News
Updated 15 April 2024
- Health Safety Guidelines for Entry & Attendance
For further details click here
- Meeting to Prepare for Holy Week & Pascha - This Sunday 21 April, after Liturgy
All hands on deck! Logistics planning for Holy Week and Pascha. All contributors and volunteers welcome.
- Flowers for Holy Week, Epitaphios & Pascha
Donations towards flowers for Holy Week and Pascha and especially for decorating this year's Epitaphios are most welcome:
BSB: 033134
Account: 321425
Name: Holy Ascension Orthodox Mission
Reference: Donation Flowers.
- Sunday of Orthodoxy 2024
On Sunday 24 March, Holy Ascension Orthodox Mission celebrated the Triumph of Orthodoxy where we all honored the restoration of icons and their veneration. After the Liturgy, we honored the commemoration of the Sunday of Orthodoxy with an icon procession. The faithful of our Mission participated in the icon procession by reverently holding icons in their midst.
Click here for more information on the theme of the Sunday of Orthodoxy.
- Baptisms – 23 March, 2024
On Saturday, 23 March, we celebrated the Baptisms of Helary, James, Jaydon, Michael, Nathan, Nicholas and Samantha. The Baptisms took place at Holy Ascension Mission in Williamstown.
Helary has taken the name Mary in honor of St Mary of Egypt for her baptismal name.
James has taken the name Theodosius in honor of Venerable Theodosius the Cenobiarch.
Jayden is named in honor of Jadon who rebuilt a section of the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 3: 7).
Michael is named in honor of the Archangel Michael.
Nathan has taken the name Varus in honor of the Martyr Varus.
Nicholas is named in honor of St Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia.
Samantha is named in honor of Venerable Samthann the Abbess of Clonbroney in Ireland.
After the baptisms, our neophytes were treated to a festive lenten lunch and cake (made by expert baker and newly-illumined Samantha!) to celebrate the occasion.
On the following day, Sunday 24 March, our neophytes received Holy Communion for the first time at Holy Ascension Orthodox Mission in Williamstown in the presence of their sponsors and spiritual family.
We congratulate the newly-illumined and their sponsors, and wish them Many Years! We also thank the organisers, contributors and donors of our festive lenten lunch.
- Forgiveness Sunday 2024
On Sunday 17 March, the first service for Great Lent was served with the Vespers of Clean Monday followed by the Rite of Mutual Forgiveness. Wishing everybody a blessed and spiritually fruitful Great Lent.
- Catered Lunch & Family Fun Day - 10 March, 2024
Our Family Fun Day was held on the Meatfare Sunday (the last Sunday that meat is eaten until Pascha) with great success.
It was a wonderful opportunity for people to get together, including newcomers, to socialise and be part of the Mission family.
Thank you to everybody who attended, participated and contributed to this amazing event.
Our next Catered Lunch will be on Palm Sunday 28 April after the Divine Liturgy. Fish and chips will be served.
- Meatfare Saturday Memorial Service - 9 March, 2024
A Memorial Service was held at the end of the Divine Liturgy on Meatfare Sunday. Thank you to everybody who attended, prepared koliva, and who prayed for the deceased.
- Wedding – 4 February, 2024
On Sunday 4 February, John and Amy were married at Holy Ascension Mission in Williamstown. Nichita and Erica had the honour of being the wedding sponsors. A festive banquet was held at the Mission afterwards. We congratulate the newly married couple and wish them Many Years!
- Entreaty for the New School Year - 28 January, 2024
An Entreaty for the New School Year for students and teachers was served on Sunday, 28 January, immediately after the Divine Liturgy.
- Inauguration of Library - 21 January, 2024
On Sunday 21 January, after the Divine Liturgy, the official opening and inauguration of Holy Ascension Orthodox Christian Library was held. The clergy and faithful said a short prayer for the Library and for all of its future users, donors and benefactors, followed by the blessing of the Library. A brief exhortation was then given on discernment and the importance of spiritual reading. holyascension.church/library
- Theophany - 19 January, 2024
Holy Ascension Mission celebrated the Great Feast of Theophany for another year in Williamstown. Following the Divine Liturgy, the Great Blessing of the Waters was held. The faithful piously queued at the end of the service filling their bottles with Holy Water to take home as a blessing.
- Blessing & Distribution of the St Basil Cake - 14 January, 2024
The tradition of the blessing and distribution of the St Basil Cake was held at Holy Ascension Mission this Sunday immediately after the Divine Liturgy. The tradition is in honor of St Basil who would give alms to the faithful in his diocese (he was Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, an inland province of Asia Minor, now modern Turkey). He would deliver gold coins to the local baker. The coins would be embedded in the dough which would then be baked. These loaves/cakes of bread would then be given to the poor in St Basil’s diocese. The faithful of St Basil's diocese were a proud people and wouldn't accept charity. So this was St Basil's way of helping them. This year our Altar Server John H., found the Vasilopita Coin. Congratulations John, with the blessings of St Basil the Great!.
- Nativity - 7 January, 2024
Holy Ascension Mission celebrated the Great Feast of the Nativity of Christ for another year in Williamstown to a full attendance and with great solemnity. A festive fellowship meal was held and enjoyed immediately after the Divine Liturgy. We were also treated to a surprise visit from St Basil (aka Father Christmas) who was ably assisted by Altar Server John distributing striped candy canes to the faithful and wishing everybody a Merry Christmas. Christ is born! Glorify Him!
- New Year’s Resolution 2024
RESOLVE – to decide firmly on a course of missionary action in Australia by supporting Holy Ascension Mission, your English-speaking, Missionary-Oriented church.
Holy Ascension is one of the very few (too few) missions in all of Australia.
Australia has the dubious distinction of being the last inhabited continent to receive the Light of Orthodoxy. It took almost 20 centuries to reach us!
It took almost 21 centuries to start having church services in English - and we are an English-speaking country!
Dedicated parishes serving all church services only in English took even longer to get started.
Unfortunately church services in the vernacular (a normal practice in the Early Church and throughout the first millennium) is still considered an abnormality at worst and a novelty at best.
Let’s work to overcome these difficulties by supporting Holy Ascension Mission.
For 2024, consider contributing to Holy Ascension Orthodox Mission’s ongoing needs.
Go to our How-to-Help page to find out how.
Wishing everyone a blessed Nativity & Theophany season and a spiritually uplifting 2024.
- Entreaty for the New Year - 31 December, 2023
An Entreaty for the New Year was served on Sunday, 31 December, immediately after the Divine Liturgy.
- Surprise visit from St Nicholas - 24 December, 2023
On Sunday 24 December, after the Divine Liturgy, we were all treated to a surprise visit from St Nicholas (aka Santa Claus) who was ably assisted by Altar Server John distributing striped candy canes to the faithful and wishing everybody a Merry Christmas. Word is that there may be another visit by St Basil (aka Father Christmas) on 7 January! :-)
- Artoclasia (Blessing of the 5 Loaves) - 17 December, 2023
On Sunday 17 December , the Blessing of the Loaves, Wheat, Wine and Oil was served after the Divine Liturgy for our Annas in honor of their patronal saint (St Anna). We wish them a blessed name day and Many Years!
- Baptisms – 16 December, 2023
On Saturday, 16 December, we celebrated the Baptisms of Abhi, Josh, Dillania and John. The Baptisms took place at Holy Protection Cathedral in East Brunswick. Abhi is named Michael in honor of Archangel Michael as his baptismal name. Josh has taken the name Justin in honor of Martyr Justin the Philosopher. Dillania is named Abigail after the Righteous Abigail, wife of King David. John is named Konstantine in honor of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine the Great, the first Christian Roman Emperor. The following day, Sunday 17 December, our neophytes received Holy Communion for the first time at Holy Ascension Orthodox Mission in Williamstown in the presence of their sponsors and spiritual family. After the Liturgy, during fellowship, we were treated to a festive lunch of fish and chips and other goodies to celebrate the occasion. We congratulate the newly-illumined and their sponsors, and wish them Many Years! We thank the organisers, contributors and donors of our Festive Fish and Chips Luncheon. We also thank the clergy and faithful of Holy Protection Cathedral for allowing us the use of the Cathedral for this special occasion.
- Baptism – 9 December, 2023
On Saturday 9 December, we celebrated the Baptism of Vasilios. The Baptism took place at the Holy Monastery of Axion Estin in Northcote. Vasilios is named in honor of St Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, as his baptismal name. The following day, Sunday 10 December, Vasilios received Holy Communion for the first time at Holy Ascension Orthodox Mission in Williamstown in the presence of his sponsor and his spiritual family. After the Liturgy, during fellowship, we were treated to a variety of traditional Turkish sweets to celebrate the occasion. We congratulate the newly-illumined Vasilios, and his sponsor Anastasios, and wish them Many Years! We also thank the clergy and faithful of the Holy Monastery of Axion Estin for accommodating Vasilios on this special occasion.
- Family Fun Day - 26 November, 2023
Our Family Fun Day was held on the last Sunday before the beginning of the Nativity with great success.
Kids had lots of fun decorating the Mission's Christmas and playing games.
Grown-ups attended and volunteered at our Library Workshop in the lead-up to the Library’s official opening.
Everyone enjoyed a festive lunch with a delicious spread.
It was a wonderful opportunity for people to get together, including newcomers, to socialise and be part of the Mission family.
Thank you to everybody who attended, participated and contributed to this amazing event.
- Library Workshop - 26 November, 2023
The Library Workshop was held under the most capable leadership and organisation of June our Librarian. Thank you to everyone who attended and volunteered their time and assistance with covering our library books with protective “contact” covers. Inauguration of our Mission Library Coming Soon.
- Christmas Tree Decoration - 26 November, 2023
On Sunday 26 November after the Divine Liturgy, the children of Holy Ascension Mission, with the support of their parents, decorated the Mission's Christmas Tree. Thank you kids big and small!
- Wedding - 17 November, 2023
On Friday 17 November, Millen and Emily were married at Holy Protection Cathedral in East Brunswick. Ari and Poppy had the honour of being the wedding sponsors. We congratulate the newly married couple and wish them Many Years!
- Entreaty to St Varus - 5 November, 2023
An Entreaty to St Varus (patron saint of those who died unbaptised) was served on Sunday, 5 November, immediately after the Divine Liturgy. As a predominantly "convert congregation," it was a welcome opportunity to commemorate those whom we knew who passed away who were not Orthodox Christians.
- 2023 AGM - October 29, 2023
On Sunday 29 October 2023, after the Divine Liturgy, the 2023 Annual General Meeting was held. Thank you to all registered members who attended.
- Artoclasia (Blessing of the 5 Loaves) - 16 July, 2023
On Sunday 16 July 2023, the Blessing of the Loaves, Wheat, Wine and Oil was served after the Divine Liturgy for Pablo Sr and Pablo Jr in honor of their patronal saint (Apostle Paul) and for Julian in honor of his patron saint Martyr Julian of Tarsus. We wish them a blessed name day and Many Years!
- Great Feast of Pentecost 2023
On Sunday 4 June 2023, the Great Feast of Pentecost was celebrated at Holy Ascension Mission with a Festal Divine Liturgy. Immediately after the Liturgy, the Vespers for the Day of the Holy Spirit was served including the special prostration prayers of intercession for the living and the departed. 4 June also marked Holy Ascension's 14th anniversary since establishment.
- Orthodox Group - 28 May, 2023
On Sunday 28 May, Jack gave an informative Powerpoint presentation on his recent travels to the Holy Lands, Egypt and Mount Sinai, and significant historical locations throughout Europe.
- Great Feast of Ascension – 25 May, 2023
With great success, Holy Ascension Orthodox Mission served the Festal Divine Liturgy for the Patronal Feast of Ascension at 32 Electra Street, Williamstown. We sincerely thank all altar servers and choir singers, the Mission volunteers and to everyone who attended, and to those who offered prayers in their absence. We also kindly thank the church council of Williamstown Uniting Church Electra Street for kindly permitting Holy Ascension Mission the continued use of their hall and acknowledge their support.
- Holy Week & Pascha 2023
The services of Holy Week and the Paschal Vigil were once again served this year at Holy Ascension Orthodox Mission. This year the Paschal Gospel Reading was heard in New Testament Greek, Italian, French and English.