Our services were well-attended this year and we continued to receive many newcomers.  We had seven baptisms, four of adults and three of children.  We also had one wedding, that of a young couple baptised earlier in the year.  In the course of the year, we undertook important work to repair the church roof, replace the aging tiles, and paint the cupolas and crosses.  We prayed steadfastly for the unity of the Orthodox Church, peace in Ukraine, and peace in the Holy Land.  We prayerfully remembered Saint Tikhon of Moscow and Saint Jonah of Hankow, two holy hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church who reposed in 1925, one hundred years ago this year.  In May we welcomed Archbishop George on a visit to our parish in honour of our patronal feast of Saint Nicholas.  James Savage was tonsured a reader, the first time that a new reader had been tonsured in our parish since 2009.  At our Annual General Meeting in November, long-serving Parish Council members Lucea Szabunia (2012-2025) and Dean Crawford (2015-2025) retired.  They were replaced by Reader James Savage and Cyprian Minns.  We received a generous donation of $90,000 towards improvements to our church and grounds.  Late in the year, a Development Application was lodged with Newcastle City Council for this work.  When completed, it will substantially enhance our outside toilet facilities, improve access to our church and hall, and refashion our church porches.  All the news from 2025 can be read here.  Glory be to God for all things!

On Saturday 27 December and Sunday 28 December we had services for the Twenty-Ninth Sunday after Pentecost, which this year was the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers.  Matins was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning. At Divine Liturgy we were joined by many visitors and the customary prayers were offered for the unity of the Orthodox Church, peace in Ukraine, and peace in the Holy Land.  These were our final services for 2025.

On the evening of Wednesday 17 December, the Parish Council met by videoconference.  This was the first meeting of the Parish Council elected at the Annual General Meeting in November 2025.  Olga Bogacheva and Irene Lupish were reappointed Treasurer and head of the Ladies’ Auxiliary respectively, Reader James Savage was appointed parish Secretary, and Cyprian Minns was appointed Risk and Safety Officer.  The minutes of the October 2025 meeting were ratified, and the customary reports were presented by the parish rector, the Warden, the Treasurer, and the head of the Ladies’ Auxiliary.  An update was given on the lodgement of the Development Application for our planned parish improvements, and arrangements were made for the parish celebration of the Nativity of Christ on Sunday 11 January.  The Parish Council will meet next on Wednesday 28 January 2026

On Saturday 13 December and Sunday 14 December we had services for the Twenty-Seventh Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Prophet Nahum.  Matins was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning.  At Divine Liturgy our small church was full to overflowing.  Prayers were offered for the unity of the Orthodox Church, peace in Ukraine, and peace in the Holy Land, and a great many people received Holy Communion.  Following the Sunday services, Seraphim Orthodox Shop held a successful Christmas Pop-Up Market in our church hall.

The November 2025 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 third and final issue (#3-4) for 2025.  Content includes a report on the Twenty-First Diocesan Assembly; the text of the Diocesan Assembly Resolution; an obituary of Archpriest Alexander Skorik; a report on and an extensive photo gallery of the consecration of a new church in Dandenong, Victoria, dedicated to Saint John of Kronstadt; a report on the Diocesan Liturgical Music Conference; and more.  Copies are $5.00.

On Sunday 23 November our parish held its 2025 Annual General Meeting.  The 2025 Annual Report and an overview of parish life were presented by the parish rector and a report on the Twenty-First Diocesan Assembly was presented by parish delegate Cyprian Minns.  Irene Lupish, Olga Bogacheva, Reader James Savage and Cyprian Minns were elected to serve on the 2025-26 Parish Council together with the parish rector and our Warden, Nikolai Goura.

Our Summer 2025-26 Schedule of Services - covering December, January and February - is now available.  A PDF copy of the English-language Summer 2025-26 Schedule of Services is available here, and a Russian-language copy is available here.  Printed copies are available in church.

On Saturday 22 November and Sunday 23 November we had services for the Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Holy Apostles Erastus, Olympus, Herodian, Sosipater, Quartus and Tertius of the Seventy.  Matins was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning.  As Saturday 22 November was the anniversary of the repose of the founder of our parish, Archpriest John Lupish (+1977), Matins was preceded by a panikhida.  At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for the unity of the Orthodox Church, peace in Ukraine, and peace in the Holy Land, and four new Orthodox Christians received Holy Communion for the first time.  At the end of the service on Sunday an announcement was then made concerning the parish Annual General Meeting to be held that afternoon.

On Saturday 1 November and Sunday 2 November we had services for the Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of Great-Martyr Artemius at Antioch (+362).  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.  At the Prayer before the Amvon, prayers of blessing were read over an ornate new protodeacon’s orarion and cuffs, a gift from our parish to be presented to Deacon Michal Matys.  Following the dismissal, a litia was served for the newly-reposed Archpriest Alexander Skorik (+25 October 2025) and a collection was taken up to benefit his family.  An announcement was then made concerning the parish Annual General Meeting to be held on Sunday 23 November 2025.

Our 2025 Annual Report, including the independently audited 2024-25 Financial Statements, is now available.  It includes some parish history, an overview of our governance arrangements, and a summary of our activity and accomplishments in 2024-25.  A copy of the report, which will be formally presented to our parish Annual General Meeting on Sunday 23 November 2025, is available here.  We encourage our parishioners and friends with questions or comments concerning our Annual Report to contact us.

On Saturday 25 October and Sunday 26 October services for the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the 'Iveron' Icon of the Mother of God and the Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council were held at Saints Peter and Paul Diocesan Cathedral in Strathfield, NSW.   All-night Vigil was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning.  As almost the entire complement of the clergy of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese was in Sydney for the Twenty-First Diocesan Assembly, most of our parishes and missions had no services.  Our parish rector served at the cathedral together with Archbishop George, Archbishop Gabriel of Montral and Canada, and forty-nine priests and deacons from across the Diocese.  On Sunday morning a number of clerics received ecclesiastical awards.  At the end of Divine Liturgy a moleben of thanksgiving was served for the work of the Diocesan Assembly and a litia was served for Archpriest Alexander Skorik, a cleric of the New Zealand Deanery who had reposed on Saturday evening.

On Saturday 11 October and Sunday 12 October we had services for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the finding of the relics of Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco (1993).  Matins was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning.  As Saturday 11 October was for us a day of commemoration of the departed, there was a general panikhida before Matins.  As an act of kindness in memory of their departed ones, those attending the panikhida brought non-perishable foods and new personal care products to be passed to a local charitable organisation for relief of the homeless.  At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for the unity of the Orthodox Church, peace in Ukraine, and peace in the Holy Land.  Following Divine Liturgy "Many Years" was sung for Matushka Marie Carles, it being her name-day, and our Head Sister Irene Lupish presented her with flowers.  An announcement was then made concerning the parish Annual General Meeting to be held on Sunday 23 November 2025.

On Friday 10 October our parish rector served the funeral of Urick (“Eric”) Katonin.  The Katonin family has a long and important association with our parish – both Urick and his father Michael (+2015) were amongst the builders of our church.  Urick, who was born in Germany in 1946, departed this life on 20 September 2025.  He was laid to rest in Wallsend Cemetery, a short distance from his father, his mother Maria (+2005), and his sister Valentina (+2022).  We offer heartfelt condolences to Urick's sons Stephen, Peter and David; to his grandchildren; and to his sister Anna.  Memory eternal!

In 2024-25 the Parish Council finalised a plan for major improvements to our church and grounds including new and refurbished outside toilets, new entrances at the front and on both sides of the church, new access ramps to the church and hall, a small office (or, alternatively, an apartment for clergy accommodation), and new paving.  Implementation of the plan was delayed for most of 2025 as we undertook urgent repairs to our church roof and cupolas.  A Development Application (DA) is now being prepared for lodgement.  The parish received a very generous donation in September 2025 that will allow us, upon approval of the DA, to extend and refurbish the outside toilet block.  Overseeing the initial stage of this work and fundraising for subsequent stages will be a priority for the Parish Council that will be elected at our Annual General Meeting (AGM) in November.

On Saturday 27 September and Sunday 28 September we had services for the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday after the Exaltation of the Cross, and in honour of Great-Martyr Nicetas the Goth (+c.372 AD).  Matins was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning. As is usual, prayers were offered at Divine Liturgy for the unity of the Orthodox Church, peace in Ukraine, and peace in the much-suffering Holy Land.  Following Divine Liturgy, all venerated the Holy Cross.

On Saturday 13 September and Sunday 14 September we had services for the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost, the beginning of the Indiction or Church Year, and in honour of the 1992 translation of the relics of Right-believing Prince Peter and Princess Febronia, the Wonderworkers of Murom (+1228 AD).  Matins was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning.  As is usual, prayers were offered at Divine Liturgy for the unity of the Orthodox Church, peace in Ukraine, and peace in the much-suffering Holy Land.  At the end of Divine Liturgy we had a brief moleben  Saints Peter and Febronia, the heavenly patrons of family life, love and faithfulness, at which many couples - both parishioners and friends of our parish - were commemorated by name.

On Wednesday 27 August and Thursday 28 August we had services for the Great Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God.  All-night Vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves was served on Wednesday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Thursday morning.  As is usual, prayers were offered at Divine Liturgy for the unity of the Orthodox Church, peace in Ukraine, and peace in the much-suffering Holy Land.  At the end of the service on Thursday a brief moleben of thanksgiving was served to mark the seventy-sixth anniversary of the first Russian Orthodox services in the Hunter Valley, served in the Anglican Chapel at the Greta Migrant Camp just nine days after the arrival in Newcastle from Europe of Archpriest John Lupish and his family.  The Prayer to the Mother of God from the Akathist in honour of the Dormition was also read.

Our Spring 2025 Schedule of Services - covering September, October and November - is now available in PDF format.  It should be noted that because of this year's Diocesan Assembly we will have services on only one weekend in October, and that we will have services on the first and third weekends in November rather than on the second and fourth Sundays as is usual.  A copy of the English-language Spring 2025 Schedule of Services is available here, and a copy of the Russian-language Spring 2025 Schedule of Services is available here.

On Saturday 23 August and Sunday 24 August we had services for the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost, the Afterfeast of the Transfiguration, and in honour of Martyr and Archdeacon Euplus of Catania (+304 AD).  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.

The August 2025 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 2025.  Content includes articles on the 100^th anniversary of the repose of the Holy Hierarch Jonah of Hankou, on the centrality of the resurrection to Christian life and faith, and on the 80^th anniversary of the tragedy of the repatriation of the Cossacks in Lienz; all three articles are in both English and Russian.  An obituary of Archpriest John Weir, a much-loved clergyman of our Northern Deanery who reposed suddenly on 24 June 2025, is also included in both languages.  Information about clergy transfers, awards, and disciplinary matters is also included.  Copies are $5.00.

On Sunday 10 August 2025 we had an Extraordinary Parish Meeting.  The purpose of the meeting was to elect a lay delegate to attend the Twenty-First Diocesan Assembly of our Australian-New Zealand Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.  Cyprian Minns was chosen as the delegate, with Irene Lupish and Subdeacon Luke Goura chosen as reserves.

On Saturday 9 August and Sunday 10 August we had services for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the "Smolensk" Icon of the Mother of God.  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.  Our church was full on Sunday, with our regular worshippers being joined by enquirers into Orthodoxy and by visitors from England holidaying in the area.  At the end of the service the third and final announcement was made concerning the Extraordinary Parish Meeting to be held that day.

On 4 December this year it will be the fiftieth anniversary of the ordination to the priesthood of Mitred Archpriest Nikita Chemodakov.  Father Nikita, who is the senior-most priest of our Australian-New Zealand Diocese by ordination, is rector of the parish of Saint Nicholas, Fairfield, and Dean of the Central (NSW & ACT) Deanery of the Diocese.  He was ordained priest by the ever-memorable Archbishop Averky (Taushev) at the Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York, where he was then completing his theological studies.  He has served as rector of the Fairfield parish for an exemplary 47 years.  Details of divine services and a celebratory luncheon to be held on Sunday 9 November 2025 are available in Russian here and in English here. 

On Saturday 26 July and Sunday 27 July we had services for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Holy Fathers of the First Six Ecumenical Councils.  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 young people in our parish about to commence senior school examinations, and a newly baptised young couple, Thomas and Emmelia, received Holy Communion for the first time.  At the end of the service an announcement was made concerning the Extraordinary Parish Meeting to be held on Sunday 10 August 2025.

On Saturday 12 July and Sunday 13 July we had services for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Twelve Apostles: Peter, Andrew, James the son of Zebedee, his brother John, Philip, Batholomew, Thomas, Mathew, James the son of Alpheus, Jude the brother of James (also known as Thaddeus), Simon the Zealot, and Matthias.  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.  At the end of Divine Liturgy prayers of blessing were read over a new sticharion and cassocks, gifts from the parish that were then presented to Reader James Savage.  An announcement was also made concerning the Extraordinary Parish Meeting to be held on Sunday 10 August 2025.

A man and a woman who meet the requirements of the both the Australian Marriage Act 1961 and the Marriage Regulations 2017 (the “legal requirements”) and of the Russian Orthodox Church (the “church requirements”) may be married in our parish and other Australian parishes of our Diocese.  In conjunction with Saint Panteleimon Russian Orthodox Church, Gosford, our parish has developed a helpful summary of the legal and church requirements for marriage that includes links to important forms and other resources.  This information, which can be accessed at our Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals page, has been prepared to help our parishioners and friends when planning weddings in parishes of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. Should anyone have any questions or concerns about this information, please contact us.

In conjunction with Saint Panteleimon Russian Orthodox Church, Gosford, our parish has developed an explanation of the reasons why weddings cannot be celebrated on certain days and dates and during certain seasons.  It incorporates a list of Sundays and Fridays on which weddings can be celebrated that has now been updated to include Sundays and Fridays in 2025, 2026 and 2027.  This information, which can be accessed either here or via our Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals page, has been prepared to help our parishioners and friends when planning weddings in parishes of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. Should anyone have any questions or concerns about this information, please contact us.

On Saturday 14 June and Sunday 15 June we had services for the First Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday of All Saints.  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.  As the Sunday of All Saints was in May 2008 designated the Day of Youth of the Russian Church Abroad, a brief moleben was served at the end of Divine Liturgy on Sunday for the children and youth of our parish, our Diocese, and our whole Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.

On Monday 9 June, the Second Day of Pentecost and the Day of the Holy Spirit, the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served at the site of the Holy Trinity Monastery in Monkerai, New South Wales (NSW).  Our parish rector presided at the services.  As Monday 9 June 2025 was the King’s Birthday public holiday in NSW, approximately thirty friends of the monastery from Newcastle, the Central Coast, Sydney, and the Mid North Coast were able to be present.  At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for the unity of the Orthodox Church, peace in Ukraine, and peace in the Holy Land, and most of those present received Holy Communion.  At the end of Divine Liturgy a brief moleben was served for the monastery founders, benefactors, and workers, and prayers of blessing were read over icon-cards depicting the Holy Monastic Fathers in whose honour the monastery chapel is dedicated.   After the services those present enjoyed a festive lunch.

On Saturday 7 June and Sunday 8 June we had services for the Great Feast of Pentecost.  All-night Vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves was served on Saturday evening, and the Hours and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning.  Prior to the services our small church had been beautifully decorated with flowers and green branches in honour of the life-giving Holy Spirit.  Immediately before the evening service on Saturday, a panikhida was served for the ever-memorable Subdeacon Vitaly Lupish (+9 June 2024) in anticipation of the first anniversary of his repose.  On Sunday morning, the Hours and Divine Liturgy were followed by Vespers with the reading of the customary "kneeling prayers".  At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for the unity of the Orthodox Church and peace in Ukraine.

"The Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia finds it necessary to raise its voice out of bitter necessity, for we find that in a time of crisis and growing confrontation amongst nations, aspects of the Russian state and society are wandering onto an extremely dangerous path: instead of the promulgation of Christian repentance and purification, we observe in certain circles a return to a false, God-opposing ideology that prevailed in the last century. This return is fraught with harmful consequences. Should it continue, we fear that modern Russia risks being considered a dark stain amongst the nations, marked by a revival of spiritual corruption, instead of her being a radiant beacon of Orthodox Truth, which is surely the calling to which her long history of Christian piety directs her."  The full text of this important statement, released by the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia on Thursday 5 June 2025, can be read in English here and in Russian here.

“The history of the Church is not only academic studies of the events of the past and narratives about the affairs of bygone days, the legends of ancient times, which are like the pages of a dusty book darkened by time. In the history of the Church, the Holy Spirit lives and acts, guiding us into all truth (John 16:13). That is why the study of Church history – to which I urge all of you – helps us to better understand many phenomena in contemporary religious life, teaches us to separate the main from the secondary and to distinguish spirits (1 Cor. 12:10), comprehending the all-wise Providence of God for the Church.”  Patriarch Kirill’s Epistle is available in full in Russian here.  A complete English-language translation will be shared as soon as it becomes available.

Amended 26 June 2025: On Saturday 24 May and Sunday 25 May we had services for the Sixth Sunday of Pascha, the Sunday of the Blind Man.  Matins was served on Saturday evening.  On Sunday morning, His Eminence Archbishop George of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand arrived, visiting our parish in honour of our patronal feast of the Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas from Myra in Lycia to Bari. Following the greeting and vesting of the archbishop, the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served.  During the Sixth Hour our parishioner and altar server James Savage was tonsured a reader.  Concelebrating with Vladyka George were the parish rector and Protodeacon Alexander Kotlaroff.  At Divine Liturgy the choir sang under the direction of Ludmila Alexandrovsky.  A moleben to Saint Nicholas was served at the end of Divine Liturgy, and a festive meal was held in the church hall afterwards.  As it was Archbishop George’s seventy-fifth birthday, at lunch he was presented with a birthday cake and flowers, and all present sang ‘Happy Birthday’ and wished him many years.

On Wednesday 21 May and Thursday 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 was the patronal feast-day of our church.  All-night Vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves was served on Wednesday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Thursday morning.  Divine Liturgy was preceded by the Lesser Blessing of Water.  As the weather was inclement and many of our parishioners had work commitments, attendance at the services was modest.  On Thursday morning the parish rector was assisted by Deacon Michal Matys.

The Twenty-First Diocesan Assembly of our Australian-New Zealand Diocese is to be held at Saints Peter and Paul Diocesan Cathedral in Strathfield, NSW, from the evening of Thursday 23 October until the afternoon of Sunday 26 October 2025.  As all Diocesan clergy will be participating in the Assembly, the only services in our Diocese on Saturday-Sunday 25-26 October will be at the Strathfield Cathedral.  A news article about the Twentieth Diocesan Assembly may be read here.  A delegate from amongst the laity to join the parish rector in representing our parish at the Assembly will be chosen at a parish meeting to be convened on Sunday 10 August 2025.  Further information about the parish meeting and the Twenty-First Diocesan Assembly will be made available in due course.

Our Winter 2025 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 7-8 June for the Great Feast of Pentecost and All-night Vigil and Divine Liturgy on Wednesday-Thursday 27-28 August for the Great Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God.  A copy of the English-language Winter 2025 Schedule of Services is available here, and a copy of the Russian-language Winter 2025 Schedule of Services is available here.  Printed copies will available in church as of Wednesday 21 May.

Our parishioners and friends will be saddened to learn that as of 29 April 2025, parish cleric Deacon Michal Matys has been formally transferred to Saint George Russian Orthodox Church in Carlton, NSW.  Father Michal was ordained to the diaconate in the Carlton parish on 6 May 2017 and served there until moving to the region and beginning to serve with us in October 2021.  He was formally assigned to our parish in February 2023, the first deacon assigned here in our long history.  We plan to formally recognise Father Michal's service at a later date. 

On Saturday 10 May and Sunday 11 May we had services for the Fourth Sunday of Pascha, the Sunday of the Paralytic.  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 and peace in Ukraine.

On Saturday 26 April and Sunday 27 April we had services for Thomas Sunday, the Second Sunday of Pascha.  Matins was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served at 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.  In place of a sermon, the parish rector read aloud the Paschal Epistle of Archbishop George in Russian and English. At the end of Divine Liturgy the Prayer at the breaking of the Artos was read and pieces of the Artos were distributed to the faithful.

The April 2025 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 first issue for 2025.  Content includes the 2025 Paschal Epistle of Archbishop George in Russian and English; articles in Russian and English concerning the March 2025 Pastoral Conference of our Diocese convened at the Holy Protection Cathedral in Brunswick (Melbourne), Victoria, during Great Lent; the text in Russian and English of a paper presented at that conference by Archpriest Nicholas Karipoff, ‘The Image of the Pastor: The Bible, Vitae of the Saints and Pastoral Theology’;  announcements concerning various awards bestowed on Diocesan clergy by the Synod of Bishops and by Archbishop George; articles in Russian marking the centenary of the repose of Patriarch Tikhon; articles in Russian and English about the December 2024 Diocesan Youth Conference (“Syezd”); a colour supplement of photographs from Chersonesus (near Sevastopol, Crimea); and more.  Copies are $5.00.

This year, our parish had just two traditional Holy Week services.  Matins with the reading of the Twelve Passion Gospels was served in the evening on Thursday 17 April and Vespers with the bringing out of the Shroud of Christ was served in the afternoon on Friday 18 April.  As our parish rector was serving in Gosford for Pascha this year there were no Resurrectional services in our church, and our parishioners attended festive services at either the Greek Orthodox or Serbian Orthodox parishes in Newcastle or travelled to Gosford.  God willing, we will have Paschal services in our parish again in 2026.

“Let us appreciate and sincerely give thanks unto God for His great loving-kindness and mercy shown towards fallen mankind by redeeming us from sin through His suffering on the cross and glorious Resurrection, making us heirs of His heavenly kingdom. … Let us not be tempted by the so-called pleasures and riches of this temporal world, but let us always strive for spiritual riches which do not fade away. Our way of life now will have eternal consequences." Archbishop George’s Epistle is available in full in English here and in Russian here.

“May the present celebration, for which we have been preparing with prayer and fasting, renew the right spirit, that is, a healthy spirit, in our hearts, in order to understand the mystery of Christ's Resurrection, to enjoy the "riches of goodness" of which Chrysostom writes, and to anticipate "eternal joy"! ...  May our feast be united with the general yearning of the faithful to God for peace and for the persecuted Ukrainian Orthodox Church, headed by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onouphry of Kiev and All Ukraine. For "if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it," says the Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 12:26).”  Metropolitan Nicholas’s Epistle is available in full in English here and in Russian here.

On Saturday 12 April and Sunday 13 April we had services for Palm Sunday, the Sixth Sunday of Great Lent and the Great Feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem.  All-night vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil, and five loaves and the blessing of palms and pussy-willows was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning.  At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for peace in the Holy Land and a collection was taken up to benefit the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem.  As this was the final Divine Liturgy in our parish for Great Lent, a great many people confessed and received Holy Communion.  At the end of the service on Sunday prayers of blessing were read over a set of new red covers for the Holy Table, Table of Oblation, and icon stands.  The new covers are the work of the sisters of Saint Elizabeth Convent in Minsk, Belarus.

On Sunday 30 March our parish rector visited Saint Symeon of Verkhoturye Orthodox Mission on the NSW Mid North Coast and conducted services for the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent, the day of commemoration of Saint John of the Ladder (+649AD).  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 with approximately thirty people present.  Prayers were offered for the unity of the Orthodox Church, peace in Ukraine and peace in the Holy Land, and many of those present confessed and received Holy Communion.  As Saturday 29 March was a day of commemoration of the departed, Divine Liturgy was followed by a litia for the departed and the blessing of kutiya.  As is customary, those present afterwards shared a common meal.

On Saturday 22 March and Sunday 23 March we had services for the Third Sunday of Great Lent, the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross. Matins with the bringing out of the Cross 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.  Many people received Holy Communion.  Following the dismissal at Divine Liturgy all venerated the Precious and Life-giving Cross of our Lord.

On Saturday 8 March and Sunday 9 March we had services for the First Sunday of Great Lent, the Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, and in honour of the finding of the head of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist of the Lord, John.  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.  Many people received Holy Communion.  In accordance with the practice of parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, 'The Order for a Hymn of Supplication for the Conversion of those in Error' was served at the end of Divine Liturgy on Sunday.  During this short moleben, prayers were offered for those who oppose the truth of the Gospel with heresy and for those who have fallen away from the Holy Orthodox Church through schism.

This year, 2025, is the centenary of the repose of two great hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church:  Saint Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (31 January 1865 - 7 April 1925, canonised 1981) and Saint Jonah, Bishop of Hankow (17 April 1888 - 20 October 1925, canonised 1996).  In recognition of this significant anniversary, the Synod of Bishops of our Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia has called upon the bishops and clergy to make a particular effort to remember these two holy bishops.  To this end, they are to be commemorated at the dismissal of each Divine Liturgy up until the Great Feast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple (4 December, the day of the Patriarchal enthronement of Saint Tikhon in 1918) and to remember Saint Tikhon in a sermon and with a moleben on Sunday 6 April, the Fifth Sunday in Great Lent and the eve of the anniversary of his repose.  As there will not be a service in our parish on that Sunday, arrangements for a moleben to Saint Tikhon and another to Saint Jonah will be made later in the year.  Holy Hierarchs Tikhon and Jonah, pray to God for us!

Our Autumn 2025 Schedule of Services - covering March, April and May 2025 - is now available in digital format.  It includes services for Great Lent, Holy Week, and our patronal feast-day of Saint Nicholas.  Our parishioners and friends are reminded that there will be no Paschal services in our parish this year.  A copy of the English-language Autumn 2025 Schedule of Services is available here, and a copy of the Russian-language Autumn 2025 Schedule of Services is available here.  Printed copies are available in church as of the weekend of 22-23 February.

On Saturday 22 February and Sunday 23 February we had services for the Sunday of the Last Judgement.  Matins was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning.  As Saturday 22 February was a day of commemoration of the departed, Matins was preceded by a general panikhida.  As an act of kindness in memory of their departed ones, those attending the panikhida brought non-perishable foods (tinned vegetables and fruit, long-life milk and milk alternatives, bottled water, packaged crackers) and new personal care products (soaps, shampoos and conditioners, wipes, toothbrushes and toothpaste, combs and brushes, female sanitary items) to be passed to a local charitable organisation for relief of the homeless.  At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for the unity of the Orthodox Church, peace in Ukraine, and peace in the Holy Land.

On Saturday 8 February and Sunday 9 February we had services for the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee and in honour of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia.  Matins was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning.  At Matins and Divine Liturgy the parish rector was assisted by Deacon Michal Matys.  To the great joy of our small parish, the choir at Divine Liturgy was formed by the Russian Orthodox Male Choir of Australia (ROMCA).  At the conclusion of the Sunday service the parish rector congratulated ROMCA conductor Reader Nektary Kotlaroff and his choristers on their important and edifying work, wishing them God’s continued help and a successful trip to Russia later this year.  Following the service many of the faithful took the opportunity to speak with members of the choir and purchase recordings of their work.  A collection taken up during the service and a donation from the Parish Council raised $1500 to assist the choir.

Updated 16 February 2025: On Tuesday 18 March and Wednesday 18 March 2025 the clergy of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese will gather in Melbourne for their customary Great Lenten Pastoral Conference.  On Tuesday the clergy will meet at the Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral for the Rule of Preparation for Holy Communion at 5.00pm and Lenten Matins and confession at 6.00pm.  On Wednesday from 8.00am the Lenten Hours, the Typika and the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts will be served at the Cathedral with Archbishop George presiding and Diocesan clergy concelebrating.  Those of the faithful who have the opportunity to do so are welcome to attend the services on Wednesday morning and may – if properly prepared – receive Holy Communion.  Following Divine Liturgy the clergy will meet in the cathedral hall for lunch, to hear a number of short talks, and to discuss pastoral, liturgical and administrative matters.

On Saturday 25 January and Sunday 26 January we had services for the Thirty-First Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday after Theophany, and in honour of Martyrs Hermylus and Stratonicus of Belgrade (+c.315 AD).  Matins was served on Saturday evening and the Hours, Divine Liturgy and the Great Blessing of Water were served on Sunday morning.  It being Australia Day, prayers for the civil authorities and a prayer of thanksgiving for the blessings bestowed upon us in this country were offered at Divine Liturgy.  A prayer of thanksgiving was also offered for the work of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Theophany, a parish in Mayfield (Newcastle) that existed from 1994-2009.

On Sunday 12 January we had services for the Twenty-Ninth Sunday after Pentecost and the Sunday after the Nativity of Christ.  There was no service on the preceding Saturday evening.  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.  At the end of the service a prayer of blessing was read over a new icon of New Hieromartyr Silvester of Omsk (+1920), a gift to our parish from Lidia Stroud-Watts.

On Monday 6 January and Tuesday 7 January we had services for Christmas, the Great Feast of the Nativity of Christ.   All-night Vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves was served on Monday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Tuesday morning.  These were our first Christmas Day services since 2019.  On both days our small church was full to overflowing.  At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for the unity of the Orthodox Church, peace in Ukraine, and peace in the Holy Land.  A great many of the faithful received Holy Communion, and Archbishop George’s Nativity Epistle was read in place of a sermon.  Following the services on Tuesday many people gathered in the church hall for a festive meal and a visit from Father Christmas. 

“Christmastide always evokes feelings of deep love and gratitude in a faithful heart. In these days, let us also raise up our prayerful thanks to God, offering our love to Him and our neighbours. Gratitude and love are always a sacrifice. These are the two mites of the Gospel widow.”  Metropolitan Nicholas’s Epistle is available in full in English here and in Russian here.

“I ask all of the faithful to make an effort to extend a helping hand to all those in need, giving alms to the poor, donations to the churches, helping them to bring the Word of God and grace to the world, helping others in whatever way you can, thereby showing love to your fellow man and fulfilling the commandment of God.”  Archbishop George’s Epistle is available in full in English here and in Russian here.