Australian and New Zealand Diocese (ROCOR)

DIVINE LITURGY

Acts 1:1-8

1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (more…)

HOLY AND GREAT SATURDAY

VESPERS

Reading 1. Genesis 1:1-13

In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth. But the earth was unsightly and unfurnished and darkness was over the deep, and the Spirit of God moved over the water. And God said, Let there be light, and there was light. And God saw the light that it was good, and God divided between the light and the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night, and there was evening and there was morning, the first day. And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the water, and let it be a division between water and water, and it was so. And God made the firmament, and God divided between the water which was under the firmament and the water which was above the firmament. And God called the firmament Heaven, and God saw that it was good, and there was evening and there was morning, the second day. And God said, Let the water which is under the heaven be collected into one place, and let the dry land appear, and it was so. And the water which was under the heaven was collected into its places, and the dry land appeared. And God called the dry land Earth, and the gatherings of the waters he called Seas, and God saw that it was good. And God said, Let the earth bring forth the herb of grass bearing seed according to its kind and according to its likeness, and the fruit-tree bearing fruit whose seed in it, according to its kind on the earth, and it was so. And the earth brought forth the herb of grass bearing seed according to its kind and according to its likeness, and the fruit tree bearing fruit whose seed is in it, according to its kind on the earth, and God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the third day. (more…)

HOLY AND GREAT FRIDAY

Troparion, tone 4: Thou hast redeemed us from the curse of the Law by Thy precious Blood. By being nailed to the Cross and pierced with the Spear, Thou hast poured immortality on mankind. O our Saviour, glory to Thee.

Kontakion, tone 8: Come, let us all praise Him Who was crucified for us. For Him it was Whom Mary beheld on the Tree, and said: Even though Thou endurest the cross, Thou art my Son and my God.

Troparia, tone 2: (Vespers and Saturday Matins) Noble Joseph took Thy immaculate Body down from the tree, wrapped It in a clean shroud and spices, and having embalmed It, laid It in a new sepulchre. But on the third day Thou didst rise, O Lord, granting to the world great mercy.

The Angel stood by the tomb and cried to the Myrrh-bearing women: Myrrh is fitting for the dead, but Christ has shown Himself free from corruption. (more…)

HOLY AND GREAT THURSDAY

Troparion, tone 8: When Thy glorious Disciples were enlightened at the supper by the feet washing, then the impious Judas was darkened with the disease of avarice, and he delivered Thee, the Just Judge, to the lawless judges. See, O lover of money, this man through money came to hang himself. Flee the insatiable desire which dared to do such things to the Master. O Lord, Who art good towards all, glory to Thee.

Konlakion, tone 2: Having taken bread in his hand, the traitor secretly stretches it out, and takes a price for Him Who with His own hands made man. And Judas remained an incorrigible slave and liar. (more…)

Недавно в Мельбурне сформирован камерный хор, состоящий из профессиональных хоровых и оперных певцов, под управлением регента хора Покровского собора ипод. Николая Cowall.

В многовековой истории России хоровая церковная музыка и колокольный звон были важным слагающим богатого культурного наследия. Русские композиторы от Мусорского до Рахманинова восхищались церковными колоколами и включали их перезвоны в свои композиции духовных произведений. (more…)

6/19 марта, 2009
свв. мучч. Амморейских

Ваше Высокопреосвященство, Высокопреосвященнейший Владыка Иларион, благословите!

Духовенство благочиннического округа штата НЮУ, Австралийско-Новозеландской Епархии, собравшись по давно упрочнившейся великопостной традиции 17-го и 18-го марта, 2009г. для общей молитвы, говения и духовного общения, провели время плодотворно, в духе братской любви, еще в очередной раз прочувствовав силу слов псалмопевца: “се что красно, се что добро, но еже жити братии в купе”.

Полнота духовных впечатлений не была несколько достигнута единственно по причине Вашего отсутствия.

Шлем Вам Владыка Святый свои искренние пожелания: помощи Божией на всех стезях Ваших и во всех церковных предприятиях; духовного утешения и легкости сердечной в сии очистительно-просветляющие дни великого поста; и торжественно-пасхальной радости в грядущие дни Светлого Праздника Христова Воскресения!

Просим Вас Владыка Святый, при удобном на то случае, передать наши сердечные поздравления Его Святейшеству, новоизбранному патриарху Кириллу, с пожеланием духовных сил и крепости и неизменно Боговдохновенные “уста и премудрость” необходимые при столь ответственном и нелегком служении Церкви Христовой.

Благочинный Протоиерей Никита Чемодаков и все духовенство штата НЮУ и столицы Канберра.

English version

6/19 March, 2009
Holy Martyrs of Ammoria

Your Eminence, Most Reverend Vladyka Hilarion, we ask for your blessing!

The clergy of the NSW Deanery, of the Australian and N.Z. Diocese, having convened according to the long established Lenten tradition on the 17th and 18th of March, 2009 for common prayer, confession and spiritual communion, passed the time beneficially in the spirit of brotherly love, yet again having felt the meaning of the Psalm-writer’s words: “Gracious the site, and full of comfort, when brethren dwell united”… The fullness of our spiritual enjoyment however could not quite be achieved due to your Eminence’s absence.

We would like to wish you: Divine help along all the paths you take and in all ecclesiastical initiatives you embark on; spiritual comfort and lightness of heart in these soul-cleansing and enlightening days of Great Lent; and triumphantly-paschal joy in the approaching days of the bright Feast of Christ’s Resurrection!

We ask you Vladyka, at a convenient time, to convey our heartfelt greetings to His Holiness, the newly elected Patriarch Cyrill, with wishes of vigour, strength of spirit and God-inspired “mouth and wisdom” so essential in his difficult and responsible position of serving the Church of Christ.

Archpriest Nikita Chemodakov, dean
together with the clergy of NSW and ACT

(more…)

St Michael the Archangel Church, Blacktown, turns 50 this year and a great deal is happening.

Please visit the Church website at http://www.archangelmichael.net.au/

The Parish invites you to come and see:

• the Church is undergoing painting and refurbishment;
• the Hall is being painted; and
• the Hall Kitchen is being transformed.

(more…)

In July of 2008 the Australian and New Zealand Diocesan Liturgical Music Committee organised the 5th Diocesan Choral Conference.

The conference took place in Sydney over a period of 5 days and its already rich programme was greatly enhanced by the presence and inclusion of the Moscow Danilov Monastery Choir.

Conference activities included a range of lectures, workshops, demonstrations, divine services and concerts, all aimed at teaching and improving the skills of church choir conductors, singers and readers.

The participation in the conference of many young people from parishes all over the diocese was particularly encouraging as it attests to continued interest, growth and development of our church choirs.

The organising members of the Diocesan Liturgical Committee should be very heartily congratulated for their tremendous effort and for a job done so well. May our Lord bless their endeavours, always! (more…)

On fasting

“For this kind is expelled only by prayer and fasting” (Matt. 17:21). With these words the Lord Himself indicated to us two kinds of weapons in our combat against our enemy – the dark and evil spirits. At the same time, He indicated to His disciples the need for them to fast at a time “when the Bridegroom shall be taken from them” (Matt. 9:15). The grace of the Holy Spirit is taken away from us through our sins. And its return to us is achieved primarily by means of repentance, assisted by prayer and fasting. (more…)

Dear in the Lord Pastors, Divinely-Wise Monks and Nuns, Beloved Brothers and Sisters, faithful children of our Holy Church!

The Local Council [Pomestny Sobor], held on January 27-28, 2009, at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, addresses you with the words of the Apostle: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14). (more…)