pilgrimage His Eminence Archbishop George, accompanied by Fr Andrew Morgan, made a special visit to the convent to meet and talk with the youth pilgrims. In an unhurried question and answer format, a great and varying range of subjects were discussed, with Vladyka providing archpastoral guidance and insight for the benefit of all. Vladyka’s unpretentious and good-natured manner made a particularly endearing and positive impression on the youth. Fr Andrew, the coordinator of the Diocesan Youth Mission, continued after the Archbishop and addressed the youth, discussing with them pertinent issues regarding effective youth ministry across the diocese and previous positive outcomes. Fr Andrew readily accepted any kind of constructive comments form the youth and noted suggestions for future projects.
It should be stressed that the young pilgrims came to the convent well prepared for physical labour and cheerfully accepted all and every obedience imposed by Abbess Maria and her assisting nuns. A summary of these tasks over the course of 4 full days and many hours is as follows: mowing, trimming cleaning, touch-up painting and general beautification of all grassed and concreted areas, garden beds, solar panels, church, floors, icons, various other buildings and the convent’s entry archway.
Despite these physical demands, the pilgrims experienced an ever present peace at the monastery with a desire to maintain this in their hearts and share with those at home and in the various parishes. At the end of the pilgrimage stay fellowship and friendships had been deepened and there was an eager consensus to return at a future time to again serve and help the convent nuns, each according to his or her abilities.
A very special thanks goes to Abbess Maria and her monastic sisters, the kitchen ladies and the various clergy serving at the convent for making this youth pilgrimage a truly edifying and spiritually enriching event for this group of youth from our diocese. Glory be to God for all things!
