DIOCESE OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND: January 24, 2013
Metropolitan Hilarion’s Christmastide Services

As earlier reported, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, during an archpastoral visit to the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, headed divine services during at SS Peter and Paul Cathedral in Sydney on the great feast of the Nativity of the Lord in 2013.

On Tuesday, January 8, the second day of the Nativity, His Eminence celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Archbishop’s Church of All Russian Saints in Croydon (Sydney), then received visitors in his residence.

The following days of Christmastide, Metropolitan Hilarion traveled to India, where he, Priest Adrian Augustus and Deacon George Maximov visited Orthodox Christians wishing to open an Orthodox mission in that country under the auspices of the Russian Church Abroad.

Upon his return to Sydney, His Eminence officiated at divine services during the feast of the Epiphany at SS Peter and Paul Cathedral (January 18-19), and in the Archbishop’s Church the following day. Metropolitan Hilarion then ordained Deacon Konstantin Tsortsis to the priestly rank. Fr Konstantin was appointed auxiliary priest for All Saints’ Church in Kentlyn (Sydney), where divine services are conducted in English.

On Sunday, January 27, the Apodosis of the Epiphany and feast day of St Nina of Georgia, Metropolitan Hilarion will officiate at divine services at the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady “of the Sign” in New York in the presence of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God.

A photo-report on the services in Australia can be viewed on the diocese’s official website: www.rocor.org.au