Eight hundred years of the autocephaly of the Serbian Orthodox Church and seventy years since the establishment of the organized church life on the territory of the Metropolitanate of Australia-New Zealand which was celebrated solemnly at the chapel of the College of Saint Sava in Varoville, Sidney, on September 7, 2019.
Bishop Siluan of Australia and New Zealand presided over the Divine Liturgy concelebrated by Bishop Jacob of Miletoupolis (Ecumenical Patriarchate), Metropolitan Basil (Patriarchate of Antioch), Bishop Longin of New Gracanica and Midwestern America, Father Peter – representative of the Bishop Michael (Patriarchate of Romania), the most distinguished guest from Hilandar Monastery, Archimandrite Metodije, and clergy of the Metropolitanate of Australia-New Zealand.
The choir of the whole Metropolitanate and the Russian men’s choir sang together during the Holy Liturgy. After the Holy Liturgy and the agape feast, there were two special exhibitions, “The Serbian Gold Embroidery” and “Serbian distinctions, medals and badges 1865-1945”.
The celebration ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to Australia, Miroljub Petrovic, and the General Consul, Branko Radosevic, as well as officials from some embassies and political officials of New South Wales.
With the blessing of Bishop Siluan and under auspices of the Metropolitanate of Australia-New Zealand, one more successful celebration of significant jubilees of the Serbian Church took place last weekend.
After the celebration in Sidney, the deanery of Melbourne held a solemn academy in the church hall of the Church of Saint Sava in Greensborough on September 14, 2019. The celebration was attended by Bishops Siluan of Australia and New Zealand, Longin of New Gracanica and Midwestern America, George of Canberra from the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, Abbot of the Monastery of Chilandar, Archimandrite Metodije, as well as monks and priests of the Melbourn’s deanery.
The Vesper Service was performed, and then Bishop Siluan addressed the congregation.
The Academy was attended by Kate Thwaites, local representatives in the Federal Parliament for the Division of Jagajaga, who emphasized that she was proud that this important event was held in her division where pious people observe their customs, and at the same time had been integrated into the local society.
On Sunday, September 15, 2019, faithful from all over Victoria went to the town of Keysborough. The central liturgical celebration for Victoria was held in the Church of Holy Archdeacon Stephen. Bishops Siluan, Longin and George celebrated the Liturgy while thirteen priests and five deacons concelebrated.
A solemn procession was organized, where church choirs of the church-school communities the Holy Archdeacon Stephen and the Holy Trinity sang responses.
SOURCE: Serbian Orthodox Church