Woolloongabba (Brisbane), Queensland Australia
Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia
This Russian Orthodox parish, the first in Australia, was established by white Russians fleeing the Russian revolution. For many years they worshipped in St Thomas's Anglican Church in nearby South Brisbane. In 1925 they purchased a cottage and converted it into a church. It was later moved to the back of the block to make way for the construction of the new church.Since these early days, and indeed since the foundation of the church, services have changed little. Worship is still conducted in the liturgical language, Church Slavonic. There are no pews or chairs and the congregation stands while the smell of incense wafts around singing members. Candles burn before the icons and on the altar. More icons line the walls representing the spiritual beauty of the Kingdom of Heaven.