About the parish
The parish in Geelong was set up after the arrival of the first Russian immigrants in 1948 - 1949. They felt that they needed to have their own church form the very beginning to worship God. They felt a strong detachment because they were now an isolated minority in a strange country. They were torn from their roots, their culture, their language. Now, they were amongst different people with different backgrounds. They longed to establish their own community and their own place of worship, with the thought of preserving our culture and the true orthodox faith in the youth. These strong feelings helped to overcome the difficulties faced during the first years when they began the construction of the church.
Father Alexander (Zhadko-Basilevich) served the first vigil on 30 th December, 1950 and the first Divine liturgy on 31 st December, 1950 in the hall of an Anglican church. Later four vigils were served in the home of Andrei Petrovich Korobko and one vigil in the home of Alexei Victorovich and Sofia Fyodorovna Dobrohodov. Prior to 1952 a priest came to the Dobrohodovs' home to conduct divine services. However, the increase in the numbers of the congregation emphasised the need for larger premises to conduct divine services. Therefore, the kind-hearted offer of Pastor D. Klinn to carry out church services in a chapel of an Anglican church was accepted with special gratitude. But the use of these premises was only a short-term solution to the problem. The Orthodox community required a church of its own.
The idea of the construction of an Orthodox Church in Geelong belongs to Father Alexander (Zhadko-Basilevich). The plans of construction of the church began to be discussed at meetings (after divine services). The first meeting took place on 11 th February, 1951 , and the second on 15 th April, 1951 . An initiative group for the organisation of an Orthodox parish was created. The parish began its normal existence on 1 st April, 1952 . At the same time, fund raising for the construction of a church began.
On 12 th November, 1955 His Grace Archbishop Savva blessed the first stone of the new church in honour of the icon of Mother of God of the "Joy of All Who Sorrow" and served a Liturgy at which the Bishop Anthony (Medvedev) was present. It was only the beginning, but the people trusted that their belief in the help of the Virgin "Joy of All Who Sorrow" would help them to finish the task that they had begun.
For four years, after Father Alexander moved to Adelaide (1955 - 1959) the parish had no regular priest and was looked after by the clergy of the Holy Protection Cathedral located in Melbourne , while for major church Feasts of the year the diocese would send priests from Sydney to the parish. A decision that the parish would cope without a priest and that the church in East Geelong be closed was considered. However, the determination of the parishioners to have a church was great. An extraordinary meeting under the chairmanship of George Dimitrievich Katsari in 1958 decided on the construction of temporary premises for divine services. A temporary hall was constructed in the space of a week and opened its doors for Easter of 1958. For the first time a divine service was held on the parish's own premises.
The assignment of Father Dimitri (Obuhov) as the priest of the church in 1959 ended the period of "management of the parish without a priest". The unfinished church became a landmark of the city for the next four years.
Three years after the beginning of construction, in November 1958, His Grace Archbishop Savva and Bishop Anthony have served a Divine Liturgy in conjunction with Father Dimitri (Obuhov),Aarchpriest Tihon (Kirichuk) and Deacon John (Kolubay). After the Divine service and religious procession Archbishop Savva delivered a sermon about the great value of Feast days of the Mother of God. Archbishop Savva brought with him the icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" which at the request of Bishop Anthony was presented to Geelong 's parish as a token of their faithfulness and dedication to the Orthodox Church.
In 1962 Father Dimitry (Obuhov) was transferred for pastorall duties to Brisbane , and Father Nikolay (Ostianko) took his place. He was the first priest of the new church, the construction of which came to an end in 1962.
On 10 th August, 1968 Archbishop Konstantin of Brisbane consecrated the new church in conjunction with Mitred Archpriest Tihon (Kirichuk), Archpriest Alexander (Zhadko-Basilevich), Priest Dimitry (Simonov), Priest Alexander (Sofronov) and Father Nikolay (Ostianko). The result of eleven years of persistent work and patience – a church constructed in the Old-Russian cross shape style according to the plans of Gennady Sigizmundovich Zhermonsky – was magnificent.
Important dates to remember in our parish history:
- First services for the orthodox community in Geelong – 1950.
- The official status as parish received on 1 st April 1952.
- The service for the laying of the first stone was held on 12th November 1955.