On March 29-31, at the education center of St. Matrona of Moscow in Davao city, one more seminar was conducted about Lenten services for the clergy. Now it was for the General Santos deanery. Priest Roman Buniel and deacons Matthew Sale and Alexiy Bergado, after the classes, together with Hieromonk Korniliy (Molev), completed a full daily circle of Lenten Divine Service, ending it with the Vespers with the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts like their brothers did a week ago.

On March 23-24, at the education center of Blessed Matrona of Moscow, a seminar was conducted about Lenten services for the clergy of the Davao deanery. Priest Moses Cahilig and deacons Ambrose Sumagaysay and Nikolay Salgado, after the class, together with Hieromonk Korniliy (Molev), completed a full daily circle of Lenten Divine Service, ending it with the Vespers with the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts.

During the Cheesefare Week, hieromonk Korniliy (Molev) visited two communities of the Independent Nestorian Church in the province of Northern Zamboanga, that wish to join Orthodoxy. Last year, the priest of these communities came to the Davao Mission Center to get acquainted with the history and teachings of the Orthodox Church. Due to the pandemic, teaching the faith for these communities was remotely, but, finally, it was possible to visit them personally. Local Christians were keenly interested in the teachings of the holy fathers, asked about the nature of evil, about the danger of superstition. We hope that with God’s help, people in this region will have the opportunity to learn about the intact apostolic faith.

Open to me the doors of repentance, O Giver of Life! Tomorrow let us start a new life! Already the whole year is like the Lord is waiting for our repentance, pushing us to turn our minds towards Him. And now this season is starting: if not now then when else? Last week we remembered the life in Paradise, but our ancestors didn’t last long there. And today we are reminded that we are in exile in this world for reason: to learn to obey to God and to be humble (for the proud people can’t get along with each other in eternity).As the first step, we ask all our neighbors for forgiveness…

On March 11, a tea party with pancakes for children was held at the parish in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. Priest Eugene told the children about the upcoming Great Lent, gave several recommendations on how children, due to their age, could pass the field of fasting with benefit for the soul.