+ Australian and New Zealand Diocese - Russian Orthodox Church Abroad

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Concelebration at the St Sava feast in Canberra

On January 14/27, Metropolitan Photios (GOC) presided at the services in honour of St Sava of Serbia at the Monastery “New Kalenich”, the patronal feast of the monastery. Bishop John (ROCA) concelebrated, along with archimandrite Hristifor (FSOC), protopriest Bojan (FSOC), hieromonk Simeon (FSOC), hieromonk Ioannis (GOC), priest Nebojsa (ROCA), priest Alexandar (FSOC) and protodeacon Vasily.

Matins and Divine Liturgy was followed by a procession around the Monastery church and the rite of the Serbian Slava.

The preceding week, about 30 children attended the yearly St Sava children’s camp. The boys assisted by serving in the Altar and the girls formed a choir to sing the Liturgy.

Festivities continued for the following two days at the St Sava Festival.

Posted by rocaau at 08:42:43 in Australia, Canberra, ROCA, Sister Churches

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Children’s camp at St Sava Free Serbian Orthodox Monastery

The annual St Sava children’s camp completed its sessions on Friday 9/22.1.2016. More than 30 children participated. Archimandrite Christophor, Abbott John (ROCA) and Hieromonk Simeon, along with others, gave lessons and participated in activities over five days.

Serving at Liturgy:

The great blessing of water:

Getting newly blessed Holy Water:

Raising the flags and singing national anthems:

Diving into the pond after Archimandrite Christophor threw the Holy Cross into the water:

Vespers for St John the Baptist

Services in the Church:

Group photo:

Activities:

Performing

Source

Posted by rocaau at 00:19:16 in Australia, Family life, Canberra, Pilgrimage, Sister Churches

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Concelebration at St Sava Monastery in Canberra

On Sunday, 12/25 January, clergy from ROCA and the Free Serbian Orthodox Church / Church of the True Orthodox Christians of Greece concelebrated at the St Sava New Kalenich Monastery in Canberra. Igumen Christophor presided, with Igumen John (Smelic)(ROCA), priests Zvonimir Jovic and Bojan Vlajic, as well as Protodeacon Vasily Yakimov (ROCA) concelebrating. A mixed children’s and pilgrims’ choir chanted.

The 34th St Sava Festival was opened after Liturgy on Saturday 11/24th January with an epistle from His Eminence, Bishop Ambrose of Methoni to his Serbian flock in Australia. Festivities continued for more than two days. The feast day of the Monastery, in honour of St Sava of Serbia is on Tuesday 14/27 January and will be celebrated with a festive Liturgy, the rite of the Slava, and a procession around the Church, followed by a festive meal. All are welcome to attend.

Protodeacon Vasily Yakimov reading the Gospel

Young participant at the Children’s Camp reading the Epistle

Posted by rocaau at 07:27:14 in Australia, Canberra, Pilgrimage, Sister Churches

More Pictures from Children’s Camp

The children’s choir singing at Liturgy on the day of St Gregory of Nyssa, Friday 10/23 January.

The Great Entrance.

National anthems every morning

Services and singing practice in Church.

Trivia quiz night

Sessions in the camp hall

Posters made by children to collect funds for the benefit of disabled children in Kosovo.

Presentation of certificates, awards and gifts.

The closing session of camp 2015

Source

Posted by rocaau at 07:11:09 in Australia, Family life, Canberra, Pilgrimage, Sister Churches

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Children’s Camp at Serbian Monastery 2015

The annual children’s camp at St Sava New Kalenich Monastery near Canberra concluded today, 11/24.January. 28 children attended from all over Australia.
Every morning, after the short prayer service, the children raised the Australian and Serbian flags accompanied by singing the national anthems. Thereafter followed dormitory inspections with announcement of winners of the bedmaking contest. Breakfast was then served, after which followed morning lessons. There were daily lessons in the Law of God, services morning and evening, and singing practice. In addition, the children learned about iconography and church and Serbian history. Select lives of Saints were read. The main course of study was presented by Igumen John (Smelic)(ROCA) and rassophore nun Elisabeth of the Annunciation Hermitage (ROCA), with select sessions by Fr Bojan Vlajic and others.
The campers conscientiously kept the fasts and learned more about the meaning of this pious practice.
The children chanted the Divine Liturgy on the feast of Theophany, on Friday 10/23, and Saturday 11/24 in English and Church Slavonic. All prepared for Confession and Holy Communion at the conclusion of the camp. An exciting treasure hunt incorporating questions on the spiritual materials studied served as the exam.
Friday afternoon, the very reverend Abbott Hristifor presented each child with a graduation diploma from the St Sava Academy 2015. Various prizes were presented to the most improved camper, the best singing voice, best organiser, best behaviour, and others.
The weather was comfortably cool in Canberra, allowing for outside play and swimming.

Posted by rocaau at 12:27:44 in Australia, Family life, Canberra, Sister Churches

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Upcoming children’s camp at Serbian Monastery

The traditional annual children’s camp at the Free Serbian Monastery of St Sava will take place from January 18 to 23. The camp is open for children aged 7 to 12 years old of all nationalities.

Please download a registration form here and return to the organisers as soon as possible.

Lessons in the Law of God at the camp are given in English by Fr John Smelic (ROCA). There are short daily morning and evening services, which the children chant and read themselves. Accommodation is in separate girls’ and boys’ dorm houses on the grounds of the monastery. There is opportunity to play tennis, fish in the monastery lake, and an excursion. At the end of the camp, all the children take Confession and Holy Communion.

More information from Jela Bulatovic, who can be contacted on telephone 0402033834.

The St Sava Festival will take place at the monastery the weekend of 24-25 January, and is open for all pilgrims.

Posted by rocaau at 08:25:45 in Australia, Family life, Canberra, Sister Churches

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Concelebration in Canberra

On the day of the Holy Apostle Andrew, Saturday, November 30th (December 13th new style), His Eminence, Bishop Ambrose of Methoni of the Church of the True Orthodox Christians of Greece served the Divine Liturgy at the St Sava Free Serbian Orthodox Monastery in Canberra, with Protopriest Dragan Saracevic and Protodeacon Vasily Yakimov (ROCA) concelebrating, and Igumen Christophor (Nedjic) chanting.