DIOCESE OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND: May 8, 2017
During an Archpastoral Visit to New Zealand, Bishop George of Canberra Performs the Great Consecration of St Nicholas Church on the South Island

On April 30, 2017, His Grace Bishop George of Canberra visited Holy Virgin Protection Church in the picturesque town of Le Bons Bay, New Zealand, about 80 km from CHRISTCHURCH. Vladyka George expressed amazement at the beauty of the church and its surroundings.

That evening, matins was performed at St Nicholas Church; joining Bishop George were priests, deacons, and approximately 30 worshipers.

The next day, May 1, Vladyka George performed the great consecration of St Nicholas Church. Participating in the rite were a number of clergymen, including Protopriest Vladimir Boikov, Rector of Resurrection Church in Auckland, NZ and Dean of New Zealand. Some 70 worshipers attended Liturgy, and roughly half partook of the Holy Gifts of Christ.

During the service, Protopriest Valentin Basyuk was awarded the palitsa.
On May 1, Vladyka George made a missionary visit to the city of Nelson, where Divine Liturgy was celebrated at an Anglican chapel in the presence of 30 local Orthodox Christians, including Russians, Belarussians, Ukrainians, Serbs, Romanians and New Zealanders.

The new mission community was dedicated to the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women. The Orthodox Christians of Nelson attended the first Liturgy in the area, celebrated by Bishop George, Fr Vladimir and Fr Evgeny Kulanov, along with Deacon Panteleimon (Zhigalin).

Photographs of the event may be viewed here.