Dormition in Woollongong

Sunday, 31 August, the feast day of SS. Florus and Laurus, is the Namesday of His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus and Archimandrite Florus. The clergymen who served and faithful of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Dormition lifted their prayers for them on this day. Archpriest George Lapardin, the rector of this small house Church in Woollongong near the sea--which is about an hour’s drive from most of our Sydney parishes, performed the proskomedia and the small blessing of the waters. The Liturgy started at 9 am, and the Rector with Protodeacons Basil Yakimov, Basil Hadarin and Nicholas Triantafillidis celebrated the Sunday service and the feast day of the Holy Dormition. Services in the parish are held once a month. The parish was organized in the 1950's mostly by displaced people from Germany, and the present house church was established around 1967. Over 130 people attended the feast day service, mostly young families. The choir was ably led by Vera M. Troitskaya (a well-known choir director) and on this festive day, the local choir was augmented by choristers from our Sydney parishes.

Father George gave a good sermon based on the Sunday Gospel and on the life of the Mother of God--who was so humble that she as a servant of God accepted without question Her role in the Salvation of mankind by being the loving Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ the Savior and we should all strive to emulate her life as far as possible.

There were many communicants and the service was served with great joy and solemnity. A procession of the cross around the church with the reading of the Holy Gospel followed.
The protodeacons 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 all the ever-memorable founders and builders of the church. During the veneration of the cross Father George congratulated all and invited them the festive luncheon that followed.

During the festive trapeza that followed the service, in a nearby School hall, Father George, the Church warden, D.M. Rudenko, and one of the protodeacons said congratulatory words. Many Years was sung to the Church warden and Sisterhood of the parish. It was a lively affair and the possibility of buying one of the adjoining properties for housing a properly built Church was also canvassed. Let us hope that what started as a conversation and some wishful thinking will in time come to fruition. Our Archbishop arrived back on that day from his pilgrimage to Ukraine.

All-merciful Mistress even today wash away our sins with Thy tears!
Glory be to God for all things!

Protodeacon Basil YAKIMOV, Canberra