SOFIA UniMelb - University of Melbourne Orthodox Christian Fellowship

04/03/2026

Good Luck to all the Orthodox students starting their academic year at Melbourne Uni

29/01/2026

30 January.

"THE THREE HIERARCHS:
SAINT BASIL THE GREAT, SAINT GREGORY THE THEOLOGIAN AND SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

Each of these saints have their own feast day. St. Basil the Great, January 1; St. Gregory the Theologian, January 25; and St. John Chrysostom, November 13.

This combined feast day, January 30, was instituted in the eleventh century during the reign of Emperor Alexius Comnenus. At one time a debate arose among the people concerning who of the three is the greatest?
Some extolled Basil because of his purity and courage; others extolled Gregory for his unequalled depth and lofty mind in theology; still others extolled Chrysostom because of his eloquence and clarity in expounding the Faith. Thus some were called Basilians, others Gregorgians, and the third were called Johannites. This debate was settled by Divine Providence to the benefit of the Church and to an even greater glory of the three saints. Bishop John of Euchaita (June 14) had a vision in a dream: At first, all three of these saints appeared to him separately in great glory and indescribable beauty, and after that all three appeared together. They said to him,
"As you see, we are one in God and there is nothing contradictory in us; neither is there a first or a second among us."
The saints also advised Bishop John that he write a common service for them and to order a common feast day of celebration. Following this wonderful vision, the debate was settled in this manner: January 30 would be designated as the common feast of these three Hierarchs.
The Greeks consider this feast not only an ecclesiastical feast but their greatest national school holiday as well. The Three saints are patron Saints of education.

Service in the morning 8-10 highly recommend that children take communion before the start of the school year.
Good luck and God bless

18/12/2025

Congratulations on all the graduates this year

31/10/2025

Good luck and God bless all the Melbourne Uni Students heading into exams

08/08/2025

HOLY UNCTION
This Tuesday 12/8 6pm

Orthodox believes in the powers of God to heal both body and spirit. In this sacrament, the Holy Spirit is invoked to bless olive oil, and the ill person is anointed. Most parishioners receive the sacrament once a year on Holy Wednesday of Holy Week, but it also may be administered privately.

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY UNCTION

The sacrament of holy unction provides both physical and mental healing with holy oil blessed by the Holy Spirit. The oil carries God's grace both to renew the body and to cleanse the spirit. ".... Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.. James 5:14-15"

The service is composed of Psalms from the Old Testament, hymns of direct supplication to God, and prayers to saints to intercede for the petitioner. In addition, there are seven readings from the Gospels preceded by seven other New Testament writings, notably the epistles of St. Paul and St. James. After each set of scriptural readings, a prayer is offered on behalf of the penitent by the priest asking for forgiveness and the sanctification of the oil.

At the end of the service, the priest puts holy oil on the forehead, cheeks, chin, and hands of the parishioner in the form of a cross.

Holy unction is a sacrament of great comfort to the faithful. It provides uplift and asks for patience to accept the will of God whatever the physical outcome. HOWEVER, IT SHOULD NOT BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT.

04/08/2025

All welcome

SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT
SHORT COURSES INTO THE ORTHODOX FAITH
STARTING 6 AUGUST 7pm

01/07/2025

Our first social outing. Love to meet new people.

26/05/2025

If anybody needs prayers and blessings for the upcoming exam period, feel free to seek out Fr Emmanuel, on campus at Melbourne uni, or at his church in Carlton.

10/04/2025

Holy week program at St Johns Carlton

07/03/2025

MELBOURNE UNI ORTHODOX STUDENTS

Come to Scholar & Co Cafe
Wednesday 12:00 to 2:00pm
to meet your university orthodox chaplain Fr Emmanuel and he will give you a blessing for the new academic year.

07/03/2025

Everyone is welcome

SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT

EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT DURING GREAT LENT
JOIN THE CARLTON CATECHISM CLASSES

FOR AN INTRODUCTION TO THE ORTHODOX FAITH

7:00pm in the Church.

All welcome