DIOCESE OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND: 18 July, 2024
Services and meetings of the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad during his visit to Australia

On Sunday, July 14, 2024, the third Sunday after Pentecost, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, celebrated Divine Liturgy at All Russian Saints Church at the diocesan administration and residence of His Eminence Archbishop George of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand.

In the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, in connection with the celebration of the Nativity of the Forerunner of the Lord John, the celebration of the Synaxis of the Saints of the Russian Land was moved to the third Sunday after Pentecost. Thus, Metropolitan Nicholas led the solemn divine services of the patronal feast of this church.

Concelebrating with Vladyka Nicholas were Archbishop George; Archpriest George Lapardin; Archpriest Serafim Gan and Priest Simeon Nekipelov, along with Protodeacon Alexander Kotliaroff, Protodeacon Eugene Kallaur and ProtodeaconVasily Konstantinidis.

The liturgical hymns were sung by the choir under the direction of OA Leshcheva.

During the singing of "In the Name of the Lord," Metropolitan Nicholas addressed the worshipers with a primatial sermon.

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, a moleben was performed with a procession of the cross around the church and the diocesan administration building. Metropolitan Nicholas read a prayer before the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign" and the icon of the Synaxis of All Saints Who Shone Forth in Russia. After the proclamation of the customary Many Years, His Eminence Vladyka Nicholas congratulated the ruling bishop, clergy and a multitude of worshipers on their patronal feast.

Giving a special greeting to Fr Simeon, Metropolitan Nicholas presented him with a gift edition of the book "Grains of Wisdom and Piety from the Reposed Archpastors of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia," issued for the 100th anniversary of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

In the hall and library of the Church of the Cross, as well as in the fence of the church sisterhood, tables were laid out for 250 people, who strengthened their brotherly communion after the festive service.

On Monday, July 15, the feast day of the Akhtyrka Icon of the Mother of God, Metropolitan Nicholas and Archbishop George visited St Nicholas Church in the Sydney suburb of Fairfield, where Archpriest Nikita Chemodakov, Dean of the Central District of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, has been rector for many years.

Here the archpastors performed a moleben with an akathist before the Kursk Icon. Addressing the multitude of worshipers with a primatial sermon, His Eminence made special mention of Fr Nikita, who was ordained to the priesthood on the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple in 1976, and presented him with a jubilee pectoral cross, issued for the 725th anniversary of the appearance of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God and the 100th anniversary of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. At the end of the service, the rector of the church gave a dinner in honor of the distinguished guests.

On Tuesday, July 16, the feast day of St Philip, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia, Metropolitan Nicholas met with Mr Pavlovsky, Russian Ambassador to Australia, and Mr Arzhaev, Consul General of Russia in Sydney, at the residence of the Ruling Bishop of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand.

The main purpose of the meeting was to venerate the Kursk Icon of the Mother of God and to become acquainted. Participating in the meeting were Vladyka George, Fr Nikita, Fr George and Fr Serafim.

On the evening of the same day, the archpastors visited St George's Church in the Sydney suburb of Carlton, where Archpriest Alexander Korzhenevsky presides. A moleben with an akathist to the Mother of God was performed here before Her Kursk-Root Icon. At the end of the service, the sisterhood served a dinner in honor of the distinguished guests.

On Wednesday, July 17, the feast day of the Synaxis of the Royal Passion-Bearers, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas officiated at Divine Liturgy at St John the Baptist Skete, located near the Kazan Convent in the Sydney suburb of Kentlyn.

His Eminence was co-served by the head of the skete, Hegumen Joachim (Ross), the city clergy and members of the delegation accompanying the wonderworking icon and the First Hierarch of ROCOR. After lunch, Metropolitan Nicholas and the members of the delegation went first to the cave, where Archpriest Rostislav Gan and Monk Gury (Demidov) liked to visit for prayer, and then to the Kazan Convent, where a moleben was performed before the Kursk Icon.

After tea offered by Abbess Maria (Miros) and the sisters, His Eminence and the members of the delegation toured the holy sites of the monastery and its vast grounds. From there, the delegation went to St Vladimir's Church, located in the center of Sydney, where a moleben with akathist was performed before the miraculous icon. Here the icon was greeted by a substantial number of worshipers who came to venerate it.

At the end of the service, His Eminence addressed the clergy and worshipers with a primatial sermon, after which he presented the cross to the rector of the church, Archpriest Daniel Metlenko, who had labored there for many years. In response, Fr Daniel expressed his gratitude to the First Hierarch and presented him with a holy panagia on behalf of the parish.

On Thursday, July 18, the feast day of St Sergius, Abbot of Radonezh, Metropolitan Nicholas celebrated Divine Liturgy in the great Church of the Protection of the Mother of God in the Sydney suburb of Cabramatta. Here His Eminence venerated the miraculous copy of the "Abalatsk" Icon of the Mother of God, taken to Australia by the daughter of General Diterichs and donated by her to this magnificently decorated church.

Concelebrating with His Eminence were Vladyka George; the rector of the church, Archpriest Boris Ignatievsky; Fr Serafim Gan and Priest Andrei Morgan, along with Protodeacon Eugene and Protodeacon Vasily Konstantinidis. At the end of the service, addressing those present with a primatial sermon, Vladyka Nicholas thanked Fr Boris for his many years of work in the parish and presented him with a jubilee pectoral cross, issued for the 725th anniversary of the discovery of the Kursk Icon and the 100th anniversary of the Russian Church Abroad.

After the service, the archpastors, clergy and singers of the choir under the direction of Eustratius Papageorgiou proceeded to "Sergiev Posad" - this is the name of the village for pensioners and homes for the elderly of the Russian Charitable Society named after St Sergius of Radonezh.

In the dining room of the home for the elderly, a moleben was performed before the Kursk-Root Icon and the Icon of St Sergius of Radonezh, after which the archpastors and clergy visited the monks with the miraculous icon. The sisterhood of Holy Virgin Protection Church then offered a bountiful luncheon, during which all the participants continued to socialize.

On Friday, July 19, a delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, accompanying the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign," departed for Melbourne.