On June 10, 2017, father Alexey Popkov served a Divine Liturgy in the city of Palmerston North, which is 150 km to the North of Wellington. During that service three boys were baptized: Dmitriy, Nikita and Maxim.

On that day about 20 people came to the Greek church of St. John the Baptist which was built in 1970s. Among them were not only Russian residents of the city but also people of other nationalities (Greek, Romanian). The priest and his family came together with several people from Wellington: two women singing in the church choir, and two men assisting father Alexey in the altar. The service was held in Old Slavonic language – the traditional language of Russian Orthodox church, but the excerpts from Holy Gospel were read in two languages: Russian and English.

After the service everyone was invited to the church hall to enjoy the treats prepared by the parishioners.

On the way to Wellington Alexey Kulikov suggested to visit a Greek monastery which is situated near the small town of Levin. In the monastery church father Alexey served a thanksgiving service.

After a visit to the monastery everyone went back to Wellington. Thank God for that beautiful day!

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On June, 4, 2017 after the holiday Divine Liturgy in Wellington church of Christ the Saviour, one of the parishioners Ekaterina Romanova gave a presentation entitled ‘Christianity in New Zealand’. Before the presentation f. Alexey Popkov told about the spread of Christianity by holy Apostles and their disciples over the whole world in the early ages. The listeners who stayed to hear the presentation learned fascinating facts from the history of New Zealand.

We thank Ekaterina and her family for their work on organising this meeting!

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On June, 10, 2017 at 9.30am a service will be held in the Greek Orthodox church of Palmerston North. The address is 30 Rochester Street, Palmerston North, which is about 150 km from Wellington. On the request of the Russian speaking community in that city, father Alexey Popkov will hold a service and administer the sacrament of baptism on that day. We invite everyone who is willing to join the priest and the parishioners of Wellington church of Christ the Saviour on this trip. For more information please call 0212372236. If you would like to go, please let us know in advance, for us to be able to organize transportation.

On that day, the evening service in Wellington is cancelled! On Sunday, the service will take place as scheduled.

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Dear parishioners of our church, and all kind people from New Zealand and other countries!
I know father Pavel Skvortsov from the town of Pavlov Posad of Moscow region, and I ask you to help him

and his little daughter Varya. Now, as never before, they need help because a lot of money is required

for medical expenses and rehabilitation.
We collect donations for the church bank account:
Russian Orthodox Church EXPAC. Account number: 11 7247 0009754 11 Please make sure to include in

references: Donation to Varvara Skvortsova.
Also, you can donate cash in Wellington church of Christ the Saviour (Services timetable).
If you have accounts in Russia, you can make a transfer to following Sberbank account: 4276 8382 5792

0811, for Varya’s father — f. Pavel (Pavel Stanislavovich S.). Telephone number, associated with the

account: 8(985)185-95-36.

God bless you for your kind help! Fathe Alexey Popkov.
Below is some information from the Facebook group and VKonakte.

Varya Skvortsova, 4 years
Moscow, Russia
Dagnosis: bilateral dysplasia of pelvis joints, pathological antatorsion of femoral necks and

underdevelopment of hip sockets.
Litte Varya was born on October, 10, 2012. At 1,5 years she was diagnosed with hereditary dysplasia. She

underwent a painful initial treatment: for 10 months when her joint dislocations were being treated the

girl had to be immobilized with her both legs in plaster.
Now she needs a surgery in Germany. Both legs have to be operated on, after which she has to be put in

plaster cast from her waist to her knees for 4-6 weeks. Then, another surgery is required for removing

the braces holding the skeletal implants.
The total costs for the treatment, accommodation in Germany for 1,5 months, transport and translation

services are estimated at 31860 euros!
We do not have funds to cover the expences, so we ask for your help!

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On May, 6, 2017, a holiday concert dedicated to the celebration of the Victory Day, the 72th anniversary of the end of World War II, was held in the hall of St. John’s church on Willis street.

At the opening ceremony, the participants of the Soviet department of one of the military reconstruction clubs brought out the Victory Banner and the national flag of Russian Federation.

First, the president of the Russian club in Wellington Victor Gaiduch congratulated everyone. A few songs of the war times were played and newsreel footage of the second world war was shown.

In his congratulatory speech, the ambassador of Russian Federation in New Zealand Valeriy Tereshchenko pointed out the importance of this day, called the audience to remember the heroic deeds of our soldiers and noted the necessity to remind the younger generation of this great day. Chris King, a veteran of the Arctic Convoys, congratulated everyone on the Victory Day. Vice mayor Paul Eagle also said a greeting speech. A moment of silence was held on conclusion of the speeches.

The official part of the concert was followed by a performance by musicians and singers. Vladimir Bell accompanied other performers on the accordion, and also sang wartime songs. Dance by Irina Shatalova.

Olga Panasenko from Auckland performed a few songs.

Father Alexey Popkov and Vladimir bell sang three war songs.

Anastasia Dolinina (vocals) and Matias Davis (guitar) also participated in the concert.

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On April, 30, 2017 bishop George visited the church of the Protection of the Mother of God which is situatied in the scenic town of Le Bons Bay, 80 km from Christchurch. Vladyka was impressed by the beauty of the church and the surrounding nature.

The same evening a matins service was held in St. Nickolas church in Christchurch, where about 30 people prayed together with Vladyka and other priests and deakons.

Next day, on April, 31, 2017, Vladyka George held a service of Great Blessing of the church. All Russian priests and deacons of New Zealand took part in the service:
archpriest Vladimir Boykov, rector of Auckland church of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and of Wellington church of Christ the Saviour, the dean of the Russian Orthodox church in New Zealand;
archpriest Valentin Basyuk, rector of St. Nickolas church in Christchurch;
archpriest Alexey Popkov from Wellington;
father Alexander Skorik from Auckland;
father Eugene Kulanov from New Zealand Missionary;
hierodeacon Pantaleon (Zhygalin) from Auckland;
deacon Vladimir Philippovich from Christchurch.
About 70 people prayed at the service, and around half of them took the Holy Communion.
Archpriest Valentin Basyuk was awarded with an epigonation.

Additional photos from the Great Blessing of the chuch in Christchurch.

On May, 1, Vladyka George paid a missionary visit to Nelson, where in an Anglikan chapel he served a Divine Liturgy for 30 Orthodox people (Russian, Belarusians, Ukrainians, Serbs, Romanians and New Zealanders) living in the city.

That day – a celebration of The Myrrophores – was chosen as the Dedication day of that community. For the first time Orthodox christians in Nelson took place in a service lead by bishop George. Other priests (f. Vladimir Boykov and f. Eugene Kulanov) and deacon Pantaleon (Zhygalin) took part in the service. The plentitude of the church in Nelson, New Zealand! Thank God for all His Mercy!

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On April, 24, 2017 his Grace George, the bishop of Canberra had an official meeting with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Russian Federation in New Zealand, Valeriy Tereshchenko. The following persons were also present:

archpriest Vladimir Boykov, the dean of the Russian Orthodox church in New Zealand, rector of Auckland church of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ;

father Alexey Popkov, the priest of Wellington church of Christ the Saviour;

Third Secretary of the embassy Arthur Zakayev.

The topics discussed during the meeting included the building of a new Russian church in Auckland. Vladyka George and father Vladimir thanked the ambassador for his assistance in obtaining a permit for buying land for the future church.

The ambassador was interested in the bishop’s visit to New Zealand, he also asked about the quantity of Orthodox churches, their priests and parishioners. Vladyka answered these questions, and also told about the Orthodox churches in Australia. Father Vladimir Boykov spoke about the history of Russian immigration in New Zealand. At the end of the meeting Valeriy Tereshchenko wished all Orthodox parishes in New Zealand to develop fast and productively.

On April, 25 Vladyka George served the Divine Liturgy in Wellington church of Christ the Saviour. Other priests that took part in the service are:

archpriest Vladimir Boykov, the dean of the Russian Orthodox church in New Zealand, rector of Auckland church of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ;

father Alexey Popkov, the priest of Wellington church of Christ the Saviour.

About 50 people attended the service, 20 of which took the Holy Communion. After the prayer behind the ambo father Alexey was granted the rank of an archpriest.

After the service, a Serbian choir Vox Serbica (conductor Mima Nikolic) gave a concert in the church. They performed 5 pieces of sacred music:

Ninje Otpushchajeshi (A. Arkhangel’ski)

Bogorodice Djevo Radujsa (S. Rakhmaninov)

Pod Tvoju Milost (D. Bortnyanski)

Da ispravitsja (K. Stanković)

Otche nash (N. Kedrov)

The concert continued in the church hall, where the choir sang 5 more pieces:

Magdo, Magdo (Serbian folk song, arr. Marko Taicević)

Letyat Utki (Russian folk song)

Tamo Daleko (Ðorđe Marinković)

Nad Okoshkom Mesec (S. Esenin / E. Popov)

Eleno Kjerko (Macedonian folk song)

After the Serbian choir, the students of Sunday school Anastasiya and Ekaterina Reed sang the song ‘Christ is Risen’ in English. Tania Koroteeva and Sofia Koroteeva recited Easter poems. Elena Popkova recited a poem ‘The Resurrection of Christ’.

After lunch, Vladyka, priests and other people went to the Russian cemetery, where a memorial service was held and a memorial cross was blessed.

The following morning Vladyka George met Metropolitan Amphilochios of the Greek Orthodox church in the Greek church of St. Andrew. This concluded the visit of Vladyka to Wellington.

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