Introduction
Welcome to the website of the St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Canberra.
The cathedral parish is part of the Australian Diocese
of the
Russian Orthodox Church (Abroad). We hope that your visit will be of benefit.
The dean of the cathedral is Archpriest Alexander Morozow.
For general enquiries please email enquiry@stjohnthebaptist.org.au. For information and enquiries about hiring the parish hall, please see the contact page.
Our parish website also has web pages in Russian with different content.
Recent Updates
- 18 May 2022
- May special edition of Listok (in Russian).
- 6 May 2022
- April edition of Listok (in Russian).
- 4 January 2022
- January edition of Listok (in Russian).
- 9 September 20201
- Weekly Reading Group.
- 28 August 2021
- August special edition of Listok (in Russian).
- 1 May 2021
- May edition of Listok (in Russian).
Repose of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion – Fortieth Day
Early on the morning of 17 May we received the sad news that after a long illness our beloved Hierarch Metropolitan Hilarion reposed in the Lord at 2.00 pm New York time on 16 May.
The fortieth day since his repose falls on Friday 24 June and given the importance of the fortieth day in terms of prayers for the departed, we will serve a Panihida on that Friday in our church at 6.00pm. Given that we were of course unable to be at Metropolitan Hilarion’s funeral, this fortieth day service takes on a particular significance for us all as the Metropolitan’s flock in terms of expressing our respect and gratitude for his selfless life of service to our church.
I urge all who are able to attend this important memorial to do so and join us in prayer for the repose of our church’s much loved archpastor.
Father Alexander
Updates Related to COVID-19 - 26 February
The rapid spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 underlines the great importance of our continuing need to take all the necessary safeguards to minimise the risk of infection amongst those attending our church. While no longer mandatory, we ask that masks continue to be worn when in church given the number of our worshipers who have a higher Covid risk because of their age or because of underlying health issues. We also need to ensure that worshipers spread out in church as much as is practical. Those wishing to venerate icons should use the alcohol wipes available at the candle stall before and after such veneration.
For the time being there is no requirement to advise me in advance of your attendance in church as we should be able to accommodate the expected number of worshipers on Sundays and other feast days, including Christmas. However, if it does look like we might reach our allowable limit during any service, please be understanding if you are asked to wait outside the church until someone leaves.
If you have any questions regarding the above arrangements I would ask that you contact me directly on 0411 165 925.
Father Alexander
To help us overcome the financial impact that the pandemic has had on our finances, we ask you to consider a regular monthly financial contribution to our parish. Contributions directly into our parish bank account is the easiest way to make your donation. Our bank account details are as follows:
BSB: 032719
Account: 602930
Other updates for the parish community and communications from the parish clergy will be published here. Please check back regularly.
Schedule of Upcoming Services
Saturday, 11 June | 5:00 pm | All Night Vigil | Pentecost Trinity Sunday |
Sunday, 12 June | 9:00 am | Divine Liturgy | |
Saturday, 18 June | 5:00 pm | All Night Vigil | 1st Sunday after Pentecost All Saints |
Sunday, 19 June | 9:00 am | Divine Liturgy | |
Friday, 24 June | 6:00 pm | Panihida | Fortieth day of the repose of Met. Hilarion |
Saturday, 25 June | 5:00 pm | All Night Vigil | 2nd Sunday after Pentecost All Saints of Russia |
Sunday, 26 June | 9:00 am | Divine Liturgy | |
Saturday, 2 July | 5:00 pm | All Night Vigil | 3rd Sunday after Pentecost |
Sunday, 3 July | 9:00 am | Divine Liturgy | |
Wednesday, 6 July | 6:00 pm | All Night Vigil | Nativity of St. John the Baptist Patronal Feast Day |
Thursday, 7 July | 9:00 am | Divine Liturgy | |
Saturday, 9 July | 5:00 pm | All Night Vigil | 4th Sunday after Pentecost |
Sunday, 10 July | 9:00 am | Divine Liturgy |
Services
Visitors are always welcome at our services. The All Night Vigil is celebrated beginning at 5 PM on Saturday evenings and the Divine Liturgy at 9 AM on Sunday mornings. Confessions are heard during the Vigil service. The principal language of the services is Church Slavonic. Some English is used in the Divine Liturgies and usually somewhat more during the All Night Vigils. The parish church is located at:
1 Matina St
Narrabundah ACT 2604 (map)
For updates to the service schedule and other parish events, follow us (@stjohn_baptist) on Twitter or on Facebook.
Parish Life
Upcoming Events
Recent Snapshots
- 26 November - Russian Bazaar… Read on…
- November 6 - Russian Sacred Treasures concert by the Diocesan choir at 4 PM in the church.
- April 2015 - Great Friday and Pascha… View photos…
- 1-4 May 2014 - Choral Conference audio recordings… Read on…
- 5 July 2013 - Award for Archpriest Alexander… View photos…
- 5 July 2013 - Patronal Feast… View photos…
- 24 June 2013 - Farewell to a member of the Choir… View photos…
- May - Holy Week and Pascha… View photos…

Parish Membership

We would encourage those who attend our services and are part of the Orthodox community in Canberra to become parish members. An explanation of the importance of parish membership is available in Russian and English, as is a parish membership form,
also in Russian and English.
Information is available about how members of our community can help to support our parish financially, when unable to attend weekly services.