Saint Nicholas' is an Orthodox Christian parish of East Slavic tradition serving Newcastle and the Hunter Valley. It includes Orthodox Christians of Belarussian, Ukrainian, Russian, Macedonian, and other backgrounds. We are a parish of the Australian and New Zealand Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. The Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, a self-governing part of the Russian Orthodox Church, is completely independent in pastoral, educational, administrative, management, property, and civil matters. Our parish is doctrinally Orthodox, liturgically traditional, and welcoming to all. In our services we use English, the language of this country, together with Church Slavonic, the liturgical language of the Slavic peoples. Established in 1952, our parish is the oldest continuously functioning Orthodox parish in the Hunter Valley and one of the oldest in our Diocese. Visiting our parish
We usually have services on the second and fourth Sundays of each month and on the preceding Saturday evenings. Please note: During March, April and May 2024 different arrangements will be in place. Our Schedule of Services can be viewed here. Our church is generally only open when we have services. Visitors are always welcome! If you would like to contact us before visiting, it is best to send an email. We check this inbox regularly and will respond to messages within 24 hours. You can also contact us in the same way to arrange baptisms and memorial services. The availability of our parish priest
Our parish priest, Archpriest James Carles, serves here in a voluntary capacity. He does not live in the Hunter Region but travels here from the Central Coast for services. He has secular employment on two days per week and is presently undertaking full-time tertiary study. In addition to our parish, he has responsibility for Saint Panteleimon Russian Orthodox Church in Gosford and Saint Symeon of Verkhoturye Orthodox Mission on the New South Wales Mid North Coast. During study periods (in 2024, 19 February-15 June and 22 July-16 November, and in 2025, 17 February-14 June and 21 July-15 November) his pastoral availability is strictly limited to scheduled services in the three communities; individual “needs” that arise in connection with these scheduled services (e.g. confessions, molebens, and memorial services); essential parish administrative tasks; and end-of-life care and funerals. Father James is available to talk after Divine Liturgy on the Sundays when we have a service. He can also be contacted by email. Supporting our parish
Our parish is a small one that relies on community support and the voluntary service of our clergy to make ends meet. If you find this website to be of interest or of assistance, please consider helping us. Donations may be made directly to our bank account:
St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church BSB: 032-509 Account number: 281104
May the Lord bless you! Forthcoming services and activities
Parish Life
Services on 26-27 October, the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost - 27/10/2024
On Saturday 26 October and Sunday 27 October we had services for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council. Matins was served on Saturday evening, and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning. At both services the parish rector was assisted by Deacon Michael Matys. At Divine Liturgy our small church was again full. Prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and peace in the Holy Land, and a great many people received Holy Communion. 00001
Services on 12-13 October, the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost - 13/10/2024
On Saturday 12 October and Sunday 13 October we had services for the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of Hieromartyr Gregory, enlightener and bishop of Greater Armenia (+335 AD). Matins was served on Saturday evening, and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning. At both services our small church was full, and the parish rector was assisted by Deacon Michael Matys. At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and peace in the Holy Land. Church & Community Life
The October 2024 working-bee at the site of the Holy Trinity Monastery, Monkerai - 30/11/2024
On the weekend of Saturday 5 October – Monday 7 October, the New South Wales (NSW) Labour Day Long Weekend, a small group of Orthodox Christians from the NSW Hunter, Central Coast and Mid North Coast regions gathered at the site of the Holy Trinity Monastery in Monkerai, NSW, for a weekend of work and prayer. Under the leadership of site caretaker, Gregory Alexandrovsky, work undertaken included final clearing and levelling of a new road; further work on the toilet block; repositioning of the shipping containers used for storage; construction of work benches; plumbing; and a number of cleaning and maintenance tasks. On Sunday, the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost and the day of commemoration of the conception of Saint John the Baptist, a "reader" service comprising the Hours and Typika was held in the site’s small chapel. God willing, there will be a further working-bee in December 2024. Note, 13 October 2024: Photographs will be added soon! |