Greetings everyone - Christ is born, Glorify Him!
As we recently had some posts about Old Ritualists in Australia (and New Zealand) I thought I would share this with you all.
This week, his Emminence Kornili of the Moscow Old Ritualists came to Australia and is Sydney presently. He celebrated the Liturgy on the 7th for the Nativity, at the Russian Old Rite Orthodox Church of the Holy Nativity (Sydney's second, smaller Old Rite parish). This parish is under the Moscow Concorde of Old Rite Orthodox in comparison to the other parishes in Australia which come under the Belakrinitsa Heirarchy.
Today (8th) he visited the Russian Aged Care/Nursing Home Facility of St Sergius of Radonezh which caters to the Russian elderly in Sydney. The Church is on the premises of the Pokrov Church (ROCOR) at Cabramatta. His Emminence visited the facility and its grounds, as well as meeting with Old Rite patients, the directors of the nursing home and some of the Old Rite staff. This is where my mother comes in. Both she and her sister work there and she received a blessing from His Emminence, and said that she felt very moved in his presence and she stated (and I quote) that she was "so proud to be Starover today"
I was told he conducted a quick service, singing the Troparion and Kontakion for the Nativity Feast within the home's Chapel.
I thought that was interesting and hope you enjoyed it. I am glad to see that the Metropolitan travelled so far to visit a place where there is but one Parish under his guidance, with perhaps about 40 - 50 parishoners. Sweet and encouraging.
I've no idea if Metropolitan plans to visit the Uspenski church of the Belakrinitsa group, but I do hope so. It would only be the second ever visit by a ruling Old Rite heirarch (after obviously, Metropolitan Leonty of Belakrinitsa) in its history (to my knowledge).
Misha
PS: Glad to be back from my vacations - and I hope everyone had a peaceful and joyous festive season...
