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
![](../../images/people/newcastle2003a.jpg)
|