Letter here of Metropolitan Elias of Beirut on the war relief effort.
3 Thursday 7 September 2006 Feast of Theotokos Nativity
The feast of the Birth of Our Lady Mary Mother of God was celebrated by the Metropolitan Archbishop this year with all the New South Wales clergy at Solemn Hierarchical Vesperal Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos, Burnett Street, Mays Hill at 7pm.
During the celebration His Eminence Sayidna Paul blessed John Zghaib to the order of subdeacon. Sponsoring priests were Archimandrite Father Nabil, Vicar General, and Father Michal Zghaib, Parish Priest of Saint Elias Wollongong.
Subdeacon John's family, Father Michal, mother Khourieh, sister Christeen, and brothers David and Nektarios, were present for the happy occasion. Supper was kindly provided by the Saint Mary Parish afterwards in the parish hall.
Blessing of John Zghaib as subdeacon by His Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Paul
(left to right) Sponsoring priests Fr Nabil and Father Michal, Subdeacon John Zghaib, His Eminence Sayidna Paul, and inside the sanctuary Fr Petru, Fr John, and Fr Jeremy (USA)
4 Saturday 9 to Monday 11 September 2006 - New Zealand Ordination
His Eminence Metropolitan Paul visited the churches of Christchurch New Zealand from 9 to 11 September 2006.
On the first night of his visit, His Eminence had dinner with a number of university lecturers and their students at the residence of Father Michael Elder at Diamond Harbour. Discussion followed where many expressed their wish to join the Orthodox Church. One of the lecturers asked permission to search for a place to gather with others for prayer and study of the Orthodox faith. Hie Eminence was very pleased with this.
During this visit, His Eminence ordained Dr Keith Morrison as deacon.
(l to r) Dean of NZ Fr Jack Whitbrock (obscured), Dr Keith Morrison, HE Archbishop Paul, Fr Michael Elder
(l to r) Fr Jack (kneeling), Fr Michael, Archbishop Paul, Dr Keith, Fr Victor Didenco
His Eminence has assigned Father Deacon Dr Keith Morrison to work with the three Antiochian Orthodox churches in the Christchurch area.
On Sunday in Dunedin, a good number of faithful from different denominations attended hierarchical divine liturgy and luncheon which followed. A candidate for the subdiaconate came forward seeking acceptance to serve, which Hie Eminence was pleased to do.
All of these activities indicate the Holy Spirit is working in our blessed Antiochian Archdiocese in New Zealand.
5 Sunday 10 September 2006 - Father Themi's last service in Australia
After spending two months or so in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane during the semester break, Father Themi returned on Monday 11 September 2006 to Nairobi, Kenya, for spring semester at the Orthodox Teachers College Africa.
Very Reverend Archimandrite Dr Father Themi served at Antiochian Orthodox churches in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane, and gave many highly successful talks on poverty in Africa and ways to overcome it, during hs visit to Australia.
6 Wednesday 13 September 2006 - Exaltation of the Holy Cross liturgy
Father John Vesic (West Ryde) and Father Jeremy Davis (USA) celebrated divine liturgy at 7pm on Wednesday 13 September 2006 for the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, at Saint Nicholas Bankstown, 2a Weigand Avenue, Bankstown, metroSydney.
Youth of a variety of orthodox parishes attended an inspiring service.
Many took the opportunity to meet again with Father Jeremy who is remembered for his highly successful and well liked 12 months in Australia in 2004-2005 while a subdeacon.
Father Jeremy returned to his parish duties in Wichita, Kansas, USA, flying out of Sydney on Friday 15 September 2006.
7 Saturday 16 September 2006 - What the Liturgy Means
After Vespers on Saturday 16 September 2006 at Saint George Thornbury, metroMelbourne, Subdeacon Jean-Paul Mawal gave a succesful presentation on What the Liturgy Means. See powerpoint brochure for more details.
All were made most welcome.
8 Sunday 17 September 2006 - Archbishop on Marriage and pre-Marriage Relationships
Following divine liturgy at Saint Nicholas Church Punchbowl, metroSydney, which commenced at 6pm, Metropolitan Archbishop Paul Saliba gave a well received talk on Marriage and pre-Marriage relationships.
Talk commenced at 7.05pm with all being made most welcome.
Afterwards, people commented on what a timely talk His Eminence gave, and hoped that other parish priests and clergy might give similar topical and needed talks to their parishioners.
9 Thursday 21 September 2006 - Theology Classes resume
Saint Paul's Theological Course classes resume at the old archdiocesan headquarters Punchbowl on Thursday 21 September 2006 and continue until 14 December 2006.
10 Friday 22 September 2006 - His Eminence to Holy Synod
On Friday 22 September 2006 His Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Paul departed Sydney for the Northern Autumn session of the Holy Synod of Antioch meeting in Damascus. His Eminence is to meet with Patriarch Ignatius beforehand to discuss needs and developments in the Australia and New Zealand Archdiocese. Future possibilities are likely to be dicussed at the meeting of the Holy Synod.
The agenda for the Holy Synod includes:
Aftereffects of the war in Lebanon on its people
Election of an archbishop of Argentina
Discussion of the crisis in the archdiocese of Chile
Election of a bishop for Rio de Janeiro in Brasil
Future possibilities in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific
His Eminence is expected to be in the middle east for about 2 weeks.
His Eminence took a cheque for $14,000 proceeds of this year's Balamand appeal, and another cheque for $38,000 proceeds of this year's Archdiocesan War Relief appeal, for presentation at the meeting of the Holy Synod.
His Eminence thanks the people of Australia and New Zealand for their generosity in helping the war afflicted in Lebanon this year, and continues to pray that a just peace will prevail in the middle east.
Australia's four theological students studying at Balamand are expected to return there within the next week or so for the commencement of Autumn semester at the theological college in Northern Lebanon.
11 Sunday 8 October 2006 - Punchbowl Youth Fellowship Night
On Sunday 8 October 2006 following evening divine liturgy at Saint Nicholas Punchbowl, the Punchbowl Youth will have a movie, pizza and popcorn night.
12 Friday 24 November to Sunday 26 November 2006 - ACOY Spring Retreat
The Antiochian Church Orthodox Youth (ACOY) Spring Retreat has been scheduled for the weekend 24 to 26 November 2006 in metroMelbourne.
Details
13 Saturday 25 November 2006 - Punchbowl Youth Christmas Party
On Saturday night 25 November 2006, Saint Nicholas Punchbowl youth plan to hold their Christmas Party in the Ballroom, at the Bellevue Bankstown reception Lounge, 2-10 Restwell Street, Bankstown, metroSydney.
14 Every Wednesday Evening - Divine Liturgy in English at Saint Nicholas East Melbourne
Every Wednesday evening Divine Liturgy is celebrated at Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church East Melbourne at 6.30pm.
Each fortnight right after Divine Liturgy, at 7.30pm, Bible Study is led by Father Anthony. Topic is the Gospel of Saint Mark from an Orthodox perspective.
15 Every Wednesday Evening - Byzantine Music Classes in Arabic
In June 2006 the Archdiocese commenced a new season in Byzantine Music tuition. Every Wednesday at 7.30 pm it is conducted at the old Archdiocesan Headquarters, 8 Henry Street Punchbowl, metroSydney, led by the Archbishop's Subdeacon Rafic Al Baba.
Until moving to Australia, Subdeacon Rafic was Patriarchal Subdeacon in Lebanon.
For registration of interest, and more details, please contact
16 Every Friday Evening for the next 6 weeks - Catechism Classes
Every Friday evening for the next six weeks Father Geoff Harvey will be holding catechism classes at the Good Shepherd Parish 72 Highfield Road, Canterbury, which is on the corner of Prospect Hill Road, off Riversdale Rd or off Canterbury Rd. See Melway Map 60 E1.
All inquirers welcome.
17 Every Friday Night - Free Arabic Classes 5.30pm and 6.30pm
Free Arabic Lessons!!!
Ever wanted to learn to speak, read, and write, Arabic? Well now is your chance, every Friday night at Saint Mary Church Hall Mays Hill, there are 2 Arabic classes.
Childrens class (aged between 8 to 13 year) at 5:30pm to 6:30pm
Teens and Adults class (14+) at 6:30pm to 7:30pm
Led by Abouna Mabsoot (Father George Saad)
18 Every Friday Night - Stop and Think Sessions
Stop and Think Sessions are held in the church hall at Saint George Cathedral, Redfern at 7:30pm every Friday night with Father Nabil. All are welcome to attend. More information.
19 Every Saturday Night - Vespers and Bible Study in English - 6.30pm
Great Vespers is served in English every Saturday night at Saints Michael and Gabriel Parish, West Ryde Community Centre, 1A Station Street, West Ryde, two doors south from Victoria Road.
Tea, coffee, biscuits, and fellowship, follows Great Vespers. Then at 7.30pm Questions and Answers, and Bible study commences, led by Father Deacon Chris and various invited presenters.
Starting 7th October 2006 at 7.30pm, for the next three months, Bible Study will be a set course on the Gospel of Christ.
Led by Ian Holder and Edgar Matouk, assisted by Father Deacon Chris.
Great Vespers starts at 6.30pm.
Bible study commences at 7.30pm.
Finishes at 8.30pm sharp.
All welcome to either or both, especially younger people, Christians of other varieties, and generally interested people.
Archdiocesan News 
An Australian, Online,
