| 24th December (NS) | Christmas vigil from 8 pm |
| 7th of January (NS) 25th December (OS) | Divine Liturgy of St John Chyrstostom at 10 am |
Today is the second Sunday before the Nativity and we remember the forefathers of Christ according to the flesh, from Adam through to the Theotokos, all of whom came before the Law but some of whom lived to see the giving of the Law.
In particular we take note of the promise made to Abraham in Genesis 12:3 and " And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." and again in Genesis 22:18, "And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice". A promise
We also remember Joachim and Anna, the father and mother of the Theotokos.
Memory Eternal, Patriarch Alexy II of MoscowPatriarch Alexy II of Moscow reposed last Friday, the 5th of December.
Patriarch Alexy was born on February the 23rd 1929 and ordained to the priesthood in 1950. He succeeded Patriarch Pimen as Patriarch of Moscow in 1990.
| 24th December (NS) | Christmas vigil from 8 pm |
| 7th of January (NS) 25th December (OS) | Divine Liturgy of St John Chyrstostom at 10 am |
St Ambrose was born in the middle of the fourth century AD at time when the Arian controversy was splitting the Church.
Highly educated in literature, the law and rhetoric Ambrose became consular prefect with headquarters in Milan. He showed himself to be a capable and excellant administrator.
In 374 the Bishop of Milan, the Arian Auxentius died; leaving the see vacant and civil disorder arose between the Orthodox and Arians over the choice of his successor.Called on to restore order Ambrose delivered a speech of such eloquence that the people called for him to succeed Auxentius as Bishop, although at that time Ambrose was still only a catechumen. St Ambrose was initially reluctant to take on the position but after settling his affairs, selling his property and distributing it to the poor he was baptized, ordained and elevated to the rank of Bishop.
As a Bishop, Ambrose was was an eloquent and valiant defender of the Faith, influencing another of Western Fathers, St Augustine. St Ambrose reposed on the 4th of April 397 - the night of Pascha.
Today we remember St Andrew, the first called.
Next Friday is the celebration of the Presentation of the Theotokos in the Temple, one of the 12 Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church.
"Do not be despondent when fighting against the incorporeal enemy,
but even in the midst of your afflictions and oppression praise the Lord,
Who has found you worthy to suffer for Him,
by struggling against the subtlety of the serpent,
and to be wounded for Him at every hour; for had you not lived piously,
and endeavored to become united to God,
the enemy would not have attacked and tormented you."
With the apostles your message has gone out to the ends of the world,Kontakion
And with the confessors you suffered for Christ!
You are like the hierarchs through your preaching of the word;
With the righteous you are radiant with the grace of God.
The Lord has exalted your humility above the heavens
And given us your name as a source of miracles.
O wonder-worker, living in Christ for ever,
Have mercy on those beset by troubles;
And hear us when we cry out in faith, O our beloved shepherd John!
This day the pastor of Kronstadt
Appears before the throne of God
Praying fervently on behalf of the faithful
To the chief pastor Christ, who has promised:
"I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it!"
About 726 AD a dispute arose in the Church about the place of Icons in Christian worship.Concerning the charge of idolatry: Icons are not idols but symbols, therefore when an Orthodox venerates an icon, he is not guilty of idolatry. He is not worshipping the symbol, but merely venerating it. Such veneration is not directed toward wood, or paint or stone, but towards the person depicted. Therefore relative honor is shown to material objects, but worship is due to God alone.
We do not make obeisance to the nature of wood, but we revere and do obeisance to Him who was crucified on the Cross... When the two beams of the Cross are joined together I adore the figure because of Christ who was crucified on the Cross, but if the beams are separated, I throw them away and burn them
Troparion (Tone 8)
Most glorious are You, O Christ our God!
You have established the Holy Fathers as lights on the earth!
Through them you have guided us to the true faith!
O greatly Compassionate One, glory to You!
Kontakion (Tone 6)
The Son who shone forth from the Father
Was ineffably born, two-fold in nature, of a woman.
Having beheld Him, we do not deny the image of His form,
But depict it piously and revere it faithfully.
Thus, keeping the True Faith,
The Church venerates the icon of Christ Incarnate.
Yesterday marked the 21st anniversary of Fr Ilyan's ordination to the priesthood by Bishop Gibran on the 27th of September 1987.
We remember two specific historic events on today, the first being the finding of the Cross upon which Christ was crucified by the Empress Helena at Golgotha during her journeys in Palestine in 327-328 AD.
Tomorrow. the 8th of September, we celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos, one of the twelve great feasts of the Church.
Last Friday the Church celebrated the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, one of the twelve great feasts of the Church.In the Book of Acts, Jesus said to his disciples:” You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you”!
On the Pentecost Day (50 days after Resurrection), the Holy Spirit came down and filled all those who were in the upper room.
(As was promised).
By the new power, the disciples and others went to every corner of the known world preaching, teaching and baptising.
(As were commanded).
The church from that day on kept proclaiming the marvels of God and calling all people to faith, love and new life in Christ.
Today, more than anytime in the two thousand years history the Church is calling you to open your hearts to the same power of the Holy Spirit and to the richness of his gifts, asking you, as a new generation of apostles to come forward and catechise and bring the world to Christ.
Jesus promised his disciples before his ascension; “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you”. The same promise is directed to you today, you who are baptised and confirmed by the gift of the Holy Spirit during baptism and in every Liturgy.-2-
What is the power of the Holy Spirit and what did it means? It is the power of God’s life. It is the power of the same spirit which Jesus sent to stay with us and in us. It is the same spirit and the same power which points us and our words towards the living of the Gospel and towards the coming of the kingdom of God, the Church, brothers and sisters, Christ’s body, and living community of love, embracing people of every race, nations, and tongue, of every time and place. In the unity born of our faith is the risen Lord. This power of the spirit, will never cease to fill the Chruch with life.
Yet this power, the grace of the spirit is not something we earn or achieve, but it is given to us as a gift.
God’s love can only unleash its power when we allow Him to change us from within. We have to allow Him to break through the hard crust of our indifference, our spiritual weariness, our blind conformity to the spirit of age and our self-love. The daily prayer, the private prayer, and the sacramental prayer are the means to achieve His love and gift. In the power of His spirit, Jesus is there always in our hearts, quietly waiting for us to be still with Him, to hear his voice, to abide in his love and to receive power from on high, enabling us to be His disciples. He told them:” You will be my witness to the end of the earth”!! The same He is telling you today.-3-
Let me ask you some questions: - Are you his disciples?
Do you know his word? What are you going to leave to the next generation? Are you building your lives on firm foundation? Are you living your lives in a way that open up a space for the spirit to come in, to a world that want to forget about him, or even reject him in the name of falsely conceived freedom? How are you using the gifts you have been given? What legacy will you leave to young people of the future? What difference will you make?
Do you curse the darkness or light a candle?
Are your hearts searching and will not find peace until they rest in Him? (Augustine)
The power of the Holy Spirit directs us to the future, to the coming of the Kingdom of God. It can creates a new world, a new generation of Christians called to help build a world in which God’s gift of life is welcomed, respected and cherished, or rejected in fear. A new age in which love is not greedily or self-seeking but pure, faithful and genuinely free. Open to others, respectful of their dignity, seeking their good, initiating joy and beauty. A new age in which hope liberates us from the shallowness, apathy and self-love which deaden our souls and poison our relationships, and destroy our families.-4-
Friends:-
The Lord is asking you to be His disciples to this new age, messengers of his love, drawing people to Him and building a future of hope for all humanity. The world needs you, there is a spiritual desert there and it is spreading an interior emptiness, a quiet sense of despair. How many of young you know, friends, relatives and family members, who have got lost because of their trust and hope of the world promises? Jesus love is the only and real liberating gift.
The Church needs you, needs your power, your faith, your idealism and your generosity. It needs you to carry the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a world refusing of God’s Grace. Are you listening to your calling? Come forth and repeat with prophet Isaiah:” Here I am Lord, send me”.
Do not be afraid to say “Yes” to Jesus, to find your joy in doing His will, giving yourselves to the persecute of holiness in the service of the others.
May God bless all of you.
Next Wednesday, August the 6th, is the Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ.1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
Remembered on this Day
On this Sunday we remember the Apostles St Peter and St Paul| Contacts: | Fr Jack | Ph: (03) 313 5673 Email: Fr Jack |
| Fr Michael | Ph: (03) 329 4674 Email: Fr Michael | |
| Fr Victor | Ph: (03) 981 7796 Email: Fr Victor |
Christ our eternal King and God, You have destroyed death and the devil by Your Cross and have restored man to life by Your Resurrection; give rest, Lord, to the soul of Your servant Olga who has fallen asleep, in Your Kingdom, where there is no pain, sorrow or suffering. In Your goodness and love for all men, pardon all the sins she has committed in thought word or deed, for there is no man or woman who lives and sins not, You only are without sin.
For You are the Resurrection, the Life, and Repose of Your servant Olga, departed this life, O Christ our God; and to You do we send up glory with Your Eternal Father and Your All-holy, Good and Life-creating Spirit; both now and forever and to the ages of ages.
Amen
| Wednesday April 23rd | 6:30 pm Service of Holy Unction Healing Service | |
| Thursday April 24th | 6.30pm Service of The Twelve Passion Gospels | |
| Good Friday April 25th | Royal Hours: | 1st Hour: 7.am 3rd Hour: 9am 6th Hour: 12 noon 9th Hour & Typika: 3pm 6:30 Vespers and lamentations |
| Holy Saturday April 26th | 9:30 Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St.Basil | |
| Holy Saturday evening | from 8pm - Easter Celebrations, Paschal Orthros Paschal Divine Liturgy of St.John Chrysostom Blessing of First Fruits | |
| Pascha April 27th | 10 am Agape Vespers, no other services | |
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