Interview on Russian Orthodoxy in New Zealand

An interesting interview with Fr. Vladimir Boikov, head of the New Zealand Deanery of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad's Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, can be found here.

First 2011 Session of Russian Orthodox Synod Abroad

At the first 2011 session of the Synod Abroad of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) preparations were begun for a hierarchical council of the ROCOR to be held this May and for the upcoming visit of Metropolitan Christopher (Pulec) of Prague of the Czechoslovak Orthodox Church. Fr. Oleg Smirnov of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand was also defrocked per his request. More here.

Russian Orthodox Church in Australia Issues Appeal for Flooding Victims

Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral) of New York of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, in his capacity as ruling hierarch of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, has issued an appeal for the victims of the recent flooding in the Australian states of Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. More here.

Russian Orthodox Diocesan Assembly in Sydney

Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral) of New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, presided over the recent assembly of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand in Sydney in his capacity as the diocese's ruling hierarch. More here.

Interview with Bishop Agapit on Australia

The Synod Abroad has just released an interview with Bishop Agapit (Gorachek) of Stuttgart on his recent visit to the Australian Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. He has interesting reflections on the differences between the Russian Orthodox Church in Germany and Australia and on the decline in the number of parishioners in Australia in recent years. He blames this on the loss of the Russian language, making the interesting claim that "the English language is not one that lends itself to theology" (?).

Vladyka's perspective is one I've heard from multiple perspectives, with Slavonic, Greek, Gi'iz, and Syriac alternately being the answer to the seeker who wants to be 'truly Orthodox' :-). It's sad that we're so often unwilling to do the work to enculturate Orthodoxy in other cultures, choosing instead to leave everything frozen in time, whether in 14th century Ethiopia or 17th century Muscovy or whenever. Where would Slavonic be if Sts. Cyril and Methodius and their disciples hadn't committed themselves to enculturating Orthodoxy amongst the Slavs? Or Gi'iz without the work of the nine Roman Saints? Just more dead pagan languages.

The full interview with Vladyka Agapit can be found here.