Australian and New Zealand Diocese (ROCOR)

On Saturday the 12th of December 2009 His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, 1st Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia flew from Sydney, Australia to begin his archpastoral visit to the New Zealand Deanery of the ROCOR. The Metropolitan’s delegation was warmly greeted at Wellington International Airport by representatives of the Russian Orthodox Community with bread and salt.

Metropolitan Hilarion concelebrated the Great Vespers at the Christ the Saviour Church in Wellington with Priest Lubomir Kudrich of the Serbian Orthodox Church and Hieromonk Ambrose (Mooney) of the ROCOR. The following morning the Divine liturgy was celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, also serving was Very Reverend Archpriest Vladimir Boikov, Dean of New Zealand, with Priest Lubomir Kudrich of the Serbian Orthodox Church and Deacon Daniel Millwood. The service was attended by a great multitude of faithful who had travelled from all parts of the North Island to receive their Hierarch’s archpastoral blessing and partake in Holy Communion. (more…)

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From the moment of his election as First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and subsequent move to New York, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion makes two trips a year—in summer and winter—to his Diocese of Australia and New Zealand. The worshipers of over 30 churches, monasteries and sketes joyfully await the arrival of their Vladyka. These visits always coincide with a great number of events in the life of the Diocese of the Russian diaspora. Life within the Russian Orthodox community picks up pace in an effort to fit in with the schedule of Vladyka Hilarion.

And so it is during this sojourn, besides festive divine services at SS Peter and Paul Cathedral, the Archbishop’s Church in Croydon and Archangel Michael Church, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, Vladyka also managed to visit those parishes which he did not during his last trip. Vladyka made trips to the convent in Kentlyn, Entrance Into the Temple Women’s Skete in Bungarbee, and St Nicholas Church in Adelaide. Ahead lies a trip to New Zealand and Melbourne, where the 45th Diocesan Orthodox Youth Conference will be held. This time, Vladyka will be traveling together with Russia’s myrrh-streaming Icon of the Mother of God “Softener of Evil Hearts.” (more…)

С момента избрания его Первоиерархом Русской Зарубежной церкви и переездом в Нью-Йорк, два раза в год, зимой и летом, митрополит Иларион посещает с визитом свою Австралийско-Новозеландскую епархию. С радостью ожидают приезд своего Владыки прихожане более чем 30 церквей, монастырей и скитов. Эти визиты всегда связаны с большим количеством событий в жизни Епархии и русской диаспоры.Жизнь русской православной общины ускоряет свой темп, стараясь успеть за плотным графиком визита Владыки Илариона.

Вот и в этот свой приезд, кроме торжественных служб в сиднейском Петропавловском соборе, Крестовой Архиерейской церкви в Кройдоне и Архангело-Михайловском храме, отмечавшем свое 50-летие, Владыка намеревается посетить те приходы, где ему не удалось побывать в прошлый визит. Владыка уже побывал в женскоммонастыре в Кентлине и Введенском женском ските в Бангарби, в Николаевском храме в Аделаиде. Впереди поездка в Новую Зеландию и Мельбурн, где в этом году будет проходить 45-й молодежный епархиальный православный съезд. В этот раз вместе с Владыкой путешествует прибывшая из России мироточивая икона Божией Матери «Умягчение злых сердец». (more…)

27th Sunday after Pentecost – the Holy Forefathers.

Homily From “The One Thing Needful,” Sermons of Archbishop Andrei (Rymarenko)

Last week’s Gospel about the rich man who had a good harvest was like the finale to the cycle of the Gospel readings of Pentecost. It portrayed a man who had devoted all his concern to one thing: to the care of his temporary, earthly welfare. In order to keep his good harvest he destroyed the old barns, built new, larger ones, and said: “Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee” (Lk. 12:19-20).

What’s the matter? Why such a sentence? The answer to this question is given in the Gospel reading for this Sunday. It tells how the Lord prepared a feast and invited many people, in other words, everyone. And this rich man was one of those invited to the feast of God. However, he was so preoccupied with his living arrangements that he forgot about this “calling,” about the feast to which he was invited. Never did he expect that his “calling” would be fulfilled that night. This is why God said he was a fool. (more…)