Greek Orthodox Parish Of Mildura Annunciation Of The Virgin Mary in Mildura, Victoria | Church

Greek Orthodox Parish Of Mildura Annunciation Of The Virgin Mary

Locality: Mildura, Victoria

Phone: +61 3 5023 3043

Address: 314 Deakin Ave 3500 Mildura, VIC, Australia

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25.01.2022 CALL TO ACTION: This is for all the Greek diaspora and all those Australians interested in the Greek language. Regrettably, we have seen the erosion of European... languages taught by universities nationwide, in favour of languages that are perceived as 'necessary' for economic, strategic and global security purposes. To this end, sadly the removal of various European languages by the tertiary sector has often gone unnoticed or with little objection in the past. Why is this happening? It makes little sense. Certainly in European nations, such as Greece, you see children not only learning the mother-tongue, but also English and two or three other languages. The learning of languages by the youth in turn greatly enriches their minds, worldview and passion for lifelong learning. Meanwhile back in Australia, yet another university is making the regrettable decision, owing to financial constraints, to remove Greek studies. LaTrobe University has put together a plan to completely remove Greek studies from their University starting 2022. The loss of European languages being taught has been to the detriment of society, as these languages have had such a profound historical and cultural importance to humanity. We all know the profound impact Greek has had on the Christian faith. >>> Please join His Eminence Archbishop Makarios in objecting to LaTrobe University removing Greek from their university. >>> Please help raise awareness so this change can be reversed! Sign the petition found on this link: https://bit.ly/35C9H0G >>> Feel free to share! We only have less than two weeks! Let's keep Greek in our community and Victorian Universities! >>> We appreciate times are tough for the tertiary sector, however if they keep Greek studies, we can work together to ensure more prospective and current students know about this study option. Thank you all for your support and putting your name alongside the many Greeks and non-Greeks fighting to keep the language alive. Please sign the petition and SHARE this post. #SaveModernGreekAtLaTrobeUni

20.01.2022 Tomorrow we celebrate the Synaxis of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and the other Archangels Raphael, Uriel, Selaphiel, Jehudiel, Barachiel, and Jeremiel along... with all the Other Heavenly Bodiless Powers. The Angelic Ranks are as follows: The six-winged SERAPHIM stand closest of all to the Most Holy Trinity. The many-eyed CHERUBIM stand before the Lord after the Seraphim. The THRONES stand after the Cherubim, mysteriously and incomprehensibly bearing God through the grace given them for their service. DOMINIONS hold dominion over the angels subject to them. POWERS fulfill the will of God without hesitation. AUTHORITIES have authority over the devil. They protect people from demonic temptations. PRINCIPALITIES have command over the lower angels. They watch over the world and protect it. ARCHANGELS are messengers of great and wondrous things. They reveal prophecies and the mysteries of the faith. ANGELS are the closest to people, guiding them to a virtuous and holy life. This rank includes our guardian angels.

19.01.2022 Our beautiful, amazing and most loving sister in Christ, ANNE KALAMARIS passed away on Thursday 4th February at 3:30am. Anne was the secretary of our Church in Mildura from 2016-2020. She worked methodically, tirelessly and nothing was ever too difficult for her!... despite struggling with very poor health the whole time. Anne, you were a blessing to Mildura, for our Parish and to me personally as a brother in Christ. I couldn’t have done it without you!!!! You are the epito...me of courage, perseverance and faith. ETERNAL BE YOUR MEMORY and GOOD PARADISE. I extend my deepest sympathies and condolences to her family. The funeral will be a private affair, as per Anne’s wishes. See more

18.01.2022 (-ENGLISH) Dear Friends, Christmas is around the corner and all those who we have helped during 2020 through our community relief program need us during... this festive season also. Our Christmas food deliveries will happen on Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd Decmeber. For those who wish to donate groceries please deliver between 10am-5pm Monday to Friday to 7 Hartington St, Northcote, 3070. Alternatively supermarket online orders and deliveries are also accepted between those times. For those who are willing and able to contribute monatory donations these can be made electronically to the following account: Account Name: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia - District of Northcote. BSB: 082135 Account Number: 421289455 Please email a copy of the remittance together with your details (title, full name, address, and contact number) and a receipt will be forwarded to you. The relevant email address is: [email protected] Please note that cheques should be sent out to: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese District of Northcote P.O. Box 169 Northcote, VIC, 3070 With kind regards and sincere thanks in Christ for your generosity, The Community Relief program District of Northcote. . .

18.01.2022 Protocol No.: 2304 STATEMENT ON THE CHANGE OR SUPPRESSION (CONVERSION) PRACTICE PROHIBITION BILL 2020 - His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia... The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia affirms that its social ethos is founded in the teachings of Jesus Christ. Within the Gospel of our Lord, nothing is emphasised more than His abiding concern for the isolated, the disenfranchised, the marginalised, the neglected and the vulnerable. Christ's condemnation of the privileged's indifference to the plight of the oppressed is uncompromising and unequivocal. At the same time, His compassion and love for "the least of these" is enduring and boundless. Consequently, the teachings of Christ provide specific moral imperatives for the affording of justice to the wronged, protection for the powerless and mercy and love for all. The Orthodox Church calls upon all to be committed to a life of love in which no distinction is made and no discrimination practised against anyone, for "all are one" (Galatians 3:28). Nonetheless, we express our grave disquiet at the proposed passage of the Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practice Prohibition Bill 2020 by the Victorian Legislative Assembly. While the Orthodox Church extends its loving embrace around all, in an effort to protect the vulnerable from coercion, the proposed Bill appears to extend too far towards the opposite extreme, specifically and without properly defining its parameters, criminalising prayer for one another, which is at the heart of Orthodox spirituality and the highest expression of Christ's injunction to "love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:34). Indeed, the ambiguous and vague manner in which Change of Suppression (Conversion) practices are defined in the bill, are of concern to us, since they could be taken to include pastoral care, counselling and spiritual advice provided within the Mystery of Confession, and providing for penalties not only for individuals but also corporate bodies. Most significantly, the Bill, in criminalising practices "whether with or without a person's consent" abrogates a fundamental right which is at the centre of the Church's understanding of humanity, that of free will, which allows each person to choose for themselves, without coercion or compulsion, their own spiritual and moral direction, for as Saint John Chrysostom observed: "despite the weakness of human volition, the will can take the initiative toward God." The Orthodox Church unequivocally condemns any and all forms of coercion exercised towards individuals based upon their moral choices. At the same time, it feels compelled to affirm its mission to "speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15) and to seek that it be permitted to preach the salvific Gospel of Christ free from that coercion, to all who choose to hear it. We therefore prayerfully urge the esteemed members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly not to pass the proposed Bill in its present form, but having carefully considered its repercussions and broader social ramifications, to achieve via appropriate amendments, its laudable aim of protecting the vulnerable. I remain, In Sydney, on the 8th day of December, 2020 Prayerfully yours, Archbishop MAKARIOS Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia

16.01.2022 St Andrew's Theological College will be hosting an Open Day on 17th of December! You are invited to "come and see" (John 1:39). For more details, including registration, please see the attached flyer. We hope to see you there!

15.01.2022 Wishing everyone a blessed Australia Day!

13.01.2022 Father Mina. God rest your soul.

11.01.2022 Saturday 14th November ENGLISH DIVINE LITURGY 7-8:15pm Should you wish to participate, please make a booking. Have a wonderful day.

11.01.2022 YOU KNOW YOU'RE AN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN WHEN... - your church is a fire hazard. - you're a part-time vegetarian, part time Atkins meat lover.... - you're used to skipping breakfast on Sundays. - you wear comfortable shoes to church, because you know you'll be standing for a long, long time. - you consider a church girl 'topless' if she isn't wearing a scarf on her head. - you are experienced at removing candle wax from clothing. - you say a prayer before you pray. - you hear the priest say 'Let us complete our prayer to the Lord,' and there is still an hour to go! - you are still attending a service even 20 minutes after the priest has already said 'Let us depart in peace!' - half your people celebrate Christmas on 25 December, the other half on 7 January, and they argue over which is the 'right' one. - unlike other kids, you got to play with fire and drink wine. - you know your faith 'stands' for the truth, because you hardly ever get to sit down. - you consider a 1.5 hour service to be 'short.' - when you hear someone say 'ages of ages...' you reflexively respond 'Amen...' - you use your forehead and eyebrows to point when you're in church. - you panic and bite your lip if you notice even a single breadcrumb on the floor, but are relieved when someone picks it up carefully and eats it. - you have egg-cracking tournaments with your family at Paskha ("Easter"). - you are happy to hear 'Christ is risen!' after spending a whole week attending services, although by that time you feel half dead yourself. - you have multiple priests' numbers on your phone. - you could write a book on the symbolism in an Orthodox wedding during the wedding because Orthodox weddings are just that long. - you have to learn the ancient version of your language to understand what the heaven is going on. - you've learned to stretch your legs during church without drawing attention to yourself. - you check the day and date on your church calendar before deciding what to eat. - you order salad only for lunch on a fast day and someone asks you 'Are you vegetarian?' and you respond 'Sort of...' - on sunday mornings your empty stomach groans in the same tone as the chanting. - you dress up in business attire when attending church, because you believe God will be offended if you rock up in shorts or jeans. - you celebrate a church feast by having a huge, loud food fest at the local park with families and clans sitting all over the place, and offering one another food, and you don't even notice the 'normal people' at the park giving your people weird looks. - you eat a special lamb soup after an important feastday at church, and if your non-Orthodox friends ask what it is, you don't know how to explain. - the term 'fast food' has an entirely different meaning. - you come back from church smelling like incense. - you have more fast days than feast days in the year. - you don't fear drowning, because as a baby your head was dunked totally under water three times, and you survived. - there is more smoke in your church than at a bar.. - your 'lucky numbers' are 3, 7, 12, 33 and 40. - you wish people would cross themselves properly instead of looking like they are playing the guitar. - you kiss everyone three times. - some families only rock up once or twice a year, and when they do rock up they are over an hour late. - when some people just rock up to church at the last minute and join the communion line, you think to yourself "Hey this isn't the McDonalds drive through." - you have a cross and the flag of your nationality hanging from your car's rear view mirror. - you're eyes narrow, your eyebrows form a V shape, your lips tighten, your heart rate fires and your fists clench, whenever you meet a "Turk." - you're crowned like a king and queen at your wedding, and told to multiply like Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca... - your family thinks everything is a conspiracy, and blame it on a combination of the Jews, Muslims and Westerners. - if something ever goes wrong, it is because a jealous person has cast "magic" on you or given you the "evil eye." - the solution to every crisis is "light a candle at church..." - you buy a new house or apartment, and you invite your priest over to bless it. - your family burns incense at home and bless every room. - your family considers Saturday the divinely appointed day of cleaning to spite the Jews who refuse to do any work on that day. - the women in church chant better than the priests and deacons. - there is always that one deacon with that annoying nasal voice... well, that describes all of them, but there is one who is even more nasal than all the others. - you cross yourself whenever you pass an Orthodox church while driving. - you make the sign of the cross over your mouth every time you yawn. - you believe holy oil heals everything. - you are used to being asked 'When are you getting married?' - when your conversations with family have three distinctive volume settings: 1. normal [used only at church] 2. loud [used in every other public place] 3. louder [used only at home when there are no visitors] - you find the Coptic TV channel interesting, even if you're not Coptic. - you own an icon of St. George spearing the dragon, and claim he is your favourite saint, just like everyone else you know. - the Muslim kebab shop owner looks at you weird when you order a felafel roll on fast days. "You don't eat meat?" - you have a section of your wardrobe dedicated to 'church clothes,' which are more formal than smart casual, but less formal than business attire. - even if you speak perfect English anywhere else, you develop a thick ethnic accent when chanting in English or when talking to your priest. - you find yourself instinctively drawn to jurisdictional chaos, divisions over nationalism, calendar, politics and economics, and you get away with the lack of order by saying 'I don't believe in organized religion; I'm Orthodox!'

09.01.2022 (-English) The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia Christmas Carols 2020 This year unfortunately due to Covid-19 restrictions we can not gather as u...sual to enjoy the Christmas Carols at Melbourne Town Hall like every year. For this reason with the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia the Christmas Carols will be broadcasted on Channel 31 for all to enjoy on Sunday 20th of December 2020 from 5pm-7pm. Have a look at the video report and capture a glimplse from the rehearsals! 7 2020 31. 20 2020. /: : . : ( . . ) (, ) Anna Urban ( . ) ( , . )

07.01.2022 Monday 9th November The feast day of ST.NEKTARIOS OF PENTAPOLIS THE WONDERWORKER. This year we commemorate the 100 year anniversary of our pappoulis repose in the Lord. This loving term of pappouli, grand-daddy, by the faithful is very apt, as the Saint truly takes those who care for him under his protection. Saint Nektarios was heavily slandered during his life and was chastised unjustly by the Church itself. He remained a pillar of Christ’s love and forgiveness. In 1961... he was canonised a Saint of the Greek Orthodox Church. He has performed a multitude of miracles. I invite each of you to google his miracles and read for yourselves how many people our beloved pappouli has helped and saved. The Church of Greece has honoured the 100 years of the saints repose by naming 2020 as the year of St.Nektarios. Romania has made a commemorative stamp of the saint and a movie is being made about him to celebrate this great Saint of our time. May the holy and venerable Saint Nektarios bishop of Pentapolis, the wonderworker, help and protect all the faithful. Saint Nektarios, intercede to God for us. Amen. See more

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06.01.2022 His Eminence Archbishop MAKARIOS of Australia, addressing the faithful of Victoria who has endured strict Coronavirus restrictions.

05.01.2022 ST CATHERINE OF ALEXANDRIA. The Holy Great Martyr Catherine who we commemorarte today, was the daughter of Constus, the governor of Alexandrian Egypt during the... reign of the emperor Maximian (305-313). Living in the capital, the center of Hellenistic knowledge, and possessed of a rare beauty and intellect, Catherine received an excellent education, studying the works of the greatest philosophers and teachers of antiquity. Young men from the most worthy families of the empire sought the hand of the beautiful Catherine, but she was not interested in any of them. She told her parents that she would enter into marriage only with someone who surpassed her in nobility, wealth, comeliness and wisdom. Catherine’s mother, a secret Christian, sent her to her own spiritual Father, a saintly Elder living in a cave outside the city, for advice. After listening to Catherine, the Elder said that he knew of a Youth who surpassed her in everything. His countenance is more radiant than the shining of the sun, and all of creation is governed by His wisdom. His riches are given to all the nations of the world, yet they never diminish. His compassion is unequaled. This description of the Heavenly Bridegroom produced in the soul of the holy maiden an ardent desire to see Him. If you do as I tell you, said the monk, you will gaze upon the countenance of this illustrious man. In parting, the Elder handed Catherine an icon of the Theotokos with the divine Child Jesus on Her arm and told her to pray with faith to the Queen of Heaven, the Mother of the Heavenly Bridegroom, and She would hear Catherine and grant her heart’s desire. Catherine prayed all night and was permitted to see the Most Holy Virgin, Who said Her Divine Son, Behold Thy handmaiden Catherine, how fair and virtuous she is. But the Child turned His face away from her saying, No, she is ugly and unbelieving. She is a foolish pauper, and I cannot bear to look at her until she forsakes her impiety. Catherine returned again to the Elder deeply saddened, and told him what she had seen in the dream. He lovingly received her, instructed her in the faith of Christ, admonished her to preserve her purity and integrity and to pray unceasingly. She then received the Mystery of holy Baptism from him. Again Saint Catherine had a vision of the Most Holy Theotokos with Her Child. Now the Lord looked tenderly at her and gave her a beautiful ring, a wondrous token of her betrothal to the Heavenly Bridegroom (this ring is still on her hand). At that time the emperor Maximian was in Alexandria for a pagan festival. Therefore, the celebration was especially splendid and crowded. The cries of the sacrificial animals, the smoke and the smell of the sacrifices, the endless blazing of fires, and the bustling crowds at the arenas defiled the city of Alexandria. Human victims also were brought, the confessors of Christ, those who would not deny Him under torture. They were condemned to death in the fire. The saint’s love for the Christian martyrs and her fervent desire to ease their sufferings compelled Catherine to speak to the pagan priest and to the emperor Maximian. Introducing herself, the saint confessed her faith in the One True God and with wisdom exposed the errors of the pagans. The beauty of the maiden captivated the emperor. In order to convince her and to show the superiority of pagan wisdom, the emperor ordered fifty of the most learned philosophers and rhetoricians of the Empire to dispute with her, but the saint got the better of the wise men, so that they came to believe in Christ themselves. Saint Catherine made the Sign of the Cross over the martyrs, and they bravely accepted death for Christ and were burned alive by order of the emperor. Maximian, no longer hoping to convince the saint, tried to entice her with the promise of riches and fame. Receiving an angry refusal, the emperor gave orders to subject the saint to terrible tortures and then throw her in prison. The Empress Augusta, who had heard much about the saint, wanted to see her. She prevailed upon the military commander Porphyrius to accompany her to the prison with a detachment of soldiers. The empress was impressed by the strong spirit of Saint Catherine, whose face was radiant with divine grace. The holy martyr explained the Christian teaching to them, and they were converted to Christ. On the following day they again brought the martyr to the judgment court where, under the threat of being broken on the wheel, she was urged to renounce the Christian Faith and offer sacrifice to the gods. The saint steadfastly confessed Christ and she herself approached the wheels; but an angel smashed the instruments of execution, which shattered into pieces with many pagans standing nearby. Having beheld this wonder, the Empress Augusta and the imperial courtier Porphyrius with 200 soldiers confessed their faith in Christ in front of everyone, and they were beheaded. Maximian again tried to entice the holy martyr, proposing marriage to her, and again he was refused. Saint Catherine firmly confessed her fidelity to the heavenly Bridegroom Christ, and with a prayer to Him she herself laid her head on the block beneath the executioner’s sword. The relics of Saint Catherine were taken by the angels to Mount Sinai. In the sixth century, the venerable head and left hand of the holy martyr were found through a revelation and transferred with honor to a newly-constructed church of the Sinai monastery, built by the holy Emperor Justinian (November 14). Saint Catherine is called upon for relief and assistance during a difficult childbirth. Pilgrims to her monastery on Mt Sinai are given souvenir rings as a remembrance of their visit. Troparion Tone 4 By your virtues as by rays of the sun you enlightened the unbelieving philosophers, / and like the most bright moon you drove away the darkness of disbelief from those walking in the night; / you convinced the queen, and also chastised the tyrant, / God-summoned bride, blessed Catherine. / You hastened with desire to the heavenly bridal chamber of the fairest Bride-groom Christ, / and you were crowned by Him with a royal crown; / standing before Him with the angels, pray for us who keep your most sacred memory. Kontakion Tone 2 Let all of us who love to honor the martyrs / form a great choir in praise of the most wise Catherine, / for she preached Christ and trampled the serpent, / despising the knowledge of the orators!

03.01.2022 This Sunday November 15 we are beginning the journey to the feast of Nativity, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Perhaps at no other time of the year the dif...ference between the way of the Church and the way of the world is as evident as it is in preparation for Christmas. The shops are already filled with festive treats, decorations and music, and Christmas parties, lunches and dinners are soon to begin. Overindulgence and lengthy pre-celebrating leads to fatigue by the time the blessed Christmas finally arrives. In contrast to over-indulgence, the Orthodox Church teaches us to ready ourselves to welcome Christ, the eternal Son of God, as a child born to Virgin Mary, with a 40-day fast. Restraining of passions in contrast to taking it easy, solemnity and increased focus on one’s spiritual life in contrast to the silly season. However, Christmas is a time of happiness and the fast should be filled with a joyous anticipation of the arrival of our beloved Lord. So what can we do to make this time special? And if we have children at home, how can we involve them in the Nativity fast? Some ideas to consider: -celebrate the various feasts during the fast: the Entrance of the Theotokos to the Temple on November 21, St. Catherine on November 25, St Nicholas on December 6, and St. Herman of Alaska on December 13 -with the whole family, gather goods and make donations to worthy causes. There are many opportunities in our churches, for example, St Elesa Food Initiative, Walk-in and Donate Christmas Appeal, Mother Maria of Paris Greek Orthodox Mission -bake lenten cookies (to help resist the stash of non-fasting ones :)) -read Christmas stories together (did you know that a marked increase in charitable donations followed the publication of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens in 1843?) -read the life of St Nicholas, an inspiration for the mythical Santa Claus -read and discuss the stories and passages from the Scriptures that point towards the birth of Christ A wonderful book by Elissa Bjeletich Welcoming the Christ Child: Family readings for the Nativity lent provides readings for every day of the fast, with questions to consider and discuss. The book is available on Amazon Kindle. How do you prepare for Christmas with your family and children? Please share your thoughts and ideas in comments.