Our next services will be Matins at 6.00pm on Saturday 27 October and Divine Liturgy at 9.00am on Sunday 28 October, the Twenty-Second Sunday after  and he day of commemoration of Venerable Euthymius the New of Thesalonica (+889 AD) and Monk-Martyr Lucian, priest of Antioch (+312 AD).

On Saturday 13 October and Sunday 14 October we had services for the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost and for the feast of the Protection of the Mother of God.  Revered throughout the Russian Orthodox Church, this feast is of particular important to the faithful in Newcastle – it was the patronal feast of the first Orthodox church in the Hunter Valley, established in the Greta Migrant Camp in 1949.  Although that small Holy Protection church closed together with the camp in 1960, our parish continues to observe its patronal feast-day.  On Saturday evening, All-night vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves was served. On Sunday morning the lesser blessing of water was served, followed by Divine Liturgy, a moleben to the Mother of God, and a procession around the church.  In his sermon the parish rector spoke about the Orthodox veneration of the Mother of God.  At Divine Liturgy prayers were especially offered for peace in Ukraine.  Following the services on Sunday a collection was taken up to assist the Synodal Liturgical Music Commission of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.

On Saturday 22 September and Sunday 23 September we had services for the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost, the Afterfeast of the Nativity of the Mother of God, the Sunday before the Exaltation of the Cross, and the day of commemoration of the Martyrs Menodora, Metrodora and Nymphodora (+310 AD).  Matins was served on Saturday evening, and on Sunday morning His Grace Bishop George of Canberra presided at Divine Liturgy.  Following Divine Liturgy Mrs Anna Morhun was presented with a parish Certificate of Appreciation to mark her retirement from the Parish Council after over 60 years of service.  Many of those present later gathered in the church hall for a festive lunch.

On Saturday 8 September and Sunday 9 September we had services for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost and the day of commemoration of Venerable Poemen the Great (+450 AD), a wise spiritual guide and one of the greatest of the Egyptian Desert Fathers.  At Divine Liturgy, prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for rain.  In his sermon the parish rector spoke about monasticism in the Egyptian desert and the teachings of Saint Poemen.  Noting that it was the name-day of Patriarch Pimen (Izvekov) (+1990), Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia from 1970 until 1990, the rector also spoke about the difficult conditions of church life in Russia during the Soviet years and of the immense changes in the life of the Russian Orthodox Church since Patriarch Pimen’s repose.

This year our Diocese will hold its eighth annual Orthodox Teen Retreat.  Established in 2011, our Diocesan Teen Retreats cater for young people aged 14-17.  This year’s Teen Retreat will be held to the south of Sydney at Stanwell Tops from Sunday 16 December until Friday 21 December.  The theme is 'Bringing the saints to our lives'.  For more information visit www.rocorteenretreat.info.

This year our Diocese is again convening a Diocesan youth conference or "Syezd".  Established in 1965 at the instigation of the ever-memorable Archbishop Sava (Raevsky, +1976), these conferences have been an important spiritual and social event for the youth of our Diocese ever since.  This year’s conference – the theme of which is ‘The Life and Wisdom of the Holy Fathers’ – will be held from 27-31 December in Melbourne and is open to young people aged 18 - 30.  More information is available here.

On Tuesday 26 March and Wednesday 27 March 2019 the clergymen of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese will gather in Sydney for their customary Great Lenten Pastoral Conference.  On Tuesday evening the clergy will meet at the church of All Saints of Russia in Croydon for the Rule of Preparation for Holy Communion at 5.00pm and Lenten Matins and confession at 6.00pm.  On Wednesday morning from 8.00am the Hours and the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts will be served at Saints Peter and Paul Diocesan Cathedral in Strathfield with Bishop George presiding and the clergy concelebrating.  Those of the faithful who wish to do so are welcome to attend the service on Wednesday morning and – if properly prepared – to receive Holy Communion.  Following Divine Liturgy the clergy will meet to discuss a range of pastoral and liturgical matters.