On February 23, 2020, Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi met with the Minister of foreign Affairs of the Philippines, Mr. Teodoro Loxin, in Manila.

During the working meeting, the Minister of foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines conveyed greetings to the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, his Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia. The Minister also expressed gratitude for the presence and missionary activity of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Philippines and in particular within the island of Mindanao, supported by historical documentation confirming the continuity and necessity of the educational mission. When planning a trip to Russia, the Minister expressed his desire to attend the divine Liturgy, noting that it is only possible to understand the soul of the Russian people through faith, and its integral part is the Church Service. The Minister of foreign Affairs of the Philippines expressed his full support for the issues and projects of The Philippine-Vietnamese diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Philippines and the possibility of organizing a meeting between the ruling Bishop of The Philippine-Vietnamese diocese, Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi, and the President of the Republic of the Philippines, Mr. Rodrigo Duterte.

The meeting was also attended by Ambassador extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation in the Republic of the Philippines Igor Anatolyevich Hovaev.

On February 23, 2020, Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi, the Administrator of The Philippine-Vietnamese diocese, celebrated the divine Liturgy at the parish in honor of the Iveron icon of the mother of God in Manila.

With His Eminence served  hieromonk Cornelius (Molev), Secretary of The Philippine-Vietnamese diocese, and hieromonk Alexei (Lapshin), priest of this church.

At the end of the Service, Metropolitan Pavel read a message from the Exarch of South-East Asia, his Eminence Sergiy, Metropolitan of Singapore and South-East Asia:

To the most Reverend bishops and clergy, monastic and God-loving congregation of the Patriarchal Exarchate of South-East Asia

“Beloved of the Lord!

Heartfelt feelings and pastoral responsibility encourage me to turn to you, my dear.

A deadly disease is affecting more and more people, in another test, let by God on Earth. The peoples of the countries of canonical responsibility of the Patriarchal Exarchate of South-East Asia are particularly affected.

Over the centuries, humanity has repeatedly faced similar suffering. The Church has always been with its people, courageously sharing their sorrows, helping them overcome difficult trials, and pleading with our Lord and Savior for help in ending epidemics as soon as possible. Believers imposed additional fasts, made processions, and special prayers.

Christian love and compassion compel all of us to increase our prayers for people in mortal danger.

I call on all Orthodox communities of the Patriarchal Exarchate to perform a special prayer singing for the speedy recovery of the sick and the cessation of the spread of the disease.

Through the intercession of the most pure Theotokos and all the saints, may God have mercy and forgive us all!”

Also in the Church, a prayer singing was performed for the speedy recovery of the sick and the cessation of the spread of the disease.

On February 22, 2020, after the divine Liturgy, in the church in honor of St. Seraphim of Sarov (Makalangot, Mindanao, Republic of the Philippines) a Diocesan meeting of the clergy and laity of the Philippine-Vietnamese diocese was held under the chairmanship of Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi.

Metropolitan Pavel made a report summarizing the results of the work of The Philippine-Vietnamese diocese for 2019.

To date, it consists of 33 parishes and 11 prayer rooms. In 2019, 125 baptisms were performed, including 13 babies, 18 weddings, and 6 funerals. Every week, the divine Liturgy is celebrated in 6 parishes of the diocese. The Administrator of the Philippine-Vietnamese diocese, Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi, visited the diocese 2 times in 2019 – in August and October, performing 5 Divine Liturgies and 8 prayers.

During the meeting, the members of the Diocesan Council were elected. By the decision of the meeting, the diocese’s Confessor was elected priest Siluan Thompson, and the chairmen of the diocesan departments were appointed.

The information Department of the Philippine-Vietnamese diocese will be headed by hieromonk Alexei (Lapshin), the religious education and catechization Department by hieromonk Cornelius (Molev), the social service and charity Department by priest David Grubbs, and the missionary Department by priest Moses Kahilig.

The Philippine-Vietnamese diocese has 5 deaneries: Manila, Davao, General Santos,  Davao del Sur and Vietnam.

On February 22, 2020, Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi, the Administrator of the Philippine-Vietnamese diocese, performed the rite of the Great consecration of the church in honor of St. Seraphim of Sarov in the village of Makalangot (Mindanao, Republic of the Philippines) and headed the divine Liturgy in the newly consecrated church.

With His Eminence served the clergy of the Philippine-Vietnamese diocese: the Secretary of the diocese, hieromonk Cornelius (Molev), priest Siluan Thompson, hieromonk Alexei (Lapshin), priest David Grubbs, priest Eugene Zukalo, priest Joakim Gonzales, priest Roman Buniel, and priest Moses Kahilig, hieromonk Antony (Kirpichev), Secretary of the Administrator of the Khanty-Mansi diocese, and Archpriest Antony Isakov and Archpriest Sergiy Shevchenko, deans of the Surgut and Nizhnevartovsk city deaneries of the Khanty-Mansi diocese and a cleric of the Resurrection Cathedral of Khanty-Mansiysk deacon Daniel Matveev.

At the small entrance, by the decree of Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi, the Secretary of the Philippine-Vietnamese diocese, hieromonk Cornelius (Molev), was awarded the right to wear a golden pectoral cross for his diligent service to the Holy Church.

During the Liturgy, Metropolitan Pavel ordained the head of the parish of St. Seraphim of Sarov of Makalangot (Philippines) sub-deacon Nicholas Salgado to the diaconate.

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

 “Dear brothers and sisters, I cordially and sincerely greet you on this special day for all of us. Today we specifically asked the Lord to send us His divine grace and sanctify this temple, to be present here forever, so that everyone who comes to this temple will be united with God in prayer and sacraments!

“The house of God will be called the house of prayer,” as the Holy Scripture says, and today we prayed for all those who have contributed to the construction of this temple. This day is special in the annals of our diocese also because we performed the diaconal ordination of a parishioner of this church who took Holy orders today, and I hope that he will sincerely serve God and people. During 3 days of our visit, we performed three Divine liturgies and three diaconal ordinations, adding these days to the history of our diocese by adding clergy from our parishioners who are ready to serve God. But it is possible to serve God only through serving one’s neighbor. I prayed for this, and asked deacons Nicholas, Matthew, and John to pray that the Lord would strengthen them in faith for the most important service on earth – to be a worthy servant of the Lord. Our clergy has been replenished with three clergymen, and I am happy that our Church, our Filipino diocese, is growing both in quantity and in quality. I am sure that the Church Foundation being laid today will be strong and reliable, like this temple, the first in the history of this diocese, built and consecrated by the Great blessing. I think that a good start has been made and the construction of temples on the Philippines land will continue. I thank all of you for your prayers and participation in the construction of this Holy church. I congratulate everyone on this event – for this event is not only for this village and not only for the Philippines – it is a celebration of the entire universal Orthodoxy, the true Orthodox Catholic Church! I would like to give a present to this Church, an icon of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, which we brought from Russia, so that the Risen Lord can show everyone the way to salvation. God bless everyone!»

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The community of the Makalangot church converted to Orthodoxy from the Independent Philippine Church, informally called “aglipayan”, in 2015, as a result of the adoption of the Orthodox faith by Fr. Moses Cahilig, now the priest of the Philippine-Vietnamese diocese. For a long time, prayers and services were performed in a bamboo hut without walls. in 2017, the Patriarchal Exarch, Metropolitan Sergiy of Singapore and South-East Asia, blessed the construction of the temple. The Church was built with the active participation of benefactors from Russia. The foreman Igor Diamond and Orthodox community of Davao made a big contribution to the construction.

On February 21, 2020, Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi, the Administrator of The Philippine-Vietnamese diocese, celebrated the divine Liturgy in the church in honor of St. Matrona of Moscow in Davao city.

With his Eminence concelebrated: Hieromonk Cornelius (Molev), Secretary of the Philippine-Vietnamese diocese, Hieromonk Alexei (Lapshin), priest of the parish of the Iveron icon of the Mother of God in Manila, priest David Grubbs, rector of the parish of Christ the Saviour in Tagaytay (Philippines), and deacon Daniel Matveev, cleric of the Resurrection Cathedral of Khanty-Mansiysk.

During the Liturgy, Metropolitan Pavel ordained the head of the parish of St. Nicholas in Cayupo (Philippines) sub-deacon Matthew Sale to deacon.

At the end of the service, Metropolitan Pavel performed the Sacrament of Baptism.

On February 20 Metropolitan of Manila and Hanoi Pavel, The Administrator of the Philippine-Vietnamese diocese, sanctified the Cross and the Foundation Stone in place of construction of the new Saint Apostle Thomas’ temple in Kinabalan settlement (Mindanao island, the Philippine Republic).

The Secretary of the Philippine-Vietnamese diocese priestmonk Kornilij (Molev), the Head of the Parish of Saint John of Shanhai in Santa-Maria (Philippines) priest Siluan Thompson, the Clergyman of the Parish of Kazan’s icon of Virgin Mary in Vungtau (Vietnam) priest Evgenij Czukalo, the Clergyman of the Parish of Saint Matrona of Moscow priest Ioakim Gonzalez, the Secretary of the Administrator of Khanty-Mansiisk’s diocese priestmonk Antonij (Kirpichev), the Dean of the Surgut’s town deanery archpriest Antonij Isakov, the Dean of the Nizhnevartovsk’s town deanery archpriest Sergij Shevchenko, the Clergyman of the Cathedral of Saint Resurrection of Khanty-Mansiisk’s diocese deacon Daniil Matveev and the citizens of the settlement took part in this event.

After the consecration Metropolitan Pavel said: «Dear brethren and sisters! We came here to pray to God and ask Him for His blessing for sanctification of the Foundation Stone in place of construction of the new temple and for hoisting the Holy Cross. I am very glad we are going to do this God’s work and ask the Lord for His blessing for construction of this temple. The building project of this temple will be printed and given by father Kornilij to father Ioakim. It gives you a possibility to imagine how this holy temple will look like. I want you to pray to God to bless the building of His Home here. I want to give you as a present the icon of Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ for this temple and I hope we will give Him our lives and will be in Him and now, and in eternity. I also want that all people, who come into this temple and take part in Church’s sacraments, will have spiritual healing and contact with God and will be able to find the way to their salvation. Let’s pray about it».

On February 20, the Administrator of the Philippine-Vietnamese diocese Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi met with the Councilor of Davao city Mme Pilar Brago. During the meeting, the issues of land allocation for the construction of the spiritual and educational center of the Russian Orthodox Church in Davao were discussed. The city Consulor expressed her readiness to provide all possible assistance in resolving this issue.

On February 20, Metropolitan of Manila and Hanoi Pavel celebrated the Divine Liturgy in Saint Matrona’s church in Davao-city. The Secretary of the Philippine-Vietnamese diocese priestmonk Korniliy (Molev), the head of the parish of St John of Shanghai in Santa-Maria (Mindanao) priest Siluan Thompson, the clergyman of the parish of Kazan’s icon of Virgin Mary in Vung Tau (Vietnam) priest Evgenij Zukalo, the Secretary of the Administrator of Khanty-Mansiisk’s diocese priestmonk Antoniy (Kirpichev), the Dean of the Surgut’s town deanery archpriest Antoniy Isakov, the Dean of the Nizhnevarovsk’s deanery archpriest Sergiy Shevchenko, the clergyman of Resurrection Cathedral (Khanty-Mansiisk’s diocese) deacon Daniil Matveev concelebrated His Eminence. During the Liturgy Metropolitan Pavel ordained the churchwarden of the parish of St John of Shanghai in Santa-Maria subdeacon John Mahinai to the rank of deacon.

Today, on February 19, 2020, Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi arrived in the Republic of the Philippines on the island of Mindanao.

In Francisco Bangoy airport of Davao city Metropolitan Pavel was met by the Secretary of the Filipino-Vietnamese diocese Hieromonk Korniliy (Molev), clergyman of the parish in honour of Kazan icon of Mother of God of Vung Tau (Vietnam) priest Eugene Zukalo and the nun Maria (Buniel).

The visit of His Eminence Metropolitan Pavel to the Republic of the Philippines will last until February 25. During this time, he is to visit the parishes in Manila, Davao, Arakan, Makalangot, Kinabalu, Banat, General Santos and Alabel.

During the archpastoral visit, the administrator of the Philippine-Vietnamese diocese will perform 5 diaconal ordinations.

On February 21, Metropolitan Paul will celebrate the divine Liturgy in honor of St. Matrona of Moscow, Davao city. On February 22, a diocesan meeting is scheduled in Arakan with the participation of the clergy of Mindanao. On February 23, in Makalangot, the Administrator of the Philippine-Vietnamese diocese will celebrate the divine Liturgy and blessing of the newly built church in honor of St. Seraphim of Sarov. On the same day, in Kinabalan, the blessing of the future church building will take place. On February 24, the divine Liturgy will be celebrated in the church in honor of St. Isidore of Rostov in Alabel. On February 25, in the capital of the Republic of the Philippines, Manila, Metropolitan Pavel will lead the divine Liturgy in the church in honor of the Iveron icon of the Mother of God.

During the archpastoral trip to the Republic of the Philippines, the Administrator of the Philippine — Vietnamese diocese will hold working meetings with representatives of the state authorities of cities and localities of the Republic and employees of the diplomatic corps of the Russian Federation.

Metropolitan Pavel is accompanied by: the Secretary of the Khanty-Mansi diocese, Hieromonk Anthony (Kirpichev); the Dean of the Surgut city deanery of the Khanty-Mansi diocese, Archpriest Anthony Isakov; the Dean of the Nizhnevartovsk city deanery of the Khanty-Mansi diocese, Archpriest Sergiy Shevchenko; and the cleric of the Resurrection Cathedral of the Khanty-Mansiysk diocese, deacon Daniel Matveev.

On February 19-25, 2020, the Administrator of the Philippine-Vietnamese diocese, Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi will pay archpastoral visit to the Republic of the Philippines. His Eminence will attend the parishes in Manila, Davao, Arakan, Makalangot, Kinabalan, Banat, General Santos and Alabel; 5 deacon ordinations being in schedule.

On February 21, Metropolitan Pavel will celebrate the divine Liturgy in the parish of St. Matrona of Moscow in Davao city. On February 22, a diocesan meeting is scheduled in Arakan with the participation of the clergy of the diocese. On February 23, in Makalangot, the Administrator of the Philippine-Vietnamese diocese will celebrate the divine Liturgy and blessing of the newly built church in honor of the venerable Seraphim of Sarov. On the same day, the blessing of the foundation stone of the future temple will take place in Kinabalan. On February 24, the divine Liturgy will be celebrated in the parish of St. Isidore of  Rostov in Alabel. On February 25, in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, Archpastor will lead the festal divine Liturgy in the parish of the lveron icon of the Mother of God.

As well, during his visit his Eminence will hold working meetings with municipal authorities and Russian diplomats.

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Reference: by the decision Of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church of August 30, 2019 (journal # 97), his Grace Metropolitan Pavel of Khanty-Mansi and Surgut, in addition to the present obedience, was entrusted to rule the Philippine-Vietnamese diocese of the Patriarchal Exarchate of South-East Asia with the title “Metropolitan of Manila and Hanoi” within this diocese.

The Philippine-Vietnamese diocese was established by the decision of the Holy Synod of February 26, 2019 (journal # 8) within the Republic of the Philippines and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, with the title of diocesan Bishop “of Manila and Hanoi”. It is included in the Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia.