On January 6, 2022, on the eve of the Nativity of Christ (Christmas Eve), Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi celebrated the Great Vespers and the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great in the church in honor of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos of Khanty-Mansiysk. During the Liturgy, Metropolitan Pavel ordained deacon Ambrose Sumagaysay, a cleric of the Philippine—Vietnamese diocese, to the rank of priest. At the end of the service, the troparion and the kontakion of the Feast of the Nativity of Christ were sung in front of the Christmas Candle marking the Star of Bethlehem. Then Metropolitan Pavel congratulated the flock on the upcoming holiday: “Dear fathers, brothers and sisters! allow me from the heart to congratulate everyone on Christmas! Today we have already come quite close to this great holiday! There was time for each of us during the Christmas fast to prepare for the holiday, and the main thing is to prepare our soul, cleanse it from sins, change it for the better. Going through the field of the Christmas Fast, we had to rethink, reassess our life values, look at ourselves from the inside and ask: am I doing everything in order to be saved? To become cleaner and celebrate Christmas with dignity is the best gift for this holiday. God grant that His mercy does not leave each of us, because we hope for it. For the Lord loved the world so much that He sent His Son to live with men, to show us the way of salvation. The God-Man, the Son of God, is born, and today we celebrate the day of the coming of Christ the Savior into the world, His Holy Christmas! Thank you all, my dear ones, for the common prayers, congratulations on the holiday, may the mercy and love of God spread to each of us and cover our infirmities, our sins and bring us closer to Him! I would especially like to congratulate the cleric of the Philippine—Vietnamese diocese, Father Ambrose, who took holy orders in this holy church! This is a historic event for him and for us too. It would seem: where is the Philippines and where is Khanty-Mansiysk, but for God everything is close, everything is possible. I would like to ask you to pray for Father Ambrose, so that the Lord will strengthen him in his ministry, and he will pray for us, for the temple in which he received the grace of the priesthood! May God’s blessing be with us all. Amen!” At the end of the Service, Metropolitan Pavel consecrated the Nativity Scene.

Ambrose Sumagaysay was born in the city of Arakan, in a Catholic family and attended the Catholic Church since childhood. Currently works as a carpenter, builder. He married a parishioner of the Aglipai Church (Philippine Independent Church) and became a parishioner of this church. He learned about Orthodoxy after attending seminars on catechesis by Priest Stanislav Rasputin. Subsequently, he was baptized by Priest Kirill Shkarbul in 2015. Since that time, he became the headman of the parish in the village of Little Baguio, at the same time engaged in the construction of the church of St. Helena in this village. The parishioners of this village are former Aglipayans who have converted to Orthodoxy over the past 5 years. In 2020, Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi ordained Ambrose Sumagaysay to the rank of deacon.

On January 2, 2022, the Sunday before Christmas, of the Holy Fathers, Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Resurrection Cathedral in Khanty-Mansiysk. His Eminence was co-served by the clergy of the Cathedral and the clergy of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese: Hierodeacon John (Gondayao), Deacon Nicholas Salgado, Deacon Ambrose Sumagaysay. During the Liturgy, Metropolitan Pavel ordained Deacon Nicholas Salgado to the rank of priest. At the end of the service, Vladyka addressed the audience: “Dear brothers and sisters, allow me from my heart to congratulate everyone on the feast of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ! There is no greater glory than to glorify our Heavenly Creator together, and I would like us to always remember that joint prayer at the Divine Liturgy is a special service, higher than which there is no on earth, because during it a person is united with God. And each such service reminds us that the Lord suffered and rose again for the sake of our salvation. When we unite with God, we ask him for forgiveness of our sins committed daily, and some of them have taken root so deeply that we can no longer live without them. Passing the days of the Christmas fast, I would like to wish all of us that everyone would try to reconsider their lives, look at themselves, ask: am I doing everything right for my soul, and at least improve in some way, leave at least something sinful. The Kingdom of Heaven is taken by works and we must apply them for the salvation of our soul, the correction of our sinful life. Help us, Lord! May God grant us to pass these remaining days before the Birth of Christ in repentance and correction. God bless everyone! Sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, I wish you to meet with dignity the greatest holiday — the beginning of the salvation of the human race, the coming of Christ the Savior into the world!”

On January 1, 2022, on the eve of the Sunday before Christmas, of the Holy Fathers, Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi held an All-Night Vigil in the Resurrection Cathedral of Khanty-Mansiysk. His Eminence was co-served by the clergy of the cathedral and the clergy of the Philippine–Vietnamese Diocese, Hierodeacon John (Gondayao), Deacon Nicholas Salgado, Deacon Ambrose Sumagaysay.

On December 31, 2021, Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi performed a prayer service for the New Year in the Resurrection Cathedral of Khanty-Mansiysk.

His Eminence was co-served by the clergy of Khanty-Mansiysk and the clergy of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese: Hierodeacon John (Gondayao), Deacon Nicholas Salgado, Deacon Ambrose Sumagaysay.

Before the beginning of the service, Metropolitan Pavel addressed the audience:

“Dear fathers, brothers and sisters, allow me to greet you from my heart, with the beginning of the new year of the goodness of the Lord. Our country lives according to this calendar, and today I would like to express my gratitude to the Almighty, our Lord, Who keeps us and peace on the earth, gives us the strength to carry obediences to which the Lord has set us. Regardless of church or state positions, each of us works, glorifying his Heavenly Creator, thanking for every day he has lived. Thank God for everything, for sorrow and for joy, for both are for salvation. And God grant that everything is for the salvation of our souls, that we do everything in order to save our soul. Help us, Lord, to be Your followers, to walk on the saving path, may our Lord bless the year of the Lord’s goodness, into which we are entering, so that the mercy and help of God will help and accompany each of us. We pray to God, Who is peace and all-embracing love, and ask for blessings for the new year.”

A litia for the departed was also performed for the newly deceased Archpriest Nikolai Gundyaev, honorary rector of the Transfiguration Cathedral of St. Petersburg.

At the end , the bishop noted:

“God, give rest to the newly reposed Archpriest Nicholas. Modest and quiet, so you can characterize him. He taught the teachings of the holy fathers to many people at the academy and seminary. And, of course, his preaching was simply unique. When he preached, everyone came out of the altar and listened very attentively, the silence was complete in the cathedral. No one spoke like that. Eternal memory.”

Today, His Eminence Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi met with deacons Nicholas Salgado and Ambrose Sumagaysay, who arrived from the Philippines, at the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. After prayers at the relics of St. Sergius of Radonezh, the Bishop said a parting word to the guests of Russia. After the meeting, the deacons headed to the airport for departure to Khanty-Mansiysk.

TO HIS HOLINESS THE PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA Kirill

YOUR HOLINESS! DEAR OUR PRIMATE AND FATHER! On this momentous and joyful day for all those who love you, on behalf of the clergy and flock of the Khanty–Mansiysk Metropolia, and the Philippine–Vietnamese Diocese entrusted to my care, accept sincere congratulations and heartfelt good wishes on the occasion of your 75th birthday. Your whole life is an amazing example of loyalty to God, the Church, fortitude of spirit, courageous standing for the Orthodox faith, convincing evidence of the all-conquering love of Christ, so visibly manifested in your whole appearance and sacrificial Primatial ministry. Your fatherly concern for the Russian Orthodox Church, for its many-million flock, is a special example of service for us. Your living word that leaves no one indifferent, your care and defense of church unity and canons, your sacrificial service – all this is at the “head of the corner” (Ps. 117:22) of your life. We often hear the words of an ancient preacher: “There is a time for every thing under heaven… a time to scatter stones, and a time to gather stones” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 5). The Lord has vouchsafed us to be witnesses and participants in the comprehensive revival of Orthodoxy under your wise Patriarchal leadership. New dioceses have been established, the episcopate of our Church has increased, new churches and monasteries have been opened, the missionary service of the Russian Orthodox Church is developing in distant countries – the Philippines and Vietnam and throughout its historical and canonical space. All this testifies to the mercy and help which the Lord pours out on your Primatial ministry.

Your Holiness! Let me sincerely wish you that the strength, the joy, the love that you give to all of us with your sacrificial and inspired service will increase a hundredfold in you, strengthening your patriarchal feat, possible only with the help and grace of God. Let me wish you that the Lord will strengthen you in health, salvation for the service of the Holy Church and keep you for many and good years.

With filial love for Christ,

Pavel, METROPOLITAN OF KHANTY-MANSIYSK AND SURGUT

October 8, 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of the monastic tonsure of Metropolitan Pavel of Khanty-Mansiysk and Surgut. The monastic tonsure of the priest Pavel Fokin, named in honor of the Monk Pavel Obnorsky, the miracle worker of Komel, was performed on October 8, 1996 in the Epiphany-Anastasian Cathedral of Kostroma by Archbishop Alexander of Kostroma and Galich. We wish the dear Vladyka God’s permanent help, the intercession and protection of the heavenly patron Saint Pavel, health and strength in his episcopal labors in the blessed Yugra land and Philippines!

“I plan to invite Russian Orthodox missionaries to come to the Philippines so that we can find a place where we can build an Orthodox Church. It was built in Manila many years ago by the Russians, in 1922.” – President R. Duterte, October, 3, 2019.

On September 27, 2021, Metropolitan Pavel of Khanty-Mansiysk and Surgut celebrates the 25th anniversary of his priestly ordination. In the photo, the newly appointed priest Pavel Fokin and Archbishop Alexander of Kostroma and Galich in the Epiphany-Anastasia Cathedral of Kostroma on September 27, 1996.

On August 29, 2021, in the 10th week after Pentecost, the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, Metropolitan Pavel of Khanty-Mansi and Surgut celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Resurrection Cathedral of Khanty-Mansiysk.

His Eminence was co-served by the clergy of the cathedral.

At a special litany, prayer petitions were offered for deliverance from the coronavirus infection, as well as for strengthening the doctors: “Look, O Master Who loves Mankind, at the sacrificial feat of our doctors, send them unshakable health and strength of spirit, wisdom to perform works for the benefit of our people and create through them healing for Your suffering servant, we diligently pray to You, soon hear and have mercy.”

During the divine service, Metropolitan Pavel ordained Monk John (Gondayao) to the rank of hierodeacon.

At the end of the service, Metropolitan Pavel addressed the audience:

“Dear fathers, brothers and sisters! Let me sincerely congratulate everyone on the feast of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ! These days we celebrate the Dormition of the Mother of God. It is a holiday in which each of us hopes and believes that the Mother of God will stay with us. “In Your Nativity, You have kept Your virginity, in Your Dormition You have not left the world”! Praising the Queen of Heaven, Her Holy Dormition, I would like to remind each of us how important it is to be a child of the Mother of God. And in order to be the one, you need to pray to Her. The Most Holy Theotokos promised not to leave this world, first of all those who rely on Her intercession. Every day we pray that She will deliver us from enemies visible and invisible, from a deadly wound and illness, so that She will stay with us in this difficult time.

We should pray to the Mother of God that She will be with us relentlessly and we are not afraid of any deadly disease or other adversities. Holy Mother of God, save us and do not leave us!

I would especially like to ask all of you, my dear ones, for prayers that the Lord will strengthen our student from the Philippines. Today you witnessed his diaconal ordination, on August 27 he took monastic vows with the name John in honor of St. John of Shanghai. This saint, after leaving China, found refuge in the Philippines and lived on the island of Tububao for almost 4 years. St. John is greatly revered in the Philippine islands, his memory is alive, and the witnesses of his and our compatriots ‘ stay in the Philippines, where he left a good spiritual trace, are still alive.

I ask for prayers that the Lord will strengthen father John, give him spiritual strength, so that he will be imbued here with spirituality, ecclesiasticism, dogmatic knowledge about our faith, and carry all this to his land for enlightenment.

I thank everyone for the common prayers, I congratulate you and may the Queen of Heaven be constantly with each of you.