Feast of All Saints Who Shone Forth in the Russian Land, Celebrated in Australia

In the Diocese of Australia, the main celebration of the commemoration of All Saints Who Have Shone forth in the Russian Land took place in the bishop's chapel, in Croydon (a suburb of Sydney).

The all-night vigil was served by Archbishop Hilarion of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand, in concelebration with Archpriests Michael Li and Michael Boikov, the Priests George Lapardin, Justin Kang and James Carles, and the Deacons Nicholas Triantafillidis and Alexander Boikov. The service was chanted by the parish choir, under the direction of Elena Kudrina, and also by a male choir under the direction of Archpriest Michael Boikov and Deacon Vadim Gan. At the conclusion of the vigil, the male choir descended into the middle of the church, "Jordanville-style," to chant "To thee, the champion leader..."

At the beginning of the Liturgy, Archbishop Hilarion was met with solemnity. The clergy (among them Fr. John Stukach) went to the episcopal residence, and singing the troparion of the chapel accompanied the hierarch to the church. At the Little Entrance, the Priest Justin Kang, a missionary in Korea and cleric of the Australian Diocese, was awarded the right to wear the kamilavka for his missionary labors over the course of seventeen years (see photo below).

In view of the fact that the Cathedral Church of SS Peter and Paul is being remodeled (for the 50th anniversary of the founding of the parish), many cathedral parishioners attended the service for All Saints of Russia at the bishop's chapel. There were visitors even from as far away as San Francisco. At the Litany of Fervent Supplication a petition was offered up for Archpriest Gabriel Makarov, who is traveling with a large group of the faithful on pilgrimage to the holy places in Russia.

Several other Sydney clergymen managed to arrive by the end of the Liturgy: the Priest Vladimir Tsukanov from Kentlyn and Protodeacon Herman Polorotov from Fairfield.

After the conclusion of the Liturgy and the service of supplication with procession, Archbishop Hilarion congratulated the Priest Justin Kang on his award and described to all present the difficulties which Fr. Justin has had to confront in his labors. A plate collection was immediately taken up for the needs of the Ecclesiastical Mission in Korea.

Afterwards, a banquet was served. Because of the large number of people in attendance, awnings were set up, so that everyone could partake of the festive meal. After the banquet, Archpriest Michael Boikov spoke about his recent trip to Holy Trinity Monastery, in Jordanville, and the guest clergy greeted the clergy and parishioners of the episcopal chapel on their parish feastday. The banquet concluded with thanksgiving to the Lord God and the chanting of "Many years" to the members of the sisterhood who had prepared the meal.