The Protectress in Cabramatta on the Feast of the Protection

The Mother of God, in the form of the Kursk-Root Miracle-working Icon, visited Protection Church in Cabramatta on its Feast Day.

AUSTRALIAN DIOCESE: 14 October 2002

The Protectress in Cabramatta

His Eminence, Archbishop Hilarion of Sydney and the Australian-New Zealand Diocese, brought the Miracle-working Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God to Protection Church in Cabramatta in time for all-night vigil on the eve of the holiday.

The clergy and worshipers greeted the Protectress of the Russian diaspora with great joy. The second priest of Protection Church, Priest James Carles, conducted all-night vigil. The choir, under the direction of deacon Vadim Gan, sang with inspiration. Archbishop Hilarion emerged from the altar for litany together with the rest of the clergy: the rector of the parish, Priest Boris Ignatievsky, Protopriests Mikhail Klebansky, Nikita Chemodakov, Gregory Kotliaroff (from the USA), Michael Li, Priests George Lapardin, James Carles, Protodeacons Basil Hadarin, Basil Yakimov, Herman Polorotov and Deacons Nicholas Triantafillidis and Alexander Kotliaroff.

The magnification was sung by the clergy with great emotion. Worshipers venerated the Miracle-working Icon with particular piety during the singing of the Protection irmosi. After vigil the exit of the Icon was accompanied in the same way it was greeted: with the singing of “Having obtained thee as an unassailable wall.”

On the feast day, the Miracle-working Icon was brought to Cabramatta for the blessing of the water.

During the Minor Entrance, Priest Boris Ignatievsky, for his zealous service to the flock, was awarded the kamilavka by His Eminence Archbishop Hilarion. Eight priests and 4 deacons concelebrated with Archbishop Hilarion during liturgy. Despite the fact that the holiday fell on a weekday, an enormous number of worshipers gathered from the entire diocese. The Creed and the Lord’s Prayer were sung by the entire church.

Fr. Seraphim Gan, from the Convent in Kentlyn, arrived towards the end of liturgy and took part in the moleben and the procession of the Cross. During the procession, the Reverend Protopriests carried two icons: the Miracle-working Kursk Icon and the church icon of the Protection of the Most-Holy Mother of God. Children took active participation in the procession, carrying small icons.

At the end of the moleben, “Eternal memory” was sung to all the reposed First Hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, the Australian bishops, the founders of Protection Church and all the eminent reposed parishioners, followed by the singing of “Many years.”

The Parish Sisterhood prepared a trapeza feast for all the worshipers. Tables were set up not only in the parish hall, but on the stage and outside as well. During the trapeza, Archbishop Hilarion once more congratulated the parishioners and on their feast day and Priest Boris Ignatievsky on the awarded kamilavka. At the end of trapeza, the clergy and worshipers departed, filled with peace and joy.

Deacon Nicholas Triantafillidis