On Thursday, April 16, His Grace George, Bishop of Mayfield, arrived in Sydney from the U.S., ready to begin his new obedience as vicar bishop of the Diocese of Australia & New Zealand, with the title Bishop of Canberra.

His Grace arrived at Kingsford Smith International Airport early in the morning, and was greeted by diocesan clerics: Archpriest George and Priest Gabriel Lapardin, and Protodeacon Alexander Kotlaroff. At the residence of the ROCOR First Hierarch and Archbishop of Australia & New Zealand in the Sydney suburb of Croydon, Bishop George was greeted by His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, who noted that "the arrival of Bishop George is a joyous occasion, which will strengthen the ecclesiastical and hierarchal presence in the Diocese."

Speaking on church life, His Grace emphasized that "services in the Diocese will continue in Church Slavonic but, where necessary, they will be performed in two languages." "I noticed that many young Russian people love Church Slavonic, but have difficulty understanding it," Bishop George noted. "So I think it is important to find a certain balance on this issue. In America, I took part in services in many churches. In some, they were performed in Slavonic; in others, in English; in others still, in both languages."

Bishop George could not help but add that he was very sorry to part with his longtime friends, clergy, and monastics in the U.S., but also expressed his hope for the strengthening and expansion of every aspect of church life in Australia.

The Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese sincerely thanks His Grace, Bishop George, for his many years of fruitful collaboration and spiritual support, and wishes him unfailing aid from Christ the Risen Savior in his new place of service.