AUSTRALIAN DIOCESE: The Laying of the Foundation of a Monastery

On the Day of the Holy Spirit, Archbishop Hilarion of Sydney and the Australian-New Zealand Diocese consecrated the foundation stone of the future church of the holy fathers of ancient monasticism: SS Basil the Great, Anthony, Pachomius, Hilarion and Savva, on the site of the new monastery. Archbishop Hilarion was joined in the service by the rector of the Brisbane Cathedral of St. Nicholas, Protopriest Gabriel Makarov, Priest James Carles of Sydney and Deacon Christopher Henderson and Hierodeacon John. During divine liturgy under the open sky, the founder of the monastery, Hierodeacon John, was ordained to the rank of hieromonk. Hieromonk John is a native Australian. He worked for many years as a psychologist and worked to help drug addicts, alcoholics and those with suicidal tendencies. Fr. John intends to create an environment in the future monastery conducive to spiritual and psychological aid to men above the age of 18 suffering from these maladies.