AUSTRALIAN-NEW ZEALAND DIOCESE: 17 November
The Dean of the Parishes of the Central District of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese prayerfully marks the golden jubilee of his priesthood

On Sunday, November 9, 2025, His Eminence Archbishop George of Sydney and of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese officiated at Divine Liturgy at St Nicholas Parish in Sydney. Concelebrating with His Eminence were His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada, Rector of the Church Archpriest Nikita Chemodakov, and honored clergy guests. At the minor entrance, in accordance with the decision of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Fr Nikita, who is celebrating his golden jubilee of priesthood this year, was granted the right to wear a second cross with ornaments.

At the end of the service, the archpastors presented the honoree with a decree of blessing signed by all the members of the Synod, and his matushka Ekaterina received a diocesan certificate.

Subsequently, five hundred people gathered for the reception following the Divine Liturgy. Among the invited speakers offering congratulations to the jubilarian were Archbishop George and Archbishop Gabriel, Archpriest Seraphim Chemodakov, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Australia Mikhail Petrakov, and the rector of the nearby Holy Protection Church, Archpriest Boris Ignatievsky.

Gavriil Tobilov, a longtime churchwarden of the Nikolaevsky parish, spoke on behalf of the parishioners. Fr Nikita was presented with commemorative gifts from the parishioners — an icon and priestly vestments, while Matushka Ekaterina received a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Fr Nikita was also congratulated by Elena Ivantsova from the organization "Orthodox Cause - Sydney," Agafya Yin Lange from the Australian Russian-Chinese Association. Fr Nikita was also presented with an icon painted at the Entrance Into the Temple Women's Monastery in Bungarby. The Russian Orthodox Men's Choir of Australia performed a concert in honor of the jubilee, and at the end of the meeting, Natalia Morozova performed several Russian folk songs beloved by many.

Unification.com.au