Exaltation of the Precious and Life Giving Cross


Tasmania's English speaking Orthodox Parish

ROCOR parish of Hobart, Tasmania

About

About image
About image
About image
The parish was formed in 1949 by Russian and Serbian emigrant workers following the WWII.  The funds for the building of the church were raised over many years through Balls and donations.
Fr Theodore Boriskevich was rector for 25 years before passing away in 1972.
For most of the last 40 years the parish has operated without a resident priest. Despite this fact and a global pandemic, the parish has grown in recent years, a miraculous event, to the Glory of God. The parish now consists of people from the traditional Orthodox lands of Russia and Ukraine, Serbia, Greece and Ethiopians but a large percentage of parishioners are converts with various backgrounds.

Articles

About Orthodoxy

Church Seasons

Events

Past Events

TitleDateLocation
Episcopal Visit of His Grace Bishop Siluan of the Serbian Diocese26 Feb 20233 Augusta Road, New Town TAS, Australia
Episcopal Blessing of Fr George Morozoff’s chapel in Lonnovale05 Feb 2023456 Denison Road, Lonnavale TAS, Australia
House Blessing20 Jan 2023To Be Announced

Gallery

  • Decorated Cross for the Feast day of the Church

  • Icon of the Resurrection of Christ.

  • The Nave of the Church with the Royal Doors screening off the Altar.

  • Royal doors

    Doors which the priests goes through to enter the altar. The nave is separated from the altar by a screen, know in the west as a Rood Screen.

  • Reliquary

    Holy items belonging to Saints.

  • St John Maximovich of Shanghai and SanFrancisco

    St John was a miracle worker and Bishop of the Russian .church Abroad in America during the mid 20th Century. His body remains incorrupt.

  • Icon of Mary and St John at the foot of the Cross during the Crucifixion

    This icon is brought into the middle of the church for veneration on Great and Holy Friday.

  • His Grace Archbishop George of Australia and New Zealand.

  • Baptism of a convert

  • A convert being Anointed during Chrismation which is part of the Baptismal Service.

  • Blessing of the bread for the Feast day of the Church, 27th September.

  • One of our converts holding an icon for a procession around the Church

Team

Fr John Simons (left) and wife Katherine (right)

Rector and Chanter

Fr John was ordained in 2023. He and his wife Katherine converted to Orthodoxy in England 25 years ago. He has been a member of Greek, Antiochian and Russian parishes in England and Australia. He moved to Tasmania 7 years ago. He has a background in University management. His Wife Katherine leads the chanting for services.

Anatoli Stirkul (left)

Altar Server

Originally from Melbourne, Anatoli has been serving the Lord in the Altar since 1976! He moved here with his wife almost 20 years ago.

Mara and Milutin Ivkovic

They keep the church running.

Mara and Milutin came to Tasmania as refugees from Serbia 30 years ago. They do so many things around the church, from maintaining oil lamps and fixing broken things and organising parish luncheons to reading the prescribed bible verses in Serbian and also being Godparents to many of the parish’s Serbian children.

Testimonials

 After growing up nominally Christian I came to realise that there must be more to life. I discovered the Orthodox Church and after attending a service knew I had to join. Our lives have so much meaning being able to participate with the community of faithful who have held the same beliefs and practices for 2000 years. The Russian Orthodox Church has been so welcoming to us. 

Jackson And Helena

 As a high church Anglican, searching for continuation of the true church, I attended an Orthodox evening service almost 30 years ago. Despite the singing being atrocious, I felt like I had come home, there was no going back, God had called me, I had no choice but to accept. Orthodox Christianity is so much more than a religion, it is a way of life. It is the continuation of what the apostles continued after Christ ascended to heaven; as such there are so many similarities to Judaism, it is cyclical and offers true worship to God, not just a Sunday feel good concert. 

Bronwyn
  

How to help

After years of neglect the church is in desperate need of repairs. Please help us maintain the building and the future of the parish.
Funds can be donated to our bank account: 

Hobart Parish of the Russian Church Abroad BSB 067000 ACN 10070552. 

This can also happen at any branch of the Commonwealth Bank.


As a small parish there are many things that need doing. If you can help with any of the following please send us a message.  God Bless.

  1. singing
  2. gardening
  3. cleaning and polishing
  4. flower arranging and changing vestments
  5. painting
  6. helping with morning tea
  7. running the kiosk/bookstore 
  8. monetary donations 

Join us

  • 3 Augusta Road, New Town Tasmania, Australia