Exploring Orthodoxy: A day to explore Orthodox Christian spirituality
Aug 25, 2019 @ 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM UTC+10
‘Exploring Orthodoxy’ is back for 2019!
Exploring Orthodoxy is an open day and conference wrapped into one.
The Good Shepherd Orthodox Church warmly invites you to this event, which is open to the public, parishioners and students.
Join us for the day and experience Orthodox Christian worship in the form of the Divine Liturgy in the English language, hear internationally-recognised speakers on Orthodox spirituality, meet other explorers, browse the books and icons available for purchase and watch an icon writing demonstration. Children of primary school age will be catered for with an afternoon program. Lunch and afternoon refreshments will be provided.
In our second year of Exploring Orthodoxy, we are delighted to announce that His Eminence, Metropolitan Basilios, will be serving at Matins and the Divine Liturgy, and will present the keynote speech.
Also travelling from Sydney, Protopresbyter Dr Doru Costache will be sharing insights from his research into spiritual experiences of yesterday and today.
With God’s blessing and presence, we desire to make the treasures of the Orthodox Christian faith accessible to the people of Australia in the English language so that they too can experience union with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and forever.
Whatever your background and experience of Orthodoxy, it is our prayer that this ‘day to explore Orthodox Christian spirituality’ within the environment of our English-speaking parish in Melbourne will:
- Open your mind to the ancient treasures which are to the discovered in the Orthodox Church
- Provide an opportunity for you to experience the Divine Liturgy (if you have not already) and learn more about it, in a welcoming atmosphere
- Introduce you to the writings of ‘The Philokalia’ and its influence on Orthodox Christian spirituality
- Inspire you to become part of or continue supporting the vision for sharing Orthodoxy in English
- Encourage you to continue your exploration of the Orthodox Christian faith
Cost
Free. There will be an opportunity to make a donation on the day to help cover the costs of the event, including lunch and afternoon refreshments.
Please register by Friday 16th August 2019, as this will assist us to prepare your welcome pack and arrange catering.
See below for accommodation information.
Program
Sunday 25 August 2019
- 8:45-10:00 AM
- Registration desk open
- 9:00 AM
- Matins (in English)
- 9:30–9:50 AM
- Welcome to the Divine Liturgy
- Venue: Small Chapel
- 10:00 AM
- Divine Liturgy (in English)
- Sermon: His Eminence, Metropolitan Basilios
- 11:45 PM
- Lunch & Fellowship
- Registration desk open
- Icon demonstration
- Book sales
- 12:50 PM
- Lecture: Making the Commission Great Again: Orthodoxy for Australians | Rev. Fr. Geoff Harvey
- 01:10 PM
- Lecture: Charismatic Experiences: The Philokalia’s Burning Hearts | Very Rev. Dr. Doru Costache
- 02:00 PM
- Keynote address: Introduction to The Philokalia: How it helps spiritual renewal and how it has influenced modern Orthodox spirituality | His Eminence, Metropolitan Basilios
- 03:00 PM
- Refreshments and close
- 12:50-3:00 PM
- Primary school-aged children’s program
Read Fr. Geoff’s blog and introduction here: https://www.thegoodshepherd.org.au/exploring-orthodoxy-2019
Presenters
His Eminence, Metropolitan Basilios
His Eminence was enthroned as Metropolitan in 2017, having been sent to Australia from Syria at the request of the late Metropolitan Paul in 2010, to be his assistant. He studied in Syria, Lebanon and Thessalonica, Greece, where he was awarded a PhD for his doctoral thesis on the spiritual father in ‘The Philokalia.’ His Eminence served in parishes in Sydney before taking on responsibilities across the Archdiocese. His Eminence was warmly received during his first visit to The Good Shepherd in November 2018.
Rev. Fr. Geoff Harvey
Parish Priest | The Good Shepherd Orthodox Church
Fr. Geoff has been the Parish Priest of The Good Shepherd Orthodox Church since its inception in 2004. Following a career in the British Army, being an Anglican chaplain to the Australian Army and Anglican parish priest in Melbourne, he was ordained as an Antiochian Orthodox priest 19 years ago. Together with his wife, Kh. Janet, Fr. Geoff specialises in championing Orthodoxy in English, showing people how to give thanks to God for everything and acquire the Holy Spirit.
Very Rev. Dr. Doru Costache
Senior Lecturer in Patristic Studies | St Cyril’s Coptic Orthodox Theological College (Sydney College of Divinity)
Protopresbyter Dr Doru Costache studied Orthodox theology at the University of Bucharest, Romania. His doctoral thesis was on the anthropic cosmological principle interpreted from the viewpoint of a patristic theologian (St. Maximus the Confessor) and a neo-patristic theologian (Fr. Dumitru Stăniloae). He is the co-founder of the Australian Institute of Orthodox Christian Studies, an academic and author. Fr. Doru was ordained to the priesthood in 2001 and serves an English-language mission, St. Gregory the Theologian in Sydney, in the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of Australia and New Zealand.
Mrs. Joanne Ball
Secretary, Parish Council, The Good Shepherd Orthodox Church
Joanne was invited by the Parish Council to establish the Welcoming Team at The Good Shepherd in 2016. A past undergraduate and post-graduate student at Monash University, her career includes leadership positions in not-for-profit and educational institutions. Joanne comes from an Anglican and Uniting Church background. Initially aware of Orthodoxy through classmates in country Victoria, reading ‘The Way of a Pilgrim’ and ‘The Philokalia’ during university preceded finding Orthodoxy in English at The Good Shepherd.
FAQs
Where can I find the program for the event?
See above or visit: https://www.thegoodshepherd.org.au/exploring-orthodoxy
Are there minimum age requirements to enter the event?
This is a family-friendly event. After lunch, a program for primary-aged children will be available. Younger and older children may attend the presentations with their parents or caregivers.
What are my transport/parking options for getting to and from the event?
Parking at Monash University: Parking is free on weekends. Please take note of all signs regarding Loading Zones, No Standing and Disabled Parking as the restrictions do apply and are enforced on weekends.- Public transport to Monash University:
- From Huntingdale Train Station, walk to the Huntingdale Bus Station and catch routes 601 or 900 to Monash University, Wellington Road.
- From Blackburn Train Station, walk to the Blackburn Bus Station and catch route 703 to Monash University, Wellington Road.
- After alighting from the bus at Wellington Road, walk to the Religious Centre at 38 Exhibition Walk within the University (view map on our website).
Where can I stay if I’m travelling a distance?
Accommodation is available on Saturday 24th August 2019 at Mannix College’s Gryphon House.
Mannix College is located at Wellington Road, Clayton, directly across the road from Monash University and a 10-minute walk to the Religious Centre.
How can I contact the organiser with any questions?
