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1 Greetings from His Eminence Christmas and Epiphany 2006-2007 Christmas and Epiphany are at hand. We are once more preparing to see ourselves reflected in the scene of the encounter in Bethlehem of the divine with the human, of the union of God with His creation – man. We take time to thank the Baby of Bethlehem for having enabled us to go on hoping and working, and not yielding in the midst of darkness around us. Thank Him, the God-Man for reminding us that His Name is Emmanuel (meaning God with us). Thank Him, for having the angels continuously dew our hearts and minds with the sweet theme of their heavenly song: Glory to God in the Highest And on earth peace Good will among all people In this season, we have reason to rejoice in Him, because once more He brings to us the heart-warming tidings of his presence with us, through the remembrance of His Nativity. Yes! We rejoice even when nothing around us gives us reason for joy. For us Christians, joy comes not from what we are or what we do, but from what He is and He does in and through us. Thinking in terms of the human condition, we ask: Was His life on earth a peaceful existence! Did peace reign in His Church? He exhorts us saying: “Rejoice and be glad”. And to His sorrowful disciples He promised: “No one will take your joy from you”. Yes! Joy is an integral part of our Christian predicament, whether on still waters or on stormy seas, whether in time of peace or in time of trouble. It is with that spirit of Christmas joy that I greet you all, wherever you are, and whoever you are. The Church in which I was born is the same Church which the Divine incarnate Child established two millennium ago. Since then, this church has continuously lived its Christian faith under new Herods; Sometimes it was converted into a desert of temptation, put to test by new Pharisees and new Pilates, and at times turned into a mountain of transfiguration. Many times it was reduced to a garden of Gethsemane, and borrowed the name of Golgotha with the Cross planted like trees on its soil. It seldom enjoyed the foretaste of the joy of the resurrection. In other words I can say, my Church shares the geography of the map of Jesus’ life from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, and from nativity to Resurrection. This season rekindles in our hearts the star of Bethlehem; it enlightens in us the vision of salvation; it renews in us the will of regeneration; it sharpens in us the determination for renewal; it deepens in us the aspiration for peaceful concord that we and all the world have so desperately lacked in our history. Let us then all, clergy and lay people, men and women alike, each in his/her own capacity and ways answer this divine challenge by once more going through the purifying experience of rebirth in spirit, by letting Christ the Lord Incarnate come and dwell in our hearts. Come, and let us follow His footsteps from Bethlehem to wherever we now are. Let us glorify Him by offering to Him our own lives as a living sacrifice symbolized in the gifts "gold and frankincense and myrrh". What else can we give to Him in exchange for His sublime gift, Himself-in-our-own-human-nature, if not ourselves clothed with His image and bearing His name as the authentic name authenticating our own names as human beings. With this readiness of hearts, let us now turn and shout to one another: "Christ is born and revealed good tidings to one another". 02 Sunday 03 December 2006 - Blessing of Youth Building Thornbury On Sunday 03 December 2006, His Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Paul blessed the new youth building of Saint George Thornbury, metroMelbourne. 
His Eminence warmly welcomed all clergy, parishioners, true believing Christians, and interested observers who attended and shared in the happiness of the occasion. 
The new community centre was put to immediate use in celebration of its opening. 03 Sunday 03 December 2006 - Ordination of Subdeacon Jean-Paul Mawal to Diaconate On Sunday 03 December 2006, His Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Paul ordained Subdeacon Jean-Paul Mawal to the priesthood in the rank of Deacon at 3pm at Saint George Thornbury, metroMelbourne. 
His Eminence welcomed Jean-Paul's wife and his family, all friends and parishioners who joined in this happy occasion and prayed together for the successful ministry of Deacon Jean-Paul in the One True Church of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 
04 Sunday 03 December 2006 - Ordination of Rev John Dalton to Diaconate On Sunday 03 December 2006, His Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Paul ordained John D'Alton to the priesthood in the rank of Deacon at 3pm at Saint George Thornbury, metroMelbourne. 
His Eminence welcomed all John's family, all clergy, true believing Christians, separated Christians, and interested witnesses, who came together and prayed for the successful ministry of Deacon John in the two thousand year old Church of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 05 Wednesday 06 December 2006 - Archbishop's Letter on Antiochian Orthodox Missions I greet all of you in the name of our incarnate Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. Our Archdiocese is a missionary Orthodox Church in Australia and New Zealand. We have established over thirteen missions in the last seven years, some of them were elevated to parishes and others are still missions. There are different clergy and lay workers serving those missions. The Archdiocese pays stipend (travelling, books and other expense to some of the missionaries). The mission appeal box helps the archdiocese meet its obligation. To promote and achieve our God's commandment, we urge our clergy and church councils in addition to our faithful to take this responsibility seriously. "Go to the whole world teaching, preaching and baptizing in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit ...." May the star which illumined the Path of the Magis, illumine you and your life. In the incarnate Lord + Paul Metropolitan Archbishop Paul Primate of Australia and New Zealand 06 Thursday 07 December 2006 - Mission in the Philippines Keeping Our Lord's command to "go into all the world and teach all peoples, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit..." the Orthodox Church has a mission in the Philippines. The Antiochian weblord made a private visit there in early December 2006. For more information see here. 07 Friday 08 December 2006 - Evening of Christmas Byzantine Hymns A number of Byzantine choirs from various Orthodox faiths gathered at Saint George Cathedral Redfern, metroSydney, on Friday 08 December 2006 to chant the beautiful Orthodox Christmas hymns. The choirs commenced chanting at 7pm. Everyone was welcomed and greatly uplifted by the spiritual quality of the singing. 08 Sunday 10 December 2006 - Annual Saint Nicholas Punchbowl Nursing Home Visit The annual visit by the youth of Saint Nicholas Punchbowl to the Amity Nursing Home Greenacre, commenced at 12.30pm on Sunday 10 December 2006. All youth were encouraged to attend this special event. The residents of the Nursing Home appreciated the Christmas cheer. For more information see attached Contact: Wendy Daoud 0414 396 666 09 Sunday 10 December 2006 - Archbishop Talks to Youth at Punchbowl About 7pm, directly after Divine Liturgy at Saint Nicholas Church Punchbowl, on Sunday 10 December 2006, His Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Paul talked to the youth of the parish, and all other interested people, explaining the meaning of the Divine Liturgy. All were made welcome. 10 Sunday 17 December 2006 - Ordination of Subdeacon Rafic to Deacon On Sunday 17 December 2006 at Saint George Cathedral Redfern, His Eminence Metropolitan Paul ordained Subdeacon Rafic AlBaba to the diaconate during solemn hierarchical divine liturgy commencing at 10.30am. 
Subdeacon Rafic has been highly involved with the youth in metroSydney and in training the Byzantine choir. 
His Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Paul warmly welcomed all, especially the youth of all the Sydney parishes who were particularly encouraged to attend this special sacrament. 
More details available here. 11 Sunday 17 December 2006 - MetroMelbourne Youth Picnic This Sunday 17 December from 2pm, the Antiochian Orthodox Youth of Metro Melbourne held a very successful picnic at Jells Park in Wheelers Hill. 
All were made most welcome. 12 Saturday 23 December 2006 - Saint George Cathedral Sunday School Christmas Show The Saint George Cathedral Sunday School Christmas show and concert will be held on Saturday 23 December 2006 at Saint George Cathedral Hall, Redfern, metroSydney, commencing at 4pm. All children, not just Sunday School children are welcome to attend. The Sunday School children will be putting on a show with Christmas carols followed by dancing, singing, Santa, and some food and drink. All welcome. 13 Sunday 24 December 2006 - Ordination of Deacon at Dandenong 
On Sunday 24 December 2006 His Eminenence Metropolitan Archbishop Paul ordained reader Thomas McArdle of the Good Shepherd parish to the diaconate. Solemn Hierarchical Divine Liturgy including the ordination commenced at 10.30am at Saint Paul's Antiochian Orthodox Church Dandenong, metroMelbourne. 
His Eminence warmly welcomed all parishioners, all true believing Christians, and all interested visitors attending the ordination. 
14 25 December 2006 - Nativity Greetings from Patriarch Ignatius of Antioch Nativity Greetings here. 15 25 December 2006 - Release of Father John Vesic By kind favour of His Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Paul, Father John Vesic, parish priest of Saints Michael and Gabriel, West Ryde, has been released from service in the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand to serve in the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Australia effective from the end of the Nativity services at West Ryde, 2006. His Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Paul said the release of Father John to assist newly installed Bishop Irenij of the Serbian Diocese of Australia, is a further strengthening of the firm and fruitful relations which have been quickly and effectively built between the two friendly Orthodox Churches in Australia. Father John's special gifts and professional training makes him particularly suited to helping in the Orthodox Church of his mother tongue. Both Metropolitan Archbishop Paul, and Father John Vesic, were present at the installation of Bishop Irinej as Serbian Bishop of Australia in October 2006. At that time, Metropolitan Archbishop Paul said he was looking forward to a warm, friendly, and fruitful co-operation between the two jurisdictions in Australia, and he was delighted to see a high priest of the calibre of Bishop Irenij placed in charge of the Australian diocese. Father Luke Bell replaces FatherJohn Vesic as parish priest of Saints Michael and Gabriel Parish West Ryde, effective 25 December 2006. 16 Archiepiscopal Christmas Arrangements His Eminence Paul's schedule of services: Sunday 24 December, morning, at Saint Paul Church Dandenong, metroMelbourne Sunday 24 December, evening, at Saint George Cathedral Redfern, metroSydney Monday 25 December, morning, at Saint Nicholas Punchbowl, metroSydney His Eminence will receive the good wishes of clergy and faithful on Monday 25 December from 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm at the archiepiscopal residence in Illawong. His Eminence wishes Merry Christmas to all. 17 Orthodox Christmas Services fully in English - metroSydney At Saints Michael and Gabriel Parish, West Ryde Community Centre, 1A Station Street (2 doors south from Victoria Road), West Ryde, metroSydney. Royal Hours, Friday 22 December 2006, 6:30pm Forefeast of the Nativity - Sunday before the Nativity Great Vespers, Saturday 23 December 2006, 6:30pm Matins, Sunday 24 December 2006, 8:30am Divine Liturgy, Sunday 24 December 2006, 9:30am Nativity of Christ Matins, Sunday 24 December 2006, 6:30pm Divine Liturgy, Sunday 24 December 2006, 8:00pm (estimated time, Divine Liturgy follows immediately after Matins finishes) 18 Sunday 31 December 2006 - Installation of Father Luke Bell Sunday 31 December 2006 saw the installation of Father Luke Bell as Parish Priest of Saints Michael and Gabriel Parish, West Ryde. A warm welcome was extended to him by His Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Paul, the parishioners of West Ryde parish, and various visitors and guests. 
left to right, Thurifer Nic Nicolas, Deacon John Mawal, Father Luke Bell at the installation
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