Geelong Ukrainian Orthodox Church
The Geelong Ukrainian Orthodox Church, officially the Ukrainian Autocephalic Orthodox Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos (Ukrainian: Храм «Різдва Пресвятої Богородиці», Джилонг), is an Eastern Orthodox church located in the Geelong suburb of Bell Park, Victoria, Australia. The church belongs to the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in Diaspora Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, and has served as a religious, cultural, and community centre for Ukrainian Orthodox faithful in the Geelong region.
History
The Ukrainian Orthodox presence in Geelong developed in the post-Second World War period, following the arrival of Ukrainian displaced persons to Australia. In the early years, the local Orthodox community was supported by clergy based in Melbourne, and divine services were conducted in borrowed premises, including Christ Church in the Geelong city centre.
In April 1953, Archbishop Ivan Danlyuk arrived in Australia to organise and minister to Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox communities. Although his death later that year interrupted the early institutional development of the church, his work was continued by other clergy and church leaders, including Bishop Varlaam (Victor Solovij), who later undertook canonical visitations to Ukrainian Orthodox communities across Australia.
Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, Ukrainian Orthodox services in Geelong were held in various shared community spaces, including the aforementioned Christ Church Anglican Church on Moorabool Street, and the Ukrainian Hromada Hall on Pakington Street. Agreements were reached that allowed both Orthodox and Ukrainian Catholic congregations to use these facilities, reflecting close cooperation between the two communities. Construction of a permanent church building in Bell Park was undertaken by members of the Ukrainian community. The church was consecrated in 1976, marking the establishment of a permanent place of worship.
In February 2020, the parish was visited by Archbishop Daniel of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Diaspora during an archpastoral visit to Victoria. The visit included a moleben service attended by members of the Ukrainian Orthodox community. During his visit, Archbishop Daniel also met with clergy and parishioners and paid a courtesy visit to the nearby Ukrainian Catholic parish.
Architecture and features
Architecturally, the church is designed in a baroque style, constructed of local brick and crowned with a central dome. The interior includes an iconostasis painted by Vasyl Tsybulskyi.
See also
- Christ Church, Geelong
- Geelong Hungarian Seventh-day Adventist Church
- Geelong Russian Orthodox Church
- St. John the Baptist Macedonian Orthodox Church, Geelong
- St Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church, Geelong