Moleben in Siniloan

On February 26, 2024, Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi, governor of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese, celebrated a prayer service in the church in honor of the Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord in Siniloan, Laguna Province. His Eminence was co-served by: Hieromonk Alexei (Lapshin), Dean of the Manila District, and Archimandrite Philemon (Castro), rector of the temple. At the end of the service, Metropolitan Pavel addressed the audience: “Dear fathers, brothers and sisters, dear Father Philemon! We drove for a long time, but we got to this holy temple in order to meet with you here and share a short prayer to the Lord and His Life-Giving Cross! Prayer moves our lives, it heals us, prayer gives us the strength to continue serving God and our flock. The Lord says, “Pray that you may be healed, pray for one another.” I think that the Lord will give us more strength and time to serve the Divine Liturgy here, because the Liturgy is the most important service of our Church, because we all partake of the one cup of the Body and Blood of Christ, uniting in Christ. I hope that the Lord will give us such an opportunity and strength, to serve the Divine Liturgy and other services here. Let’s hope and ask that the Lord will not leave us in the future, and give us such an opportunity. I am glad to meet the parish today, with the flock that Father Philemon is caring for, realizing that today is a working day and not everyone had the opportunity to come and meet for our common prayer. I thank everyone who took the time to share the joy of common prayer, and you will convey the bow and blessing to our entire flock of our entire parish. May the Lord preserve us all by the power of the Holy Cross in health and longevity!”