Eparchial (Diocesan) News

Monk Arsenije of Ostrog in Melbourne

At the end of the talk Fr. Arsenije was asked questions and donations collected for the Holy Ostrog Monastery, which amounted to 1,230AUD.

On Monday, December 22nd at the Greek Orthodox church of St Eustathios in front of 150 – 200 people His Grace Bishop Ezekiel, H.G. Bishop Irinej and Head Priest Fr. Chris were present as well as members of the Greek, Antiochian, Serbian and Russian Orthodox communities as well as non-Orthodox. Fr. Arsenije talked about his personal experiences in his younger days; his temptations, his search for success in the hustle and bustle of New York City and a chance meeting that would lead him to God and his current monastic life in the Ostrog Monastery.

At the end of the talk H.G. Bishop Ezekiel and H.G. Bishop Irinej expressed their heartfelt thanks to Fr. Arsenije for his sincere words from his personal experiences which touched everyone present. Indeed, it was an honour to listen to Fr. Arsenije speak and the silence during the two hour talk in the church was a testament to this.

On Tuesday, December 23rd, H.G. Bishop Irinej together with Fr. Arsenije and members of the Serbian Orthodox Youth Association (SOYA) visited the Hellenic Museum where exhibits from the illustrious Bennaki Museum in Athens were on display. They then met with members of the Greek media Ta Nea and Radio Hellas and familiarised themselves with their work. A short interview with H.G. Bishop Irinej concluded the meeting.

Fr. Arsenije's visit in Melbourne generated so much interest that additional smaller, more open forums were organised where attendees could not only ask questions but also engage in discussions. The first of these was in Keysborough at the parish of St. Stefan the Archdeacon (23 Dec) and then at the parish of the Holy Trinity (24 Dec). Finally on December 25th, Fr. Arsenije travelled to the St. Sava monastery in Elaine to meet all the youngsters taking part in the annual summer children's camp, where he told them about the history of St. Basil of Ostrog and the miracles that have happened and continue to happen there.

Source: soc.org.au

On the occasion of the Centennial of the death of Stevan St. Mokranjac

After months of planning, the choral workshop, symposium and concert of choral works commemorating the 100th anniversary of the death of Serbian composer Stevan Mokranjac is now a fond memory.  The Serbian Singing Society Branko Radichevich and Serbian Singing Federation's  months of planning and revision finally took form starting on a chilly Friday evening, the 3rd of October, when participants in the choral workshop arrived at the Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in  on Chicago's northwest side. 

Out-of-town presenters representing two continents, Dr. Danica Petrovic, musicologist and Mokranjac  expert from Serbia  and His Grace Bishop Irinej of the Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand also arrived Friday evening.  Dr. Petrovic made the first of her three presentations during the weekend, discussing the history of Serbian liturgical music prior to Mokranjac.  Friday's gathering also served as a "meet and greet" for all present. 

Bishop Mitrophan visited St. Sava Church in Boston

On Saturday, September 13th, 2014, His Grace Bishop Mitrophan visited St. Sava Church in Boston. His Grace came to the parish in the afternoon and immediately headed to visit the church and church hall premises which were devastated in the recent floods in late July. His Grace had the first hand opportunity to see the extent of the damage that befell the Boston parish. Currently, the first phase of work, which includes demolition of the damaged walls, and drying and anti-microbial treatment, is completed. The next stage is the development of a protective mechanism to prevent future flooding and then the restoration of the church hall.

Flood Recovery Efforts Continue In Serbia and Bosnia

Vladan and his wife welcome the arrival of much needed building supplies to repair their flood damaged home in Grdica, a village near Kraljevo, Serbia.

Vladan's home along with hundreds of other homes in the area were submerged under several feet of water for days after a powerful surge of flood waters from Serbia's record breaking spring rainfall engulfed much of the country in May 2014.

And forgive us our trespasses....

The clergy of the Sydney Deanery have continued organising and presenting spiritual lectures for adults. On Sunday, 27 July 2014, in the St Lazarus Church in Alexandria, Vespers were served by the Very Reverend Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Miodrag Perich, parish rector, and Protodeacon Christopher Henderson from the St Archangel Michael parish in Homebush. Vespers were served in English, and the lecture was also presented in English by Father Miodrag.

Podgorica: Cathedral Church, a place of forgiveness and reconciliation

The Cathedral Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Podgorica is a place of forgiveness and reconciliation and in this way the best contribution of Montenegro to the celebration of the jubilee of the Edict of Milan, from which the principle of religious freedom  was derived and proclaimed around the world, as it was emphasized at the spiritual academy in Podgorica last night. 

The spiritual academy was attended by primates of the Orthodox Churches led by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, church dignitaries, representatives of other Christian Churches and traditional religious communities and members of the Honorary Board of celebration led by President of Montenegro Mr. Filip Vujanovic. His Eminence Amfilohije, Archbishop of Cetinje and Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral pointed out in solemn speech that the Cathedral church of the Resurrection of Christ, which construction had begun two decades ago, represented a call for forgiveness and reconciliation in Montenegro.