50-year anniversary of the parish
On March 31, 2002, the parish of Our Lady Joy of All Who Sorrow turned 50. The celebration of this significant event was postponed until the following year because of the restoration of the roof and the replacement of the cupolas with new gold cupolas. 
Over the 50 years, the top part of the roof of the church had rusted; the cupolas had grown old and dull. Parishioners worked hard to collect funds to finance design and repair works by November 6, 2003. Much time and effort was required for the design of the new cupolas. Drawings were submitted by Russell Matafonoff and the onion-ribbed shape was finalised with the help of the Very Reverend Father Nicholas Karipoff and Father Simeon Kichakov.
Using this design, Paul Yakimov and Andrey Korobko made display models of the cupolas. The models were used by fibreglass company McDawell and Venn to make the four new cupolas. The fibreglass onion shapes made in two halves were taken to AUSTENG Engineered Solutions Pty Ltd. They designed and constructed the aluminium frame to which the fibreglass shells were attached. They also made the new gold crosses that top the new cupolas.
By November 6 2002, out of the whole list of jobs planned, only the top part of the roof was renewed with ColourBond tiles and the cupolas were completed. November 6 is also important, being the feast day of the parish and the Office of Consecration of the crosses and cupola by Archbishop Hilarion made it all the more joyous.
The 8th of May 2003 became a significant day in the history of the parish. On this day, the new cupolas were raised and adorned the church. The remaining six months flew by unnoticeably and before we knew it, the celebration of the 50th jubilee was upon us.
Parishioners greeted His Eminence, Metropolitan Laurus, the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad and His Grace, Archbishop Hilarion of Sydney and Australia-New Zealand with clergy: Very Reverend Father Michael Protopopov, Very Reverend Father Nicholas Karipoff, Very Reverend Father Alexander Morozov, Very Reverend Father Nickolas Dalinkiewicz, Very Reverend Father Gabriel Makarov, Very Reverend Father Michael Boikov, Very Reverend Father Nicholas de Karlton, Hieromonk Peter (Radulovich) from Serbian monostery Elaine and Protodeacons Joseph Yarochuk, Peter Metlenko, Basil Yakimov, deacons Basil Kozulin and Geral Polorotoff.
After the greeting of His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus by clergy and congregation, the Divine liturgy commenced, an unforgettable moment, in which Stephen Kaukov was tonsured as a reader, then began the awarding of a Skoufia to the Reverend Father Simeon Kichakov and the elevation of deacon Basil (Kozulin) to the rank of protodeacon.
The prayerful mindset of parishioners was strengthened by the presence of the miracle-working icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" of Harbin in the church, brought to Geelong by His Eminence, Metropolitan Lauris. The history of this icon is simple. In the second decade of the XX century, bishop Nestor founded the "Orphanage" in Harbin for the aged, the ill and orphans. It was through his efforts that a church in honour of the icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" was established at the "Orphanage", for which Ekaterina Ivanovna Kurmei, one of the assistants of bishop Nestor, donated her own icon "Joy of All Who Sorrow". This icon was darkened from age, with the images of saints becoming indistinct.
After some time, the Rector of the church, Father Julian (Sumnevich) noticed that the icon began to brighten. In a day the images and inscriptions on the icon became so clear that it appeared as though the icon had only been painted recently. People started coming to the new Relic for reveration and prayer.
The miraculously renewed icon remained in China until the autumn of 1965. By this time, Z.L.Tauts-Zverevoi, who was at the time carrying out the duties of the elder of the "Orphanage" church, acquired permission to take the relic abroad. During the trip of Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky) to Europe in autumn 1965, the icon was sent to the USA and was placed into the Synod cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. The icon remains in this cathedral to this day.
For all churchgoers present at the Divine liturgy on the day of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the parish of the Joy of All Who Sorrow, it was pleasing to see the parish icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" and the miracle-working icon placed next to each other on the analoion. During the procession around the church, the renewed icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" was one of the pearls of the procession.
His Eminence, Metropolitan Laurus noted in his sermon that the Orthodox people devote their whole lives to the veneration and praise of the Mother of God and this reflected in the many feast days that are dedicated to Her throughout the year. Further to this, Metropolitan Laurus noted that 6 November, 2003, is not only the feast day in honour of the icon of the "Joy of All Who Sorrow", but also a celebrating of the 50th anniversary of the parish. Metropolitan Laurus greeted Archbishop Hilarion, parishioners, their Rector and all other attendees, congratulated them on the church feast day and wished them God's help and the protection of the Mother of God.
After the Divine Liturgy visitors and parishioners continued celebrating this significant event at Capri Hall, where a festive meal was organised. For the first time in the history of the parish, the sisters were required to select the menu for the event. Staff of Capri Hall prepared and served the meal.
During the meal, the Rector of the church, Father Simeon (Kichakov), made a speech of greeting, which was accompanied by a display of photographs capturing the historical moments in the life of the parish. He noted that the celebration of the anniversary was connected not only to emphasising the achievements of the parish over these years, but was also a fantastic opportunity to take a look into the past of the parish for looking back, one cannot help but be amazed by how, with God help, the parish was established, developed and strengthened.
Father Simeon emphasised, that 50 years is a long time in the life of a parish. This length of time is felt strongly when one recollects that the participants in the building of the church are of age. Only a small handful of them remain. But on the day of celebrating the 50th anniversary, all those in attendance at the feast were called on to remember those, who passed away, to whom the prayer "Eternal Memory" was sung.
Further in his greeting, Father Simeon expressed tremendous gratitude to all for the construction of the church.
Father Simeon (Kichakov) spoke very warmly of the Melbournians, who participated in the construction of the church: Gennadiy Sigizmundovich Jeromski, the architect of the church, clergy from Melbourne, who served in the parish of Joy of All Who Sorrow when it was without a priest, parishioners from Melbourne, who in every possible way supported the noble undertaking of church-building in Geelong with their visits.
Archbishop Hilarion made a congratulatory speech addressed towards Father Simeon (Kichakov) and parishioners.
Most attendees of the celebration were given medals, made to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the parish. The historical importance of the event was signified by the publication of the illustrated book "A Brief Historical Account of the Founding of the Parish of the Joy of All Who Sorrow in Geelong", manufacture of commemorative mugs, greeting cards and a video about the anniversary festivities, "The Celebration of the Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow"" was also produced.