On the weekend of Saturday-Sunday 27-28 May, our parish clergy,  Archpriest James Carles and Protodeacon Martin Naef, participated in a Pastoral Conference of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.  The Pastoral Conference was convened to coincide with celebrations marking the centenary of the founding of the parish of Saint Nicholas in Brisbane, the first Russian Orthodox parish in Australia.  Solemn divine services were held on Saturday evening and Sunday morning at which three bishops served: Archbishop Gabriel (Chemodakov) of Montreal and Canada, Bishop George of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand, and Bishop Luke (Murianka) of Syracuse, Vicar of the Eastern American Diocese.  Concelebrating with them at Divine Liturgy on Sunday were forty-nine priests and deacons of our diocese, including our own parish clergy, and representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church.  The Russian Orthodox Men’s Choir of Australia, of which our parishioners Gregory Alexandrovsky and Alexey Douriaguine are members, sang at both services.  Links to news articles with more detail and photographs will be shared as they become available.

The first part of our Winter 2023 Schedule of Services - covering June and July - is now available.  The most important services during this period will be for the Great Feast of Pentecost on the weekend of 3-4 June.  Our church will be closed from Monday 3 July until early August so that work can be undertaken in preparation for the replacement of our floor and installation of our new iconostasis.  A Schedule of Divine Services for August 2023 will be released late in July.  A copy of the current English-language Winter 2023 Schedule of Services is available here, and a copy of the current Russian-language Winter 2023 Schedule of Services is available here.  Printed copies in both languages are also available in church.

On Saturday 20 May and Sunday 21 May we had services for the Sunday of the Blind Man, the Sixth Sunday of Pascha, and in honour of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian.  All-night Vigil was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning.  At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine.  In his sermon the parish rector spoke about the healing of the man blind from birth (John 9:1-38) and of the light that Jesus Christ brings to our lives.  Following Divine Liturgy a panikhida was served for our ever-memorable Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral) (+16 May 2022); our newly-reposed parishioners Vladimir Marinkevich (+18 May 2023) and Eugene Pickel (+3 May 2023); for Natalie Lalic (+12 April 2023), the daughter of our parishioner Maria, on the fortieth day of her repose; and for Alexander Bolonin (+2022) on the anniversary of his repose.

On Saturday 6 May and Sunday 7 May we had services for the Sunday of the Paralytic, the Fourth Sunday of Pascha.  All-night Vigil was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning. At Divine Liturgy on Sunday the parish rector was assisted by Protodeacon Martin Naef and Deacon Michal Matys, and prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine. In his sermon the parish rector spoke about the patience of the Paralytic, or paralysed man, whose healing by Christ ( John 5:1-15) was commemorated on this day; the way that God intervenes unexpectedly in our lives; and the profound influence of the Holy Scriptures on the liturgical life of the Orthodox Church.

The April 2023 issue of “Word of the Church” (“Церковное Слово”), the official journal of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, is now available in our parishes. Content includes news of clergy ordinations, awards, and assignments; information about the centenary celebrations of Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Brisbane, planned for late May 2023; the Russian-language text of a long and interesting interview with Mitred Archpriest Gabriel Makarov, the rector of the Brisbane Cathedral; a report in Russian and English on the Great Lenten Pastoral Conference of the Southern Deanery of our Diocese (covering Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania), held in March this year in Warrnambool, Victoria; a report in Russian and English on the blessing in February 2023 of a new church in Lonnavale, Tasmania; articles in both languages about the suffering Ukrainian Orthodox Church; and more.  Also included is a handy supplement providing contact details for all our parishes, monasteries and missions and their clergy.  Copies are $5.00.

This year, our parish again had a number of traditional services for Holy Week and Pascha. Matins was served in the evening on Sunday 9 April, Monday 10 April, Tuesday 11 April, and Wednesday 12 April.  Divine Liturgy was served in the morning on Great Thursday, 13 April.  On Great Friday, 14 April, Vespers with the bringing out of the Shroud of Christ was served at midday and Matins with Lamentations before the Tomb of Christ was served in the evening.  In the morning on Great Saturday, 15 April, Divine Liturgy was served.  Midnight Office  was served late that evening, with Paschal  Matins and Divine Liturgy following in the early hours of 16 April, the Sunday of Pascha.  Paschal Vespers was served at 11.00am that morning. Easter baskets with cakes, eggs and other festive foods were blessed following Matins and again after Vespers.  The parish rector was assisted at Vespers on Friday by Protodeacon Martin Naef and on Friday evening and Saturday morning by Deacon Michal Matys.  Both deacons served together at Paschal Matins and Divine Liturgy.

On Friday 7 April and Saturday 8 April we had services for the Sixth Saturday of Great Lent, Lazarus Saturday.  On this day the Orthodox Church commemorates the raising of Lazarus from the dead after four days in the grave (John 11:1-45).  Matins was served on Friday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Saturday morning.  At Divine Liturgy the parish rector was assisted by Deacon Michal Matys, and prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine.  As there were to be no services in our parish this year for Palm Sunday, following the Prayer before the Amvon on Saturday morning a small number of pussy-willows were blessed in anticipation of Palm Sunday.  As on the preceding day, many of those present received Holy Communion.

On Thursday 6 April and Friday 7 April we had services for the Great Feast of the Annunciation of the Mother of God.  All-night Vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves was served on Thursday evening and the Hours, Typika, Vespers and Divine Liturgy were served on Friday morning. The parish rector was assisted on Thursday evening by Deacon Michal Matys and on Friday morning by Protodeacon Martin Naef and Deacon Michal.  At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and many of those present received Holy Communion. 

On the morning of Saturday 1 April, we had a church clean-up in preparation for Holy Week and Pascha.  That evening and on Sunday 2 April we had services for the Fifth Sunday of Great Lent, the day of commemoration of Saint Mary of Egypt.  All-night Vigil was then served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning. At Divine Liturgy on Sunday the parish rector was assisted by Protodeacon Martin Naef and Deacon Michal Matys, and prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine. On Sunday evening we had the General Service of Anointing with Oil at which twenty-one of our parishioners received anointing for the healing of soul and body.

In the evening on Sunday 26 March we had the service of Vespers with the Fourth Passia.  At the Passia, chapters 18 and 19 of Saint John’s Gospel were read in English.  Following the service, those present venerated the Holy Gospel and were anointed with oil.  This was the final Passia service for 2023.

On Saturday 18 March and Sunday 19 March we had services for the Third Sunday of Great Lent, the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross. Matins with the bringing out of the Cross was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning.  As Saturday 18 March was a day of commemoration of the departed, a general panikhida was served before Matins on Saturday evening.  As an act of kindness in memory of their departed ones, those attending the panikhida brought non-perishable foods (pasta, rice, pasta sauces, cooking oils, and pantry items) to be passed to a local charitable organisation for relief of the homeless. At Divine Liturgy on Sunday the parish rector was assisted by Protodeacon Martin Naef and Deacon Michal Matys, and prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine.  On Sunday evening we had Vespers with the Third Passia.  At the Passia, chapters 22 and 23 of Saint Luke’s Gospel were read in English.  Following the service, those present venerated the Holy Gospel and were anointed with oil.

At the 2022 Annual General Meeting of our parish, members endorsed a Statement of Commitment to Child Safety and to children’s participation in the life of our parish.  In collaboration with our neighbouring parish of Saint Nicholas, Wallsend, we have now developed new policies and procedures to give effect to these commitments.  Together with general information about child safety in our parish, we have published our policies and procedures online.  Over the next few months our parish will be fully implementing the new arrangements, facilitating training for key people, and revising the policies and procedures in light of experience.  Questions, comments and feedback are welcome!

In the evening on Sunday 12 March we had the service of Vespers with the Second Passia.  At the Passia, chapters 14 and 15 of Saint Mark’s Gospel were read in English.  Following the service, those present venerated the Holy Gospel and were anointed with oil.

On three of the first four evenings of the First Week of Great Lent (February 27-March 2), Great Compline with the reading of the Great Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete was served.  There was no service on Wednesday evening.  The canon, psalms and prayers were read in Church Slavonic and English, with those present participating in the reading.  In addition to regular services on Saturday-Sunday 4-5 March, on the evening of Sunday 5 March we had Vespers with the First Passia.  At the Passia, chapters 26 and 27 of Saint Matthew's Gospel were read in English.

On Saturday 4 March and Sunday 5 March we had services for the First Sunday of Great Lent, the Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy.  All-night vigil was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning. At Divine Liturgy on Sunday the parish rector was assisted by Deacon Michal Matys, and prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine. In accordance with the practice of parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, 'The Order for a Hymn of Supplication for the Conversion of those in Error' was served at the end of Divine Liturgy on Sunday.  During this short moleben, prayers were offered for those who oppose the truth of the Gospel with heresy and for those who have fallen away from the Holy Orthodox Church through schism.

On Saturday 18 February and Sunday 19 February we had services for the Sunday of the Last Judgement.  Matins was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning.  As Saturday 18 February was a day of commemoration of the departed, a general panikhida was served before Matins on Saturday evening.  As an act of kindness in memory of their departed ones, those attending the panikhida brought non-perishable foods (pasta, rice, pasta sauces, cooking oils, and pantry items) to be passed to a local charitable organisation for relief of the homeless. At Divine Liturgy on Sunday the parish rector was assisted by Deacon Michal Matys, and prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine.  Following Divine Liturgy our Ladies' Auxiliary served pancakes.

Our Autumn 2023 Schedule of Services - covering March, April and May 2023 - is now available in digital format.  It includes all our services for Great Lent, Holy Week and Pascha.  A copy of the English-language Autumn 2023 Schedule of Services is available here, and a copy of the Russian-language Autumn 2023 Schedule of Services is available here.  Both can also be accessed on our Services page, and printed copies are available in church as of the weekend of 18-19 February.

On Saturday 4 February and Sunday 5 February we had services for the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee and in honour of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia.  All-night Vigil was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning.  At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for deliverance from the coronavirus.  In his sermon the parish rector explained the Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee and spoke about following “the Pharisee in his virtues and… the Publican in his humility, [hating] what is wrong in each of them: foolish pride and the defilement of transgressions” (Ode 5, Canon of the Triodion).  He also spoke about the example of steadfastness in faith of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia.

Edited 5 February 2023: As a change of circumstances means that it will now not be possible to have services on 14-15 February for the Great Feast of the Meeting of the Lord, the services scheduled for those days have been cancelled.  We apologise for any inconvenience.  We ask our parishioners and friends to remember in their prayers on the day of the feast four ever-memorable clergymen of our Diocese: Archbishop Paul (Pavlov) (+15 February 1995), Archpriest Nicholas Grant (+14 February 1995), Protodeacon Vasily Hadarin (+13 February 2021), and Protodeacon Constantine Moshegov (+ 30 January 2022, ordained deacon 15 February 2007).

On Wednesday 18 January and Thursday 19 January we had services in honour of the Great Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (Theophany).  All-night Vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves was served on Wednesday evening and Divine Liturgy with the Great Blessing of Water was served on Thursday morning. The parish rector was assisted at both services by Deacon Michal Matys, and our choir and congregation were augmented by friends from Newcastle visiting for the services and from Sydney holidaying on the Central Coast.  At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine.

On Saturday 14 January and Sunday 15 January we had services for the Thirty-First Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday before Theophany, and in honour of Venerable Seraphim, Wonderworker of Sarov (+1833 AD).  All-night Vigil was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning.  At Divine Liturgy the parish rector was assisted by Deacon Michal Matys, and prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine. As is usual in our parish during December and January, we were joined by friends from the Sydney parishes holidaying on the Central Coast.  Following Divine Liturgy a panikhida was served in anticipation of the first anniversary of the repose of our parishioner and dear friend, Nestor Petroff (+16 January 2022).

The 2022/23 Nativity Epistle of Bishop George of Sydney and Australia-New Zealand can be read in English here and in Russian here.  This is Bishop George’s first Nativity Epistle as Ruling Bishop of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese.  A further Nativity Greeting from Bishop George can be read here.

The 2022/23 Nativity Epistle of Metropolitan Nicholas, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, can be read in English here and in Russian here.  This is Metropolitan Nicholas’ first Nativity Epistle as First Hierarch.

On Friday 6 January and Saturday 7 January we had services for Christmas, the Great Feast of the Nativity of Christ.  All-night Vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves was served on Friday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Saturday morning. The parish rector was assisted on Friday evening by Deacon Michal Matys and on Saturday morning by Protodeacon Martin Naef and Deacon Michal.  At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine.  On Saturday morning our church was full to overflowing, with approximately 50 people receiving Holy Communion.  In place of a sermon, the parish rector read aloud the Nativity Epistle of His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad.  Afterwards, a number of our parishioners and friends gathered in the church hall for a festive meal.

On Saturday 31 December and Sunday 1 January we had services for the Twenty-Ninth Sunday after Pentecost - this year, the Sunday of the Holy Fathers.  All-night Vigil was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning.  To mark the beginning of the New Year, the Lesser Blessing of Water was served on Sunday morning prior to the Hours.  At both services our choir and congregation were augmented by friends from Sydney, Newcastle, and interstate.  At Divine Liturgy the parish rector was assisted by Protodeacon Martin Naef and Deacon Michal Matys, and prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine.