Sunday 11 April is the Second Sunday of Pascha. The Mission will be keeping it’s normal cycle of Services this week.

Sunday – Second Sunday of Pascha (11 April)

9.00am 3rd Hour and 6th Hour services
9.30am Divine Liturgy

Monday

7.00am 1st Hour & Matins
5.30pm 9th Hour & Vespers

Tuesday

Mission closed

Wednesday

7.00am 1st Hour & Matins
5.30pm 9th Hour & Vespers

Thursday

7.00am 1st Hour & Matins
5.30pm 9th Hour & Vespers

Friday

Mission closed

Saturday

5.00pm Great Vespers

Sunday – Third Sunday of Pascha (18 April)

9.00am 3rd Hour and 6th Hour services
9.30am Divine Liturgy

Services for Bright Week

Author: webmaster

The Mission will not be conducting Services during Bright Week. We expect the Mission to be open for private prayer and access to the bookshop on most days after about 9am.

Services (if any) for the Feast of the Annunciation on Wednesday are to be advised.

Sunday – Holy Pascha  4th April

Starts midnight Saturday
no other services today

Monday – 5th April

No services today

Tuesday – 6th April

No services today

Wednesday [Feast of the Annunciation] – 7th April

To be advised

Thursday – 8th April

No services today

Friday – 9th April

Mission closed

Saturday – 10th April

5.00pm Great Vespers

Sunday – 11th April

9.00am 3rd Hour and 6th Hour services
9.30am Divine Liturgy

Christ is Risen!

Author: webmaster

Services for Holy Week 2010

Author: webmaster

Updated 31 March. Note change to time of services on Friday afternoon.

Monday (29 March)

7.00am Bridegroom Matins & 1st Hour
10.30am 3rd Hour, 6th Hour, & Great Compline
5.00pm 9th Hour, Typica & Vespers

Tuesday (30 March)

7.00am Bridegroom Matins & 1st Hour
10.30am 3rd Hour, 6th Hour, & Compline
5.00pm 9th Hour, Typica & Vespers

Wednesday (31 March)

7.00am Bridegroom Matins & 1st Hour
10.30am 3rd Hour, 6th Hour, and Great Compline
5.00pm 9th Hour, Typica & Vespers

Holy Thursday (1 April)

7.00am Matins & 1st Hour
7.00pm Matins of the Passion (by anticipation for Friday)
[Reading of the 12 Gospels]

Holy Friday (or Good Friday, 2 April)

8:00 am Great Hours
3:00 pm Vespers & Small Compline
[Deposition of Christ & Exposition of the Shroud (Epitafios)]
7:00 pm Matins of Holy Saturday (by anticipation for Saturday)

Great Saturday (3 April)

10.45pm Reading of the Acts of the Apostles
11.00pm Midnight Office – Recession of the Shroud (Epitafios)
midnight Holy Pascha – Resurrection Matins / Pascha Hours / Divine Liturgy

Fr Elijah will be serving at the Mission from Holy Thursday onwards.

This is the Sixth Week of Lent.

Services this week will be as normal, with variations for the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts on Wednesday.

Monday (22 March)
7.00am Matins
5.30pm Vespers

Tuesday (23 March) – mission closed

Wednesday (24 March)
7.00am Matins
5.00pm Typica, and Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts (with Fr Benjamin)

Thursday (25 March)
7.00am Matins
5.30pm Vespers

Friday (26 March)
– mission closed

Saturday (27 March)
5.00pm Great Vespers

and then we begin Holy Week with…

Palm Sunday (28 March)
9.00am 3rd Hour and 6th Hour services
9.30am Typica

The Mission will observe additional daily services during Holy Week as well as the special services of Easter. These can be found here.

Forthcoming Services

Author: Mission Administrator

Dear Missioners & Friends,

Fr Marko will be serving the Liturgy, this Sunday at the Mission.

This will be his last Sunday before he leaves for Canada, possibly to stay there for a few months, or more.

It has been a blessing to have him with us these past two months.

His zeal to learn the language spoken in this nation so as to use it for mission and the Divine Services, makes him special.

Should it be the will and desire of the Holy Spirit, for Fr Marko to return to Melbourne permanently, it would be to our  benefit.

We also remind everyone that our “mini Patronal Feast” is on Sunday, 7th March, 2010 – Veneration of the Holy Cross.

Fr Benjamin will be at the Mission from Saturday to Tuesday.

Many have inquired regarding the times for confession/ absolution with Fr Benjamin.

Please be mindful that the Services will not be interrupted for this Sacrament.

We suggest that the faithful come at least half an hour before a Service, or even come to the Mission on Monday from 7:00 am – 6:30 pm for confession/absolution or private talks.

The schedule for Holy Week will be sent out by email and posted to the website News page next week.

The Mission Board

We are honoured to have received a collection of nine ‘matchstick’ models of Russian Churches donated by Mrs Elizabeth J. Harris.

This magnificent collection of intricately detailed models is understood to have been based on centuries-old Orthodox Churches which were destroyed by the communists during the Soviet-era.

The models were acquired by Mrs Harris, in Adelaide in the mid-1990s. The original model artist is not known.

We acknowledge and thank Dr Ann Abbott who presented these models to Holy Cross Mission in fulfillment of her mother’s wishes that they be preserved and displayed in an Orthodox Church connected with the Russian jurisdiction, yet not bound to the Russian language and culture. She wanted the beauty of these expressions of the Faith to be known and appreciated by a wider audience.

Holy Cross Mission uniquely fulfills her intention – an Orthodox community of all nations, living in contemporary English-speaking Australia, and under the canonical protection of Metropolitan Hilarion (ROCOR).

The models are in generally good condition and require only minor repairs and cleaning. We are investigating the best way to preserve and display these wonderful artifacts at the Mission in a manner fitting of their value.

A full set of photographs will be presented once the models are ready for display.

We would welcome learning more about the artist or details of the Churches depicted by the models. If anyone has knowledge of these, please contact the Mission Administrator. (info@australianorthodox.org )

The Triumph of Orthodoxy

Author: webmaster

Today is the first Sunday in Lent, and together with the whole Church we celebrate the Triumph of Orthodoxy.

Icons were restored to their rightful place in the Services of the Church and the private devotional life of the Faithful by the 7th Ecumenical Council (Nicea, AD787).

Triumph of Orthodoxy 2010 [20100221 N8524]

We venerate Your most pure image, O Good One,
and ask forgiveness of our transgressions, O Christ God.
You voluntarily ascended the Cross in the flesh to deliver Your creatures from bondage to the enemy.
Therefore with thanksgiving we cry aloud to You:
You have filled all with joy, O our Savior, by coming to save the world.

(Troparion of the Triumph of Orthodoxy)

Services and AGM this week

Author: Mission Administrator

Dear Missioners & Friends,

A reminder that this Sunday, 14 February, 2010, the Holy Cross Australian Orthodox Mission, Inc., will be holding its Annual General Meeting.

Schedule for this day :

9:00 am                      3rd & 6th Hours

9:30 am                      Divine Liturgy [Fr Barnabas celebrating]

(Followed by):               Sunday Vespers of Forgiveness (complete service)

12:00 noon (approx)      AGM [held at the lunch room]

The Administrator of Holy Cross Orthodox Mission advises that “the AGM is for Mission Registered Members.” However, the “meeting is open to anyone who desires to attend”.  Also, only “Mission Registered Members can cast  a  vote and/or raise issues for discussion and consideration”.

On behalf of the Board:

As “we prepare ourselves to sail in the sea of the Fast” – Missioners & friends, forgive us sinners.

“The springtime of the Fast has dawned,
and the flower of repentance has sprung.
Therefore, O brethren,
let us purify ourselves from all defilement,
as we sing to the Giver of light:
~ Glory to you, O only Lover of mankind!”

[Apostiha, Tone 3]

Annual General Meeting

Author: Mission Administrator

Dear Missioners and friends,

The Annual General Meeting of Holy Cross Mission will be held at the Mission on 14th February 2010, commencing shortly after the conclusion of Divine Liturgy and the Vespers of Forgiveness Sunday.

For further information, please contact the Administrator, at info@australianorthodox.org

In Christ,

the Mission Board