Friday, May 26, 2017
Ascension of our Lord in Sydney
On Thursday, 12/25 May, Bishop John visited the parish of St Cosmas and Damian (GOC) in Sydney. Priest Nebojsa (ROCA) concelebrated. The service was chanted in English and Greek.
Friday, February 17, 2017
Feast of St Gregory the Theologian in Bentleigh
On Tuesday, January 25th (February 7th, new style), Metropolitan Photios of the GOC concelebrated with Bishop John of Melbourne (ROCA) and hieromonk Ioannis (GOC) at the St Gregory the Theologian Church in Bentleigh. Protopriest Stylianos led the chanting.
Despite the Church feast falling on a weekday and the sudden rain, nearly 50 people attended. After Matins and Divine Liturgy a blessing of the five loaves followed, as well as prayers for the living with blessing of a Phanuropita and prayers for the departed with blessing of Kolyva.
The sun came out for the procession around the Church. Afterwards, the sisterhood offered a meal in the hall which was likewise well attended.
Sunday, January 8, 2017
Christmas in Sydney
On the feast of the Nativity of our Lord, the Serbian parish community of Holy Great-Martyr George in Granville (Sydney) had their first full cycle of Divine Services.
The community is part of the Free Serbian Orthodox Church under the omophorion of Bishop Ambrose of Methone, with whose blessing priest Nebojsa Mirkovic (ROCA) celebrated the services for Nativity, blessing the traditional Serbian “Badnjak” oak Christmas tree. On the day of the Nativity, the Divine Liturgy followed.
The Serbian parish community of St George will be celebrating regular Divine Liturgies with the help of Fr Nebojsa at the Serbian memorial hall at 92 Good Street, Granville. For details of times, please contact Fr Nebojsa Mirkovic
Telephone: 0413354913
Feast of St John of Kronstadt parish in Sydney
On December 19/January 2, the parish of the Holy Righteous John of Kronstadt in Sydney celebrated its Altar feast. Bishop John visiting from Melbourne concelebrated with priest Nebojsa Mirkovic. The Divine Liturgy was followed by the Serbian Slava.
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Concelebration and blessing of new Altar on the parish feast of St Nicholas in Brisbane
On Sunday, 5/18 December, the Free Serbian parish of St Nicholas celebrated its parish feast.
The new Altar table was consecrated by Bishops Ambrose and John, with Archimandrite Hristifor and Hieromonk Simeon concelebrating.
The parish feast of St Nicholas was transferred to the preceding Sunday, when the Serbian Slava was also celebrated. The sisterhood provided a sumptuous fasting meal.
Monday, July 11, 2016
The feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul
Today the Holy Church commemorates the Apostles Peter and Paul.
Saturday, June 18, 2016
Pentecost
Monday, June 13, 2016
Ascension of the Lord
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
Metropolitan Agafangel: Paschal Epistle
Paschal epistle
His Eminence Metropolitan Agafangel
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad
We celebrate the death of death, the destruction of hades, the beginning of another life eternal
(from the Paschal canon)
The entire universe, from the beginning of its creation until its end on the Day of Judgement, is encompassed in Our Lord Jesus Christ. In His Incarnation and Resurrection, the world which had been polluted by the fall of angels and humans was transformed. A new stage of history commenced, in which the principles of life and death were changed.
Ever since the fall, life and death have been inseparable, so that one could not exist without the other. Death, the consequence of sin, is the absence of life. The Lord said of Himself: “I am (…) life” (John 14:6). Now death was swallowed up by life and abolished in Christ. The Resurrection of Christ trampled upon the very nature of death, canceled it and transformed into eternal life. That is a true miracle! The main mystery of death is now that there is no death. The transformation of death is the Pascha of Christ, eternal life.
For (…) this mortal must put on immortality…then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
(1 Corinthians 15:53-54).
Each of us is called to follow Christ, going through our own death into eternal life. This is the only miracle that is important for us in eternity. Christ performed this miracle, and we are able to repeat it by following Him.
Christ overcame death, destroying it, He rose from the dead, trampling down the personal death of each one of us, bringing people the gift of eternal life!
Truly Christ is risen!
Odessa, Pascha 2016
