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) 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
A service at Saint Symeon of Verkhoturye Orthodox Mission on the NSW Mid North Coast - 29/09/2024
On Sunday 29 September our parish rector visited Saint Symeon of Verkhoturye Orthodox Mission on the NSW Mid North Coast and conducted services for the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday after the Exaltation of the Cross, and the day of commemoration of Great Martyr Euphemia the All-Praised (+304 AD). The services were held at the Wauchope Community Arts Hall, the Mission’s Port Macquarie-Hastings region ‘home’ since April 2023. The Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning. Prayers were offered for the unity of the Orthodox Church, peace in Ukraine and peace in the Holy Land, and many of those present received Holy Communion. At the end of the service there was a blessing of honey. As is customary, those present afterwards shared a common meal. 00001
Services on 21-22 September, the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost - 22/09/2024
On Saturday 21 September and Sunday 22 September we had services for the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday before the Exaltation of the Cross, the Afterfeast of the Nativity of the Mother of God, and in honour of the Righteous Joachim and Anna, the parents of the Mother of God. Matins was served on Saturday evening, and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning. At both services the parish rector served alone. At Divine Liturgy our small church was full, and prayers were offered for the unity of the Orthodox Church, peace in Ukraine, and peace in the Holy Land. In the church hall after Divine Liturgy, Central Coast author Anya Nielsen presented her two most recent books, ‘Following the Grand Tour’ and ‘Babushka’s Feast’. 00002
Services on 7-8 September, the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost - 08/09/2024
On Saturday 7 September and Sunday 8 September we had services for the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the ‘Vladimir’ Icon of the Mother of God and Martyrs Adrian and Natalia and those with them (+305-311). Matins was served on Saturday evening, and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning. At both services the parish rector served alone. At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for the unity of the Orthodox Church, peace in Ukraine, and peace in the Holy Land, and our regular parishioners were joined by newcomers wishing to learn more about the Orthodox faith. In his sermon the parish rector spoke about the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:23-35, the appointed Gospel reading) and the history and significance of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. Church & Community Life
Now available - the August 2024 issue of "Word of the Church" ("Церковное Слово") - 31/10/2024
The August 2024 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. This is the second issue for 2024. Content includes an extensive report in both Russian and English with many photographs of the July 2024 visit to our Diocese of Metropolitan Nicholas with the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God; a report of the May 2024 visit of the ‘Hawaiian-Iveron’ Icon; an article by Archpriest Nicholas Karipoff on the ministry of the matushka, the priest’s wife; a report on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the establishment of the Holy Fathers parish in Warrnambool, Victoria; a beautiful colour supplement of photographs from Kazan and Yaroslavl; notice of the ordination of a new deacon for the Melbourne Cathedral, Father Grigory Metlenko; and more. Copies are $5.00. |
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