THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY
ENGLISH SPEAKING PARISH
MOSCOW PATRIARCHATE

Our parish dates back to the early 80s when a small group, dedicated to the study of iconography, was started in one of Melbourne's Anglican parishes. People of different nationalities and Christian traditions, Russians, Australians, priests and laypeople, professional artists and amateurs - all united in an genuine interest in early Church tradition, one of the deepest manifestations of which became the Orthodox icon.

In Russia and in the entire western world, the passing century heralded a time of profound study, a time to discover the treasure that is the Orthodox icon. In the beginning of the 20th century, Russia's discovery of ancient iconography led to the spiritual treasures of the past as well as providing a standard for future spiritual growth. As a result, Christians came to the firm belief that in order to find a path towards the written icon, personal religious labour is necessary. The works of splendid Orthodox thinkers from the beginning of the century such as Fr. Paul Florensky, E. Trubetskoi, L. Uspensky look at both iconographic technique and materials as evidence of the deep spiritual processes experienced by the Church.

Today, many years hence, reflecting on the path towards Orthodoxy endured by the founders of our parish community, one gains a deeper understanding that a person who genuinely yearns to enter the world of the Orthodox icon can only do so by experiencing this continuation of the tradition through hard work and personal labour. Appreciation of the treasures of the past simply from an aesthetic perspective, serves only to distance us from the path towards the formation of an icon mentality - from the wisdom in colour about which the Russian philosopher, E. Trubestkoi wrote at the beginning of the 20th century. This journey became instrumental in leading the iconography group headed by the Anglican priest Peter Hill towards the need to join the Orthodox Church. Fr. Pavel Florensky wrote about the spiritual world, "The Church is always alive and creative, and does not hide behind old forms as such, and does not oppose the new. The Church - as the pillar and the confirmation of the Truth, demands only one thing - Truth."

It is in this search for the Truth that future members of the Holy Trinity community were helped by a wonderful paster, the Very Reverend Michael Tolmachev (1920 - 2004). Son of a Russian officer, Fr. Michael grew up in Serbia, where his family shared with hundreds and thousands of refugees the bitter fate of expulsion from Russia. After the war he, already as a priest with small children on his hands, found himself deported to Hungary by the Yugoslav authorities. Fr. Michael was rector of The St Sergius of Radonezh Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate in Budapest for over 20 years. In Australia, Fr. Michael Tolmachev served as rector of the Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox parish in Melbourne and then of The Church of the Holy Virgin's Protection under the Constantinople Patriarch. Fr. Michel Tolmachev accepted Peter Hill into Orthodoxy and helped to establish a living contact with the Mother Church in Russia. In 1989, after his ordination as an Orthodox priest by the Metropolitan of Kiev and Galicia Filaret, Fr Peter Hill became rector of the Holy Trinity Parish, Russian Orthodox Church Moscow Patriarchate in Melbourne.

For the Russian Orthodox Church the establishment of an English Speaking parish had primarily a missionary focus. Among the parishioners of this small community, besides Russians and Australians, were people of other nationalities who, although they were born and grew up in Australia and may even have lost their native tongue, did not wish to lose their connection with Orthodoxy. Initially the Parish was housed in the suburb of Glen Iris with many of the icons and church furnishings inherited from a church in Hong Kong which closed many years ago. Therefore, as parishioners we continue to carefully preserve icons and church implements gifted by Russian sailers to the Hold Kong Orthodox parish. On the 17th of February 1991, Holy Trinity Parish was honoured with a visit from its governing bishop, the Archbishop (now Metropolitan) of Smolensk and Kaliningrad Kyrill, President of the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate.

His Eminence was in Australia attending a conference of the World Council of Churches, held in Canberra. Memories of the services and the visit of Vladika Kyrill to Melbourne stayed for a long time in the hearts of our parishioners. During these years the parish of the Holy Trinity survived many happy and dramatic events. Unfortunately in 1995 our parishioners were left without permanent pastoral leadership. Due to family considerations, Fr Peter Hill, requested permission to retire. This was a difficult trial for the people but belief that the parish will continue to live, helped them to survive. By the decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1998, Fr. Igor Filianovsky, an employee of the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, was appointed to the parish of the Holy Trinity Melbourne. Fr. Igor arrived in Melbourne on the 12th June 1999 and served his first Liturgy in the parish of the Holy Trinity on the 20th June. Now our church is located in Parkville a suburb in the vicinity of the Melbourne University. Regular English and Slavonic services recommenced. There are regular study groups, a library featuring literature in both languages and regular pilgrimages to the Greek, Serbian and Russian monasteries in Australia.

The parish priest and parishioners play an active part in the live of the Russian community in the state of Victoria. Fr Igor's discussions on the Russian language Australian radio station SBS have become a regular event as well as his appearances on the Melbourne television programmes on Channel 31. In 2001 the Melbourne University published a book by Fr Igor Filinanovsky, "Stray not from peace and work the works of love" (A historical study of Russian Orthodox Missionaries in the 19th and early 20th centuries). In 2002, this book was republished in Moscow by Pravoslavnaia Pedagogica. In 2003, the parish of the Holy Trinity became one of the initiators and founding members of the Institute of Orthodox Church Studies at the University of Melbourne. In June 2004 the Bishop of Vienna and Australia, Hilarion, as guest of the University, delivered a short course of lectures dedicated to the Orthodox Church's legacy from the Holy Fathers.

We are grateful to all, who help and support us and aim that in coming into our church a person can feel the atmosphere of familial spirituality and prayer for one another.