Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord!
With exceeding great joy we herein announce that, at the invitation of His Grace Bishop Irinej of the Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand, His Holiness the Archbishop of Pech, Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovci and Serbian Patriarch Kyr Irinej will visit the Metropolitanate of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the Fifth Continent from 2nd to 13th March 2016.
The main reason for his exalted visitation will be to preside over the Great Consecration of the restored church and thereby consecrate the new holy altar table in the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity in Brunswick East, Melbourne on Sunday, 6th March of this present year, beginning at 9:00am. On the eve of the consecration, Saturday, 5th March, Great Vespers will be celebrated beginning at 6:00pm.
Likewise, in this 2016 Jubilee Year, the Holy Trinity Cathedral will celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the acquisition of this grand church with its then hall and parish home by its Church Community from the Anglican Communion.
Bishop Irinej bestowed on 3rd September 2011, during the convocation of the First Assembly of the Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand, a Charter proclaiming the Church of the All Holy and Life-giving Trinity in Brunswick as the Cathedral for the City of Melbourne of the God-protected Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand.
It is anticipated that the Patriarchal entourage will consist of His Eminence Dr Amfilohije, Archbishop of Cetinje, Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral and Exarch of the Throne of Pech, as well as Deacon Aleksandar Sekulic, Secretary of the Patriarchal Cabinet. Also anticipated at the solemnities are Their Graces Bishops Vasilije of Srem, Longin of New Gracanica-Midwestern America and Luka of Western Europe, together with the Very Reverend Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Milun Kostic from London, parish priest at the time of the purchase of this impressive church, and Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Bozo Bakajlic, Dean of the Church of the Mother of God in Zemun.
In addition to the consecration of the church in Melbourne, it is also expected that His Holiness will celebrate the Holy Patriarchal Liturgy at the Monastery Church of St Alympius the Stylite in Elaine for the local celebration of the venerable Elder Nikanor of Chilandar and Serbian peace-maker in Australia on Friday, 4th March beginning at 10:00am.
On the 5th of March, Meatfare Saturday, when all of Orthodoxy commemorates this solemn Memorial Day, His Holiness will serve the Divine Memorial Liturgy in the Church of St Stephen in Keysborough, beginning at 10:00am.
Thereafter, it is expected that our Serbian Patriarch will celebrate Liturgy and consecrate the ground, i.e. lay the foundation stone for the new church which is to be erected in honour of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke in Liverpool on Saturday, 12th March beginning at 9:00am.
The following day, Sunday, 13th March beginning at 9:00am, His Holiness will celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the Church of St Nicholas in Wacol, Brisbane, for the Patronal Feast of the Church and Serbian School, Folkloric Group and SOYA, our Serbian and Pan-Orthodox St Nicholai of Zhicha and Ochrid.
A detailed programme of the visitation of His Holiness will be published in due time so that a greater number of clergy and faithful from all parts of Australia and New Zealand will be availed of the opportunity to meet with the Primate of their Mother Church, the 56th successor to the Throne of the Holy Archbishop Sava I and the 45th successor to the Throne of the Serbian Patriarchs, beginning with the Holy Patriarch Joannicius II.
Welcome Your Holiness!