FEAST OF ST. NICHOLAS in AUSTRALIA (Fairfield and Newcastle)

Two parishes in New South Wales celebrate their patron’s feast-day on 9/22 May: the churches of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker in Fairfield, a western suburb of Sydney, and in Wallsend, a suburb of Newcastle about 2 hours’ drive north of Sydney.

FAIRFIELD

On the eve of the feast day of St. Nicholas, the service was conducted by the Rector, Father Nikita Chemodakov, along with Protodeacons Boris Evstigneev and German Polorotov and Deacon Christopher Henderson. Frs. Nikita and George Larpardin and James Carles served the litany and the dean of NSWparishes, Archpriest John Stukacz, was present, joining the other clergy participating in the all night vigil. Deacon Vadim Gan was the conductor for both the evening service and the Liturgy. The choir was bolstered by other churches' singers.

The full hierarchical liturgy was preceded by the proskomedia and the blessing of the waters by Frs. Nikita and Michael Li. Fr Michael Li served proskomedia and Fr. Nikita performed the blessing of the waters. Liturgy began with the vesting of the Archbishop in the middle of the church during the reading of the hours. During the sixth hour Andrei Neradovsky was ordained a reader for the parish.

All the above clergy served with the Archbishop on the feast day. Protodeacon Basil Yakimov from Canberra also concelebrated the liturgy and Fr. Boris Ignatievsky, after finishing his own service in Cabramatta, joined the service of supplication at the end of liturgy. His Eminence Archibishop Hilarion gave an inspiring sermon about the very revered saint and his importance to us all today. Many Years were proclaimed to the Synod of Bishops, the rector and others who celebrated their namesday on the auspicious
Day, after which all venerated to the cross. Even though it was a workday, the
church was overflowing with worshipers, which was heartening to see, and the church indeed made us all feel welcome in its limited space.

All were then invited to the trapeza feast, attended by more then 200 people. Frs. John, Nikita and Boris congratulated the Archbishop and all present with the feast day of the parish. Protodeacon Basil in his congratulatory remarks wished the parish a speedy and unanimous decision to build a new church on the proposed land already purchased some years ago for this purpose. He also noted that the old church is now too small for accommodating existing parishioners (especially on Pascha, the feast day, etc.) and the time was favorable to start the new church project. He concluded by inviting all to attend
Canberra's feast day of St. John the Forerunner in July. Protodeacon Boris intoned Many Years to the sisterhood for the wonderful trapeza meal, prepared with much effort and love for the occasion. Some of the clergy and parishioners participated in further discussions after the departure of our Archbishop Hilarion. Many topics were discussed in a friendly atmosphere of the renovated church hall, all had a salvific fraternal experience, and indeed, St. Nicholas is our patron in many daily things, including traveling safely back to Canberra. St Nicholas pray for us all!

NEWCASTLE (Wallsend)

This year, Archbishop Hilarion served in Fairfield on the day of the feast itself, traveling to Wallsend on the morning of Sunday, May 12/25, for what was Wallsend’s first full hierarchical divine liturgy in many years.

The rector of the church, Priest James Carles, served the all-night vigil on Saturday night. Early on Sunday morning, Deacon Vadim Gan arrived from Sydney and assisted Fr. James at the lesser blessing of water. Shortly after, Vladika Hilarion arrived from Sydney and was welcomed by the children of the parish, who were sprinkling flowers, and the warden, Oleg Pavlovich Kolokolow, with the traditional bread and salt.

Many visitors from Sydney and the neighboring parish of St. Panteleimon’s, in Gosford, were present during the service, which was served with great joy and emotion. After the prayer before the ambo, Vladika Hilarion gave a sermon in Russian and English in which he recounted the history of this feast and the significance of St. Nicholas for the Russian Church and people. A procession of the cross around the church with the reading of the Holy Gospel followed. Deacon Vadim solemnly intoned Many Years for the Synod of Bishops, the archbishop, the rector, and all those present, and eternal memory was sung for the departed and ever-memorable First Hierarchs of the Russian Church Outside Russia, the Archbishops of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand, the founding rector, Archpriest John Lupish, his matushka Maria, and all the ever-memorable founders and builders of the church.

The sisterhood, under the direction of long-serving head sister, Anna Pavlovna Morgun, provided a trapeza feast for all those in attendance.

Father James said a brief word, congratulating the Archbishop and all present on the feast, and thanking all who had traveled great distances to share in the joy of the parish on their feast day. He also noted the efforts of the warden and parish council this year to have the church and hall newly painted for the feast.

Many parishioners and visitors stayed until late in the afternoon to talk and share in the joy of the occasion.

St Nicholas, Wallsend, is Australia’s third-oldest parish, established in the late 1940’s by Russians, Belorussians, Ukrainians and others who had come to Australia and who resided initially in the Greta Migrant Camp. The founding priest of the parish, the ever-memorable Archpriest John Lupish, served at St. Nicholas until his repose in 1977. His son, Subdeacon Vitaly Ivanovich Lupish, is the present director of the church choir. Priest James Carles was appointed to Wallsend in December 2002, and also serves in the neighboring parish of St. Panteleimon’s in Gosford. The parish has experienced many trials in recent years, but, with God’s help, parish life is now showing many signs of good health. The joyful celebration of the patron feast-day with Vladika present was another such sign. Glory be to God for all things!

Protodeacon Basil from Canberra