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AUSTRALIA:
Minister of Immigration Visits Diocesan Headquarters--5 November
2002
AUSTRALIAN DIOCESE: 4 November
On the feast of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, a meeting
took place between Archbishop Hilarion and Philip Raddock, Australia's
Minister of Immigration, at the headquarters of the Diocesan
Administration. Upon the arrival of the Minister, Archbishop
Hilarion delivered a short greeting. Afterward, the Secretary
of the Diocese, Archpriest Michael Boikov, introduced to the
Minister all who took part in the meeting, among whom were:
Archpriest Michael Li, the Priests George Lapardin and Seraphim
Gan, Hieromonk Ioann (MacPherson), Subdeacon David Lloyd, the
representative of the Diocesan Refugee Committee, and representatives
of the Russian community.
In his speech of response, the Minister expressed his profound
gratitude to His Grace and all present for the possibility afforded
by them to discuss various questions connected to the life of
our Russian colony in Australia. The Minister said that he had
always been interested in the history and heritage of the Local
Churches which have maintained the Orthodox Faith through grievous
persecutions and trials.
After this, the participants in the meeting proffered questions.
Here it should be noted that the meeting proceeded in an atmosphere
that was quite amicable and cordial. At the end of the discussion,
Archbishop Hilarion expressed his gratitude to the Minister
for his attention to and good relations with our Russian community,
presenting him with an icon of the Mother of God and a gold
medal commemoration the Millennium of the Conversion of Russia,
struck during the tenure of the ever-memorable Archbishop Paul.
In response, the Minister expressed his satisfaction over the
fruitful meeting that had taken place, and told of his meetings
with other Orthodox in Australia who had also given him icons,
saying that now a Russian icon would hand in his home as a blessing
from the Diocese of Australia & New Zealand of the Russian
Church Abroad. At his departure, Archbishop Hilarion showed
the Minister the Kursk Icon of the Mother of God, relating the
history of that holy object and its significance for the Russian
diaspora.
Priest Seraphim Gan |
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