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Establishing an online platform to spread Orthodox faith in Australia due to declining interest in Christianity, lack of awareness about Orthodoxy, and the need for a vibrant online Orthodox community. Goals include missionary work, catechesis, and linking Orthodox churches in Australia. The website aims to provide apologetic information, basic teachings, and a link between Orthodox communities. Additionally, it will be multilingual and integrate with social networks. Moderated discussions and involvement of clergy and laity from different regions are essential elements of this project.
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Orthodox Australia - Missionary and catechesis website Alex Ivanov www.orthodox.net.au (www.australianorthodox.com)
Why do we need one? • Australia, like other countries, is rejecting Christianity • Catholic and Protestant churches are closing • Government policies and law no longer supports Christian values • Australian adults grown in Christianity no longer attending the church services • Australian youth have absolutely no idea about Orthodoxy
Orthodox Christianity in Australia • Largely unknown to Australians • Associated with migrant country: Russian Church, Greek church instead of focus on Christ Himself • Only 2.6% Australians are Orthodox • In the world, Orthodox is the second largest Christian church • In Australia, Orthodox is fifth largest behind Catholicism, Anglicanism, Uniting, and Presbyterian/Reformed churches
Website goal 1: Mission • Provide a short summary what Orthodox faith is • Why we believe Orthodoxy is The Truth • Explain why we believe God exists, what are major religions and how they differ from Christianity • Explain why Orthodox is the only Church founded by Christ Himself • Address “difficult questions” • Apologetic information
Website goal 2: Catechesis • Basic Orthodox teachings • Difference with catholic, protestant • Links to Holy Fathers books • Living a Christian life
Website goal 3: Linking Orthodox Churches of Australia • Build vibrant Orthodox online community • Information about Orthodox eparchies of Australia • Map of all Orthodox churches and monasteries, with links, photos • Calendar of church feast days • Bible study groups • Pilgrimages • Photo gallery • Forum on various topics. Apologetics, Q&A etc. • Example protestants: http://carm.org/apologetics
Multi lingual site • Initially only English and Russian – full versions • Other languages to join later (engage multicultural team) • Greek • Serbian • Romanian • Bulgarian
Social network &Facebook integration Articles have public FB comments enabled Discussion is translated to Facebook user feed Moderation is required Forum with the priest answering questions
Project team • Laity not clergy (time consuming) • Clergy to review articles • Engage Fr. Michael,Fr. Igor, Fr. Nikolai • Engage laity from Dandenong, Brunswick, Oakleigh • Engage people from national churches
Part 1: Missionary • What do YOU believe? • No God: Atheism, agnostics • Buddhism • Multiple gods: Hindu, pagan • Islam • Judaism • Sects • Occult teachings • Christian church • Church History • Orthodoxy and Catholics • Orthodoxy and protestants • Orthodox countries in the past and today • Famous Orthodox people
Structure 2: Catechesis • Orthodox faith • Holy Trinity • Nicene Creed • Holy Tradition • Holy Scripture • Apostolic succession • Icons • The Divine Liturgy • Saints • Jesus Christ – Man and God • Sin and repentance • Salvation • Church • Judgement and Afterlife Being an orthodox • Prayer • Fasting • Repentance, confession • Holy Communion • Spiritual warfare • Bible studies
Structure 3: Orthodox Australia • Orthodox Australia • Orthodox church in Australia • Australian eparchies • Map of all churches and monasteries • Calendar of church feast days • Bible study groups • Pilgrimages • Forum • Photo gallery
Project budget • Project is driven by lots of people volunteering their time • Content is mostly copied across from other websites, with permission • $600 professional design https://www.fl.ru/konkurs/ • $80 per year hosting • $300 custom maps