www.ascensionorthodox.org
Welcome to Holy Ascension Orthodox Christian Mission Centre & Monastic Community! Holy Ascension is an English-Speaking Orthodox Christian Church situated in inner Melbourne. It is made up of monastics, clergy and lay-people from all walks of life. The Centre is a service to the general public, providing the ancient, traditional and Divine Services of the Orthodox Church in the English language.
People of all backgrounds are welcome to attend and observe the Orthodox Way of Life at the Mission Centre. Sincere seekers of Truth (Our Lord, God and Saviour, Jesus Christ is Truth Himself, I am the Way, Truth and Life. John 14: 6) who desire to enter into the Orthodox Christian Faith are welcome.
Holy Ascension is also a monastic community. The Mission Centre along with the Monastery is administered and managed by the Holy Ascension Monastic Community and is under the omophorion and canonical protection of His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, Archbishop of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.
O Christ our God, You ascended in Glory and gladdened Your disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit. Your blessing assured them that You are the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world.
Apolytikion
September 2010
8.00 AM
Sunday 12th
English Divine Liturgy - 16th Sunday after Pentecost
O Christ our God, upon fulfilling Your dispensation for our sake, You ascended in Glory, uniting the earthly with the heavenly. You were never separate but remained inseparable, and cried out to those who love You, "I am with you and no one is against you."
Kontakion
Orthodox Christians must care for the dissemination of the Orthodox Christian Faith among the heterodox. Jesus said that those lighting a lamp do not put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house (Matt. 5:15). It is our obligation as Orthodox Christians to share our Spiritual Treasures, our Truth, our Light and our Joy with those who do not have these gifts. And this duty lies not only on pastors and missionaries, but also on lay people, for the Church of Christ, the Orthodox Church, in the wise comparison of the Apostle Paul, is a body, and in the life of the body every member takes part. St Tikhon of North America
One of the ways Orthodox Christians have increasingly witnessed to their Faith in the greater community is through chaplaincies. Qualified and accredited clergy, monastics and parish faithful have responded to the call of serving the sick and suffering in hospitals, encouraging and edifying students in colleges and universities, caring for the needs of the elderly in nursing homes, and others in specialized settings such as psychiatric care, prisons, police, law courts and the military.
Chaplaincy remains in many ways, a missionary field. This does not mean an arena for proselytizing preying upon those who are weak and vulnerable to convert them rather, reaching out as persons of the Faith being a listening presence, praying, serving and liturgising, and sharing the Faith with those in crisis.
Orthodox Christian Chaplaincy is therefore a witness to the sharing of our Spiritual Treasures, Divine Truth,
Apostolic Light, and Way of Christ, for those in need throughout our communities.
Patronal feast of St John of Shanghai & San Francisco in Gunning - Fr Seraphim using traditional sticks
Patronal feast of St John of Shanghai & San Francisco in Gunning
Patronal feast of St John of Shanghai & San Francisco in Gunning - Priestmonk Kyril with Deacons Stephen and Emil
Serving a baptism at St Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, Canberra
Br Edward reading the Epistle
Br Edward receiving communion
Fr. Themi with Fr Kyril, the Orthodox Chaplain to RMIT Uni, and Deacon Emil
Fr. Themi with participants
Matins of Pascha 2010
Matins of Pascha - Procession 2010
The Holy Ascension icon behind a palm leaf branch on Palm Sunday
Holy Friday - Procession around the Cathedral with the Epitafios
Holy Friday - Epitafios
September 2010 English Divine Liturgy
The next English Divine Liturgy will be celebrated on Sunday 12th of September at the Protection of the Mother of God (Rocor) Cathedral, 1-7 Albion Street East Brunsick, Victoria.
Holy Ascension will also be running a book stall after the Liturgy in the hall. The stall stocks books, cds and dvds on all aspects of the Orthodox Faith. We also have new stock with a large variety of icons, crosses and prayer ropes, and other devotional items. Proceeds go towards Holy Ascensions missionary outreach activities and building fund.
Please contact us if you have any questions.
Fathers Day Lunch Feast
With the blessing of Fr Nicholas Karipoff, you are warmly invited by Holy Protection Cathedral Sisterhood & Holy Ascension Orthodox Mission to a Fathers Day Luncheon with special guest Fr Themi, of the Orthodox Christian Mission in Sierra Leone (Diocese of Ghana, Patriarchate of Alexandria).
$25 Per Head - This includes DIPS, PASTICHIO, SALAD & SWEETS
VEGETARIAN PASTICHIO ALSO AVAILABLE
Come and celebrate Fathers Day with our Spiritual Fathers!
TIME: After Divine Liturgy (Midday)
PLACE: Church Hall - Holy Protection Russian Orthodox Cathedral
1 7 Albion St, East Brunswick
(Corner Albion & Harrison Sts)
Melways Ref: Map 30 B6
July 2010 Visit to the Indigenous Orthodox Community in Gunning
The clergy of Holy Ascension recently visited their Brother Mission in Gunning, NSW, for their patronal feast of St John of Shanghai and San Francisco.
Around 60 faithful from across Australia came to Gunning, NSW, to celebrate the patronal feast with Fr Seraphim Slade who leads the Australian Orthodox Indigenous Community in Gunning.
We wish to thank Fr Seraphim and Matushka Helen and the faithful of St John of SF Chapel for a truly uplifting and spiritually joyous feast and pilgrimage.
Please visit the Photo Gallery to see some photos of the event.
May 2010
Holy Ascension Mission celebrated its first Patronal Feast at the Holy Protection of the Mother of God Cathedral (East Brunswick). Fr Seraphim Slade from our brother Mission of St John of San Francisco (Gunning, NSW) attended and concelebrated with the Cathedral clergy. Visit our Photo Gallery for some highlights. We thank Fr Seraphim for his joyous visit on our Patronal Feast, the Clergy and Faithful of the Cathedral for their continued love and support, and for everyone's well wishes and greetings on the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord.
April 2010
We were very pleased to have Fr Themi serve with us at the Cathedral on the Sunday of the Paralytic (25 April). Fr Themi gave an inspiring and passionate sermon, describing the day-to-day struggles of the people of Sierra Leone and the reality of mission work in that war-ravaged country. We thank Fr Themi for serving with us at the Cathedral and look forward to his next visit to Melbourne in September, where he will give a presentation about the Orthodox Christian Mission in Sierra Leone at the Cathedral Hall.
On the evening of Wednesday, 14 April, Holy Ascension Orthodox Mission and RMIT Chaplaincy hosted an event at the Spiritual Centre for Archimandrite Dr Themistocles (Adamopoulos). Fr Themi, as he is lovingly called, presented a seminar titled, "Conflict and Resolution in Contemporary West Africa & the Role of the Orthodox Church". Fr Themi is a missionary from the Orthodox Christian Church to Sierra Leone. Fr Themi for the last decade has been working in Africa as a missionary in Kenya and in the last 2 years in Sierra Leone. His philosophy is "Charity through Education."
Fr Themi gave a very enlightening and sobering presentation on the situation in Africa, especially with the work that is being undertaken in Sierra Leone. There was also a very engaging discussion afterwards with audience members. The evening concluded with snacks and refreshments, and a book stall with literature about the Orthodox Christian Church was set up for people to browse. Part of the proceeds from the book stall were sent as donations to Sierra Leone. Fr Themi also had an opportunity to have a one-on-one chat with the many who stayed after the presentation.
It was a great evening, a well-attended event from both the general public as well as students and it was truly a successful event for RMIT chaplaincy. We thank Fr Themi for sharing his experiences with RMIT and we will be organising another similar event at RMIT when Fr Themi returns later in the year.
April 2010 Podcast Interview Special Pascha Edition
Fr Kyril was interviewed by RussianOrthodoxPodcast.com discussing such themes as: 1- Orthodox Christian Mission in Australia, 2- The challenges of living in the world as a monastic and 3- The meaning of Pascha. You can listen to this Special Paschal Edition at russianorthodoxpodcast.com
March 2010 Melbourne University Chaplaincy
Fr Kyril gave a talk about the Orthodox Christian Faith and the History of the Orthodox Church to the Lutheran Students & Friends Group at Melbourne University. The talk was well-received by students who continued the session afterwards with further discussion, questions and analysis on various aspects of the Faith. We thank the LSF and Rev Nathan Hedt, Lutheran Chaplain to the University of Melbourne.
Mailing Address
Holy Ascension Orthodox Christian Mission Centre
PO BOX 4139
Melbourne University
Victoria, 3052 Australia
Phone
0400 101 981 - Fr Kyril
E-mail
Please use the Contact Form to send us an e-mail
Look us up on Facebook at:
Holy Ascension Orthodox Christian Mission Center
Holy Ascension Orthodox Christian Mission Centre & Monastic Community seeks to serve the Lord by remaining faithful to the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. We endeavour to proclaim the mighty works and miracles of Christ our God!
Then indeed, after speaking to the disciples, Jesus was taken up into the heavens, and sat on the right of God. And the disciples went forth and preached the Good News everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the accompanying miracles. (Mark 16: 19 - 20)
It is our duty therefore to provide the Cycle of Divine Services in the English Language in order to bear witness and make the presence of God known and loved in our midst!
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. And there were Jews abiding in Jerusalem, pious men, from every nation under heaven. And the report of this having arisen, the crowd came together and was confounded, because they were hearing, each one heard them, speaking in his own dialect. (Acts 2: 4-6)
Furthermore, we seek to serve and assist all genuine and sincere seekers, longing for the fullness of the Faith, which rests in the Orthodox Church.
She is the living embodiment of an uninterrupted Tradition, in thought and in devotion. She stands not for a certain particular Tradition, but for the Tradition of the Undivided Church.
(G. Florovsky)
Therefore, Pastoral Care is of primary importance; walking with one another in the journey of Faith, holding on to and passing on what has been handed down to us by the Apostles without addition or subtraction.
Blessed is the one who is broken in pieces and offered to others, who is poured out and given to others to drink. By grace one has become Christ, and so ones life gives food and drink to ones brother and sister. That is to say, one nourishes the others very existence and makes it grow.
(Hymn of Entry, Archimandrite Vasileios of Stavronikita)
GLORY TO GOD FOR ALL THINGS!
Holy Ascension has the mechanism for attached mission centres and parishes (for both married and monastic clergy) and monastic communities (separate male and female sketes).
Dear Faithful, Friends and Supporters of Holy Ascension Orthodox Christian Mission Centre & Monastic Community,
Greetings in Christ!
Given that we have just entered a new year, and that our Mission Centre is around 6 months old, we thought to take this opportunity to give a report to all our friends and supporters of our Mission's first steps and activities.
May we, like St Paul the Apostle, also, "Boast a little", [2 Cor 11:16] but only so that we may "glory in the Lord."
Holy Ascension was created and established in June 2009 (incorporated on 18 November), with the blessing and support of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion (ROCOR). It was established with the intent and purpose to function as an English-Language Orthodox Christian Centre of Worship and Mission with the mechanism to have a Monastic Community and to establish other, future Mission Centres and Monastic Communities (both separate male and female communities) around Australia. As an English-Language Centre of Orthodox Worship and Mission, the intention is to serve the wider community by providing Orthodox Christian Divine Services exclusively in the English Language.
We are still in the process of searching for suitable premises within inner Melbourne to have our Mission Centre where people may drop in and experience the fullness of the Orthodox Liturgical Life through the Daily Cycle of Divine Services.
We are also still in the process of finding a suitable location for our proposed Monastic Community on the outskirts of Melbourne. We are already getting calls from sincere Orthodox Christian men desiring to experience the Angelic Life (Monasticism). Our future monastics will be at the forefront of our Missionary endeavours while also living the contemplative and prayerful lifestyle of a traditional Orthodox Monastic Community.
Should you desire and be in a position where you know of premises that may be made available to us as our new, permanent Mission Centre and place of worship, please contact us.
Currently we are temporarily serving at the Protection of the Mother of God Cathedral, 1 - 7 Albion St, East Brunswick. Our time at the Cathedral has been of great spiritual solace for us, as well as a very fruitful period of pastoral and liturgical education.
Not having a building as yet for our new Mission has in no way at all stopped us from the work at hand. It has been a very valuable lesson for us that the Church is indeed not a physical building, but truly the people of God and the Body of Christ.
To this end, our activities mainly revolve around university chaplaincies at present. We keep regular times at Melbourne University, and since July 2009, we are now also the fully accredited and official Orthodox Christian Chaplain at RMIT (City Campus) as well.
At Melbourne University, we are planning on using the chapel at the Centre for Theology and Ministry to serve our weekly Entreaty for Students and Staff. In the meantime we use what we lovingly call our "Catacomb Chapel" (because its so small and "out-of-the-way") on the 3rd Floor Chaplain's Room at Union House.
We have also planned to run an Orthodox Market Stall (selling Orthodox literature) at North Court (Melb Uni) at regular times during semester. In the past, this has proven to be an excellent means for attracting many interested inquirers, asking all types of questions about the Orthodox Faith. We are planning on expanding our Orthodox Market Stalls to other campuses, as well as Community Festivals and Fairs as part of our Orthodox Mobile Bookstore Project and Mission Outreach.
At RMIT our "Orthodox Christian Student Centre" also gets many interested seekers and inquirers. At the centre we give away booklets and pamphlets on Orthodox Christianity and just sit and talk with people that stop in at the Chapel for a bit of an "escape" from student life.
While it is vitally important and necessary to serve the needs of the local community and continue working in the Mission field of Australia, we have not ignored our brothers and sisters abroad. It also helps to keep us focused and prevents us (partly) from de-railing the Mission and becoming a self-serving exercise.
To this end, we support the Orthodox Christian Missions in Indonesia, Uganda and Sierra Leone. In September 2009, we invited Archimandrite Themistocles (Adamopoulo) to RMIT to give a talk about the plight of Africa and the missionary endeavours undertaken in Sierra Leone. It was a successful evening, well-attended, and raised around $800 for Sierra Leone on very short notice. In December 2009, during the annual Russian Orthodox National Youth Conference, Holy Ascension ran a successful book stall, proceeds of which went to the Mission in Uganda. Around $1000 was raised by the youth during the conference for Uganda.
We are planning in 2010 to have more fundraising and "Overseas-Missions-Awareness" events through our Chaplaincy work and Mission-Bookstore Project. Fr Themi is scheduled to arrive in Australia around May, and we are hoping that Mitred Archimandrite Daniel (Byantoro) of Indonesia will stop by in Melbourne in the early part of 2010 as well.
One of our final projects for 2009 was the production of a 2010 Orthodox wall calendar. For this we thank Fr Daniel Marshall of St Innocent Press for producing this calendar for our Mission.
In trying to establish this new Mission Centre, we have of course faced many hurdles, obstacles and difficulties. We do not wish to dwell on them. With the Lord's help and with the people's wonderful support and assistance, we have faced them all, successfully resolved them and pushed onwards. To all those who have given so much of their time, effort and assistance to get our new fledgling Mission up and running: May the Lord richly bless you and protect you.
With Love in Christ,
Priestmonk Kyril on behalf of Holy Ascension Orthodox Christian Mission Centre
The University of Melbourne's Orthodox Christian Chaplaincy is part of the official chaplaincy of the Universitys Department for Well-Being Services. Priestmonk Kyril is able to meet with students upon request for a variety of reasons including:
•You are inquiring about the Orthodox Church
•You would like to schedule an appointment for confession and absolution
•You would like to speak with him about other pastoral or sacramental needs
Chaplains rooms are found in two locations:
•Level 1, 138 Cardigan St, Carlton (Campus ref O25)
•Mezzanine 3, Union House (Campus map ref F14), The University of Melbourne (Parkville)
Fr Kyril has regular office hours at Union House every Thursday from 10am - 3pm and is also available by appointment. The Chaplaincy also meets every Thursday at 1:15pm during semesters for a prayer service with students and staff. All prayers and services are served in English.
Fr Kyril on Campus:
Thursdays 10am - 3pm at the Union House
Priestmonk Kyril is the Orthodox Christian Chaplain to RMIT University (City Campus). One of the primary responsibilities and duties of ordained clergy who are also chaplains is to provide the Holy Mysteries (administer the Sacraments) to Orthodox Christians and to give pastoral care to people of all walks of life. One of the most significant features of chaplaincy activity is service to individuals other than Orthodox Christians, and the witness of our Orthodox Faith among all peoples.
As part of the Orthodox Christian Chaplaincy to RMIT, there is an Orthodox Christian Student Centre which is open every Thursday from 2:30pm during semesters. The Orthodox Christian Student Centre functions at the Spiritual Centre, Building 11. Fr Kyril is on call during this time if you wish to speak to an Orthodox Christian Priestmonk. Books, pamphlets and devotional items are distributed freely as part of the Orthodox Christian Student Centre's outreach to people.
The Chaplaincy also meets every Thursday at 3:15pm and Friday at 1:15pm during semesters for a prayer service with students and staff at the Spiritual Centre, Building 11. All prayers and services are served in English.
Fr Kyril has regular office hours on Campus every Wednesday from 10am - 3pm at the Spiritual Centre, Building 11 and is also available by appointment.
Questions and comments are welcomed. If you have a pastoral need and want to learn more about the chaplaincy please contact Priestmonk Kyril for more information at fr.kyril_rmit.edu.au, or click Contact Us to send an email via this website.
Other service times, study and fellowship groups, retreats, workshops and other events will be posted on this site.
Wednesday from 10am - 3pm at the Spiritual Centre, Building 11
"At each Divine Liturgy, those who contributed to the building of the Church are commemorated. In building churches here on earth, we create for ourselves eternal habitations in heaven. Decades will pass. Our bodies will decay. Perhaps our very bones will turn to dust, but our souls will live eternally. Blessed and happy will they be, who prepared for their soul a dwelling in the heavenly mansions. Even if the churches which were built should fall to ruin, the names of those who contributed to their construction will be written in God's eternal books, and the prayers which arose from within those churches will be heard."
- St John of Shanghai and San Francisco
We thank you for considering your gracious contribution towards Holy Ascension Orthodox Christian Mission Centre & Monastic Community.
In accordance with Orthodox Christian Tradition, we commemorate the names of all benefactors during every Divine Liturgy, or where appropriate, in perpetuity.
Donations may also be sent directly to:
Holy Ascension Orthodox Christian Mission Centre & Monastic Community
PO Box 4139
Victoria 3052
Australia
Cheques/Money Orders can be made out to: Holy Ascension Orthodox Christian Mission Centre & Monastic Community Inc.
You can also make an online direct deposit:
Bank: Westpac
Name: Holy Ascension Gift Fund
BSB: 033134
Account No: 331754
Holy Ascension urgently needs an identifiable, visible presence within inner Melbourne with a building suitable for those wishing to worship with us. Should you desire and be in a position where you know of premises that may be made available to us as our new, permanent Mission Centre and place of worship within inner Melbourne, please contact us.
Holy Ascension is also the only Orthodox Monastic Community in Victoria under the auspices of ROCOR. To this end, as a monastic community, we must also raise funds to maintain a modest monastery on the outskirts of Melbourne.
Holy Ascension Orthodox Christian Mission Centre & Monastery Community is incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act (1981) of Victoria as a non-profit organisation.
Detailed information about Holy Ascension and its plans can be obtained from Priestmonk Kyril. You can contact him by visiting the Contact Us Page.
Thank you for assisting the Holy Ascension Orthodox Christian Mission Centre and its Monastic Community in this noble and God-pleasing endeavour.
About Us
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Holy Ascension Orthodox Mission - Incorporation # A0053809W
Australian and New Zealand Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Of Russia
