{"id":17024,"date":"2025-01-08T16:10:33","date_gmt":"2025-01-08T06:10:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rocor.org.au\/?p=17024"},"modified":"2025-01-11T18:05:31","modified_gmt":"2025-01-11T08:05:31","slug":"christmas-eve-at-sts-peter-and-paul-cathedral-in-strathfield","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/?p=17024","title":{"rendered":"Christmas Eve at Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Strathfield"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a class=\"highslide img_1\" href=\"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_6.jpg\" onclick=\"return hs.expand(this)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-17016\" src=\"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_6-88x160.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"88\" height=\"160\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_6-88x160.jpg 88w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_6-165x300.jpg 165w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_6-564x1024.jpg 564w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_6-768x1395.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_6.jpg 840w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 88px) 100vw, 88px\" \/><\/a>On Monday, January 6, 2025, on the eve of the Nativity of Christ, a solemn divine service was held at the Cathedral of Sts Peter and Paul in Strathfield. The Divine Liturgy was led by His Eminence George, Archbishop of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The service began with the reading of the Royal Hours, a special service for the feast of the Nativity of Christ. This was followed by the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">After the Liturgy, a candle was brought out in the centre of the church, symbolizing the light of Christ that illuminates the world. The parishioners gathered around and solemnly sang the troparion and kontakion of the Nativity of Christ.<\/p>\n<div id=\"gallery-1\" class=\"gallery galleryid-17024 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail\"><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"highslide img_2\" href='https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_9.jpg' onclick=\"return hs.expand(this)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"160\" height=\"116\" src=\"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_9-160x116.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_9-160x116.jpg 160w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_9-300x218.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_9-1024x745.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_9-768x559.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_9-1536x1118.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_9.jpg 1990w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 160px) 100vw, 160px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"highslide img_3\" href='https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_7.jpg' onclick=\"return hs.expand(this)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"120\" height=\"160\" src=\"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_7-120x160.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_7-120x160.jpg 120w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_7-224x300.jpg 224w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_7-765x1024.jpg 765w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_7-768x1028.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_7.jpg 1128w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 120px) 100vw, 120px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"highslide img_4\" href='https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_3.jpg' onclick=\"return hs.expand(this)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"92\" height=\"160\" src=\"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_3-92x160.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_3-92x160.jpg 92w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_3-172x300.jpg 172w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_3-586x1024.jpg 586w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_3-768x1342.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_3.jpg 846w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 92px) 100vw, 92px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><div style='clear: both'><\/div><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"highslide img_5\" href='https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_2.jpg' onclick=\"return hs.expand(this)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"120\" height=\"160\" src=\"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_2-120x160.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_2-120x160.jpg 120w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_2-224x300.jpg 224w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_2-766x1024.jpg 766w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_2-768x1027.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_2.jpg 1138w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 120px) 100vw, 120px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"highslide img_6\" href='https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_4.jpg' onclick=\"return hs.expand(this)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"90\" height=\"160\" src=\"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_4-90x160.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_4-90x160.jpg 90w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_4-168x300.jpg 168w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_4-574x1024.jpg 574w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_4-768x1369.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_4.jpg 846w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 90px) 100vw, 90px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"highslide img_7\" href='https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_8.jpg' onclick=\"return hs.expand(this)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"91\" height=\"160\" src=\"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_8-91x160.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_8-91x160.jpg 91w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_8-170x300.jpg 170w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_8-580x1024.jpg 580w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_8-768x1357.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_8.jpg 858w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 91px) 100vw, 91px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><div style='clear: both'><\/div><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"highslide img_8\" href='https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_5.jpg' onclick=\"return hs.expand(this)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"120\" height=\"160\" src=\"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_5-120x160.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_5-120x160.jpg 120w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_5-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_5-767x1024.jpg 767w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_5-768x1025.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_5.jpg 1136w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 120px) 100vw, 120px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"highslide img_9\" href='https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_10.jpg' onclick=\"return hs.expand(this)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"160\" height=\"119\" src=\"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_10-160x119.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_10-160x119.jpg 160w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_10-300x223.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_10-1024x762.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_10-768x572.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_10-1536x1144.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_10.jpg 1558w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 160px) 100vw, 160px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"highslide img_10\" href='https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_1.jpg' onclick=\"return hs.expand(this)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"79\" height=\"160\" src=\"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_1-79x160.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_1-79x160.jpg 79w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_1-148x300.jpg 148w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_1-506x1024.jpg 506w, https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/news25\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sochelnik-2025_1.jpg 680w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 79px) 100vw, 79px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><div style='clear: both'><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On Monday, January 6, 2025, on the eve of the Nativity of Christ, a solemn divine service was held at the Cathedral of Sts Peter and Paul in Strathfield. The Divine Liturgy was led by His Eminence George, Archbishop of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand. The service began with the<span class=\"more-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/?p=17024\">Continue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,2,7,5],"tags":[254],"class_list":["entry","author-protodak","has-more-link","post-17024","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-articles","category-diocesan-news","category-english","category-photos","tag-archbishop-george"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17024","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17024"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17024\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17026,"href":"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17024\/revisions\/17026"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17024"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17024"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rocor.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17024"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}