Sometimes it helps to know a little bit about a parish before you visit or start reading their website. This page aims to give you enough information to know what to expect of us and where we're “coming from”.
Services were initially conducted in hired premises in East Gosford, and later in Narara. This required a great effort from the community, including the transport of all items necessary for the celebration of the Divine Services. Various clergymen from Sydney served the parish in 2000 and most of 2001, with services held once a month. Priest James Carles was appointed to the parish in September 2001, initially visiting from Sydney every third Sunday. After a period of significant growth, the parish decided in late 2003 to purchase the premises that now house the church and hall. Services began to be celebrated fortnightly. Father James and his family relocated to the Central Coast in March 2004. The new parish centre was opened in April of that year, and in May the new church was blessed by the Archbishop Hilarion.
Our parish was established by a resolution of then Archbishop Hilarion on November 22nd 2000. The first service was conducted by then Archbishop himself on the following Sunday, November 26th 2000.
Our parish has continued to grow and prosper.  In December 2008, we repaid our mortgage in full, some 9 years early.  We continue to beautify our small church while saving to build a permanent church and parish centre that will serve the needs of Orthodox Christians on the Central Coast into the future. 
Besides the regular services, our parish life is enhanced by enjoyable camps and gatherings, and we strive to ever more diligently live Orthodox Christian lives.
There are approximately 80 households in our parish. Nearly half of us are families with young children and teenagers. Children are welcome in church. We have no separate Sunday school or children's services. Our children are baptised and participate fully in the liturgical and sacramental life of the Church, receiving Holy Communion from their infancy.
Our background is predominantly Russian. Of the Russian people amongst us, most came to Australia from China, or our parents and grandparents did. Others amongst us came from Eastern Europe after WW2, and still others came to Australia after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Quite a few of us are not Russian: Orthodox Christians of Serbian, Romanian and Middle Eastern background, and a number of us are converts to Orthodox Christianity.
Almost everyone in the parish speaks English fluently. English is the main language used for preaching, announcements, meetings, and general conversation. As one would expect in a Russian Orthodox parish, Russian is also often used.
We live throughout the Central Coast. Some of us live on the Woy Woy Peninsula and around Brisbane Water; some in the Narara Valley and Ourimbah; some along the coast between McMasters Beach and The Entrance; and others around Tuggerah Lakes”.

VISITING  OUR CHURCH
Approximately 50-60 of us attend each Sunday morning Divine Liturgy, sometimes more, sometimes less. Our parish has grown quite considerably over the years. This can increase to around 100 on major feast-days like Pascha, Theophany, our patronal feast of Saint Panteleimon, and our special occasions, such as when our Metropolitan visits. There are fewer of us at evening services, which are generally attended by only about 12-15 people.
Our morning Divine Services are predominantly in Church Slavonic. The Epistle and Gospel are read in both languages. The sermon is usually given in English. In the evenings, more English is used in the services. There are lots of opportunities for people to help with the reading and singing at evening services, and people are welcome to join the readers and singers in the choir.
After our morning services we pray together in our hall before we sit down and eat. We are very lucky, in that our hard-working ladies' committee organises a lovely lunch. There are always cakes, a cup of tea or coffee, and other things to share with parishioners helping by bringing a plate.  We also have regular BBQs, and the ladies bake piroshki approximately 4 times a year.
The evening services are usually between one and a half and two hours in length. These services are largely made up of alternating readings and short hymns. There is generally no preaching or teaching at evening services, the prayers, hymns and reading from Sacred Scripture providing the best instruction. Morning services are generally between two and two and a half hours in length. Readings from the Epistles and the Holy Gospel take place about one-third of the way through the service. The reception of Holy Communion and preaching occur close to the end.
All people of goodwill are welcome at our services, although only baptised Orthodox Christians can participate fully in the sacramental life of the Church. Visitors may be surprised to find very few seats in our church; this is because we generally stand throughout the Divine Services.

DRESS CODE
The Orthodox Church has a dress code based around the concept of non-distraction from prayer. This is why both men and women should come to Church dressed modestly and in such a way as to not distract others from praying.

Men are asked to dress conservatively with long pants, simple collared shirts and modest footwear. They should no wear hats or head coverings within the Church itself.

Women are asked to wear long skirts and tops with sleeves of any length, or dresses with sleeves of any length. Unlike men, women are not only permitted to wear head coverings, but are actually required to cover their hair when entering an Orthodox Church, the Apostle Paul commanding this. A light head scarf is acceptable.

BEHAVIOUR
Behaviour can go a long way towards enhancing a feeling of reverence and prayerfulness.

It is therefore appropriate to stand quietly during the services (generally men stand on the right hand side, women on the left) and to actively focus on prayer. It is not appropriate to be moving around excessively during the services, to carry on conversations, or to stand aloof from the proceedings (eg hands in pockets or hands behind one's back like a casual observer.) It is, however, appropriate to arrive on time (ie: prior to the start of the service), venerate the saints and place candles before their icons, and also to cross oneself and bow at appropriate times during the services.

If you need to leave the Church building during a service for whatever reason, then this should be done unobtrusively and quietly.

Do not attempt to enter the doors of the Sanctuary. This is for clergy and Altar Servers, as well as those who are blessed to do so.

Smoking is strongly discouraged anywhere on the Church grounds.

When driving in or out of the Church grounds, SLOW DOWN! Not only will it be quieter, but remember that there are children and elderly people present who may not hear or see your car.

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