These prayers are exactly what their name suggests – prayers of the gathered faithful. In praying this prayer, the faithful are carrying out their role of praying for the entire world as well as for the needs of the local community. No two congregations will have exactly the same prayers, since their perception of the world's needs and of the local community will vary. Therefore they are written anew for each Sunday and weekly celebrations.

Thursday April 25 marks ANZAC DAY in Australia and New Zealand when we remember those who have sacrificed their lives for peace starting from the First World War through to present wars.

There is a set of prayers for AUSTRALIA and one for OUTSIDE of Australia for that day, and in Australia the Feast of St Mark is transferred from April 25 to 26. Therefore, on Friday there are two sets of prayers. 

Last Saturday there was a terrible event in the Bondi Junction Shopping Mall in Sydney where six people lost their lives and the perpetrator shot dead. Among the injured, several are still in hospital in a serious condition including a 9-month-old baby daughter of one of the women victims.  

Last night, in what is described as a terrorist attack in Sydney, a Syrian Orthodox bishop was stabbed while celebrating the Eucharist and a priest and other people received injuries. The alleged attacker, 16, is in police custody. The authorities claim that it was religiously motivated.

Meanwhile the sufferings and deaths continue across the Holy Land and in Ukraine, and the year long civil war in Sudan is bringing untold suffering to millions of people.

 – Fr Maurice