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. 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 in a voluntary capacity. He does not live in the Hunter Region but travels here from the Central Coast for services. Like many clergymen of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, he has secular employment during the week. He is also presently undertaking full-time tertiary study. In addition to our parish, Father James 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. As a result, his pastoral availability is strictly limited to scheduled services in the three communities and “needs” such as baptisms, weddings, end-of-life care, and funerals. Confessions are only heard during evening services or before Divine Liturgy. Molebens and memorial services may be arranged after Divine Liturgy on Sundays. Father James can be contacted by email here.
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
A service at Saint Symeon of Verkhoturye Orthodox Mission on the NSW Mid North Coast - 07/06/2026
On Sunday 7 June, the First Sunday after Pentecost and the Sunday of All Saints, our parish rector will be visiting Saint Symeon of Verkhoturye Orthodox Mission on the NSW Mid North Coast. The Hours and Divine Liturgy will be served at the Coffs Harbour Scout Hall, 209 Harbour Drive, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450. As the Sunday of All Saints has since 2008 been designated the Day of Youth of the Russian Church Abroad, there will be a moleben for our youth at the end of Divine Liturgy and the Mission youth will present a play about Saint Paisios of Mount Athos, a righteous ascetic who visited Australia in 1977. All are welcome! 00001
Services on 13-14 June, the Second Sunday after Pentecost - 14/06/2026
On Saturday 13 June and Sunday 14 June we will have services for the Second Sunday after Pentecost, the day of commemoration of All Saints of Russia. Matins will be served at 6.00pm on Saturday and the Hours and Divine Liturgy will be served at 9.00am on Sunday. Parish Life
Our Winter 2026 Schedule of Services - 29/05/2026
Our Winter 2026 Schedule of Services - covering June, July and August - is now available. Services of particular note during this period will be All-night Vigil and Divine Liturgy on Saturday-Sunday 11-12 July for the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. A copy of the English-language Winter 2026 Schedule of Services is available here, and a copy of the Russian-language Winter 2026 Schedule of Services is available here. Printed copies will available in church as of the weekend of 13-14 June. 00001
Services on 23-24 May, the Seventh Sunday of Pascha - 24/05/2026
On Saturday 23 May and Sunday 24 May we had services for the Seventh Sunday of Pascha, the Sunday of the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council. On this day we also observed the Afterfeast of the Ascension and commemorated Saints Cyril (+869 AD) and Methodius (+885 AD), enlighteners of the Slavs. Matins was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning. Following Divine Liturgy there was a moleben to Saint Nicholas with a procession around the church and the customary singing of ‘Many Years’ to the ecclesiastical and civil authorities and ‘Eternal Memory’ to our departed founders and parishioners. After the services many gathered in the church hall for a festive lunch in honour of the patronal feast of our parish, celebrated on Friday 22 May. 00002
Services on 21-22 May, the feast of the Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas - 22/05/2026
On Thursday 21 May and Friday 22 May we had services commemorating the Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas from Myra in Lycia to Bari, Italy, in 1087 AD. This is the patronal feast-day of our church. All-night Vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves was served on Thursday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Friday morning. The Hours were preceded by the Lesser Blessing of Water. Joining our parish rector for the services was Archpriest Dionisy Halim, the rector of Our Lady’s Dormition Church in Wollongong, NSW. At the end of Divine Liturgy on Friday Father James thanked Father Dionisy for his prayers and presented him with a copy of our ‘Newcastle’ Icon of the Protection of the Mother of God. 00003
Services on 9-10 May, the Fifth Sunday of Pascha - 10/05/2026
On Saturday 9 May and Sunday 10 May we had services for the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman, the Fifth Sunday of Pascha. Matins was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning. At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for the unity of the Orthodox Church, peace in Ukraine, and peace in the Holy Land. On Sunday we were joined by visitors from Sydney and by a number of people attending an Orthodox Christian service for the first time. Church & Community Life
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