Our next services will be Matins at 6.00pm on Saturday 23 June and Divine Liturgy at 9.00am on Sunday 24 June, the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost and the day of commemoration of the New Martyrs of China slain during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900.

On Saturday 9 June and Sunday 10 June we had services for the Second Sunday after Pentecost, the day of commemoration of All Saints who have shone forth in the land of Russia.  Following the Litany of Fervent Supplication at Divine Liturgy the Prayer for the Prosperity of the Russian Church was read.  In his sermon the parish rector spoke about the history of the feast of All Saints of Russia, the beautiful icon painted in its honour by the ever-memorable Archimandrite Kyprian (Pyzhov) (+2001) of Jordanville, and the various paths to holiness amongst the saints.

On Sunday 10 June our parish published an educational leaflet, 'What is prosphora?'.  This leaflet, prepared in collaboration with our neighbouring parish of Saint Panteleimon, Gosford, explains the symbolism and use of prosphora, the small loaves of bread offered during Divine Liturgy.  The leaflet also explains the commemoration of the names of the living and the departed at Divine Liturgy.  Printed copies are available in church.

On Saturday 26 May and Sunday 27 May we had services for the Great Feast of Pentecost, the commemoration of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles.  All-night vigil with the blessing of five loaves, wheat, wine and oil was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy followed immediately by Vespers and the customary "kneeling prayers" was served on Sunday morning.  Prior to the services our small church was beautifully decorated with green branches in honour of the Holy Spirit, the Giver of Life.  On Sunday we were joined by many friends from the Gosford parish and our rector concelebrated with Father Theodor Postelnisescu, rector of the Romanian Orthodox Community of the Apostle Andrew. 

Our Winter 2018 Schedule of Services - covering June, July and August - is now available in PDF format.  A copy of the English-language Winter 2018 Schedule of Services is available here, and a copy of the Russian-language Winter 2018 Schedule of Services is available here.  Printed copies in both languages are available in church.

On Monday 21 May and Tuesday 22 May we services had for the feast-day of the Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas from Myra in Lycia, modern-day Turkey, to Bari in Italy.  On Monday evening All-night Vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves was served.  As this feast-day of Saint Nicholas is the patronal feast of our parish, the customary blessing of water was served early on Tuesday morning.  Although only a small number of parishioners were able to be present that day, we were joined by friends from the Gosford parish and from Saint Naum of Ohrid Serbian Orthodox Church in Broadmeadow, NSW.  At Divine Liturgy our rector concelebrated with Father Dalibor Pavlovic, rector of the Broadmeadow parish.  A moleben to Saint Nicholas was served immediately after Divine Liturgy, following which the usual prayers were offered for the Patriarch and the hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Australian and Russian lands, parish office-bearers, the people present, and for our departed founders and parishioners.  Congratulating the people with the feast-day, the parish rector spoke about the universal veneration of Saint Nicholas and of the reason for this, the unfailing help that Christians have received through his prayers over many centuries.  Following the service many of those present gathered in the church hall for a simple feast-day lunch.

On Saturday 12 May and Sunday 13 May we had services for the Sixth Sunday of Pascha, the Sunday of the Blind Man.  On this day the Holy Orthodox Church remembers the healing of the man born blind (John 9:1-38).  In his sermon the parish rector spoke about this miracle and about Saint Ignatius (Brianchaninov), Bishop of the Caucasas and the Black Sea (+1867 AD), a revered hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church commemorated on this day.  As it was Mother's Day, at the end of the service the Ladies' Auxiliary presented Matushka Marie Carles with flowers on behalf of the parish.  The rector congratulated her and all the mothers present, following which "Many years" was sung.

The April 2018 issue of the official journal of the Australian-New Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia is now available in our parishes.  In addition to the Paschal Epistle of Metropolitan Hilarion in both Russian and English, there is a range of interesting articles in both languages.  In Russian: "Догмат о Пресвятой Троице"; "Царь-Освободитель - 200 лет со дня рождения Александра II"; and more.  In English: "Why on the right hand: The meaning of [wedding] rings in the Orthodox Tradition”; "A few tips on helping your children grow to become faithful Orthodox adults"; and more.  Also included is a list of Diocesan recipients of the Partriarchal Medal commemorating the centenary of the re-establishment of the Patriarchate in the Russian Orthodox Church and a list of living and departed Diocesan clergy for commemoration in prayer.  Copies are $5.00.