A working meeting of the bishops of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia with the Chairman of the DECR and a meeting of the Synod of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia took place.

On November 28, 2024, at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Bangkok, Kingdom of Thailand, a working meeting of the bishops of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia was held with the Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk. The meeting was attended by: Patriarchal Exarch of Southeast Asia, Metropolitan Sergius of Singapore and Southeast Asia; Metropolitan Paul of Manila and Hanoi; Archbishop Feofan of Korea and Bishop Pitirim of Jakarta, Vicar of the Singapore Diocese. During the meeting, issues related to the activities of the Moscow Patriarchate in the Asian region and prospects for the further development of various areas of church life were discussed. Then, under the chairmanship of the Patriarchal Exarch of Southeast Asia, Metropolitan Sergius of Singapore and Southeast Asia, a meeting of the Synod of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia was held.

Bishops of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia took part in a round table dedicated to cooperation between the Russian Orthodox Church and compatriots living in Asian countries and Australia.

On November 26-27, a round table “The Russian Orthodox Church and compatriots: experience of cooperation in Asian countries and Australia” was held in Bangkok. With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, the work of the round table was headed by the Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk. Hierarchs, clergy and laity of the Russian Orthodox Church, representatives of organizations of Russian compatriots from Asia and Australia, including the Patriarchal Exarch of Southeast Asia, Metropolitan of Singapore and Southeast Asia Sergiy, Metropolitan of Manila and Hanoi Pavel, Archbishop of Korea Feofan, Vicar of the Singapore Diocese Bishop Pitirim of Jakarta arrived in the capital of Thailand to participate in the round table. Also, a church delegation accompanying the chairman of the Department for External Church Relations. Among the participants were representatives of public organizations of compatriots, Russian diplomats.

Metropolitan Pavel took part in the celebrations on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Kingdom of Thailand. On November 26, 2024, on the day of commemoration of St. John Chrysostom, the Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Patriarchal Exarch of Southeast Asia, Metropolitan Sergius of Singapore and Southeast Asia, Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi, Archbishop Feofan of Korea and Vicar of the Singapore Diocese, Bishop Pitirim of Jakarta celebrated the Divine Liturgy in St. Nicholas Cathedral in Bangkok. The solemn service was timed to coincide with the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the presence of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Kingdom of Thailand. Before the service, the ark with a particle of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was met in the church. The hierarchs were assisted by: Deputy Chairman of the DECR Archpriest Nikolai Lishchenyuk; Secretary of the Diocese of Thailand, Rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Bangkok Archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin); Rector of the Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church in Tokyo (Japan) Archpriest Nikolai Katsuban; Rector of the Church of the Archangel Michael in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) Archimandrite Pavel (Khoklov); Rector of Holy Trinity Church in Melbourne (Australia) Archpriest Igor Filyanovsky; Rector of the Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov on Koh Phangan in Thailand Hieromonk Seraphim (Vasiliev); Acting Rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Tehran (Iran) Hegumen Varlaam (Dulsky); Secretary of the DECR for Far Abroad Affairs Archpriest Sergiy Zvonarev; Rector of the Church of the Apostle Thomas in Jakarta (Indonesia) Priest Boris Setiawan; Rector of the Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Beijing on the territory of the Russian Embassy in China Hieromonk Innocent (Kolesnikov); Rector of the Church of the Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky in Vientiane (Laos) Priest Dimitry Lavrentyev; Rector of the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in Vung Tau (Vietnam) Priest Evgeny Tsukalo; DECR employee Hieromonk Kirill (Peregudin); Rector of the Holy Trinity Parish in Chandrapur (India) Priest Clement Nehamaiya; Secretary of the DECR Chairman Priest Nikolai Vasin; Acting Rector of the Holy Trinity Church in Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) Priest Vladislav Ratnikov, clergy of the Thai Diocese and guests in holy orders. The service was conducted in Church Slavonic, Thai and English. Among those present in the church were the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Kingdom of Thailand E. Yu. Tomikhin, Director of the Department for Work with Compatriots of the Russian Foreign Ministry G. A. Ovechko, Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Foreign Ministry A. P. Lukashik, Chairman of the World Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots M. V. Drozdov, leaders and representatives of organizations of Russian compatriots in Thailand, representatives of the Royal House and the authorities of Thailand, numerous parishioners of the cathedral and guests from other communities of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand.At the end of the service, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk greeted the participants of the festive celebrations on behalf of His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’. Metropolitan Sergius of Singapore and Southeast Asia made a response, after which the awards ceremony took place.In recognition of the assistance provided by the Thai Diocese and in connection with the 25th anniversary of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk presented Patriarchal awards. The Secretary of the Thai Diocese, Rector of the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Bangkok, Archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin), was awarded the Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh (2nd degree); the warden of the cathedral, A.A. Tyutin, was awarded the Order of St. Blessed Prince Daniel of Moscow (3rd degree); Trade Representative of Thailand, Advisor to the Prime Minister of this country Nalinii Tavesin and Momratchawong (junior member of the Royal House) Priyanantana Rangsit – Order of St. Euphrosyne, Grand Duchess of Moscow (II degree).

On November 24, 2024, on the 22nd Sunday after Pentecost, Metropolitan Pavel of Khanty-Mansiysk and Surgut, Administrator of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God in the capital of the Republic of the Philippines, Manila. His Eminence was assisted by: Secretary of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese Hieromonk Korniliy (Molev), Archimandrite Philemon (Castro), Rector of the Church Hieromonk Alexei (Lapshin), Priest David Grubbs, and Deacon Daniil Matveyev. During the Liturgy, Metropolitan Pavel ordained Subdeacon Luka Tababa to the rank of deacon.

On November 23, 2024, in the capital of the Philippines, Manila, a meeting was held between Metropolitan Pavel of Khanty-Mansiysk and Surgut, Administrator of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese, and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of the Philippines Marat Ignatyevich Pavlov. The meeting was attended by: Secretary of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese Hieromonk Korniliy (Molev), Chairman of the Department for Church Relations with Society and the Media of the Khanty-Mansiysk Diocese Priest Anthony Dolgushin. During the meeting, the parties discussed various issues of interaction between the Russian diplomatic mission and the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese.

On November 22, 2024, on the day of the icon of the Mother of God “Quick to Hear”, Metropolitan Pavel of Khanty-Mansiysk and Surgut, Administrator of the Philippines-Vietnamese Diocese, held a prayer service in the church under construction in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Quick to Hear” on the island of Panglao in the Republic of the Philippines. The prayer service was attended by: Secretary of the Philippines-Vietnamese Diocese Hieromonk Korniliy (Molev), Dean of the Manila District of the Philippines-Vietnamese Diocese Hieromonk Alexei (Lapshin), Secretary of the Khanty-Mansiysk Diocese Hegumen Anthony (Kirpichev), Dean of the Nizhnevartovsk City Deanery of the Khanty-Mansiysk Diocese Archpriest Sergiy Shevchenko, Deacon Daniil Matveyev, Orthodox Christians living on the island. At the end of the service, the bishop performed the rite of consecration of the cross on the central dome of the church under construction. Metropolitan Pavel also checked the construction of the church.

On November 21, 2024, a diocesan meeting of the clergy of the Philippines-Vietnam Diocese was held at the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Municipality of Arakan, chaired by the Administrator of the Diocese, Metropolitan Pavel. All the priests of the parishes of the churches of the island of Mindanao attended the meeting, and priests from other islands of the Philippines and the clergy ministering to parishes in Vietnam joined them online. The meeting began with a report by the deans on the state of affairs in the deaneries entrusted to them, with special attention paid to the specifics of the process of registration of land plots. The Administrator of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese proposed releasing the Secretary of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese, Hieromonk Korniliy (Molev), from his duties as Chairman of the Department for Catechesis and Education, expressing gratitude for his efforts, and appointing Hieromonk John (Gondayao) as Chairman of the Diocesan Department. The third issue on the agenda of the diocesan meeting was the Church Court. Bishop Pavel told the participants of the meeting about the rules of the Church Court, whose functions had until now been performed by the diocesan council. Since this was a temporary measure, and, according to the Charter, the functions of the Church Court should be separated from the activities of the diocesan council, the bishop proposed electing members of the Church Court. The Church Court of the Philippines-Vietnam Diocese included: Hieromonk Korniliy (Molev), Secretary of the Philippines-Vietnam Diocese, Hieromonk Alexei (Lapshin), Dean of the Manila Deanery, Hegumen Micah (Selyakov), Rector of the Church of St. Xenia of Petersburg in Hanoi (Vietnam), Dean of the Kotabato Deanery, Priest Moses Kahilig, and Dean of the General-Santovsky Deanery, Priest Roman (Buniel).

On November 21, 2024, on the feast of the Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and other Bodiless Heavenly Ghosts, Metropolitan Pavel of Khanty-Mansiysk and Surgut, Administrator of the Philippines-Vietnam Diocese, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in the municipality of Arakan, in the province of Cotabato, Philippines. Before the service, Metropolitan Pavel delivered an icon of Seraphim of Sarov with a particle of the saint’s relics to the church. The icon was transferred to the Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov, located in the settlement of Makalangot on the island of Mindanao, Republic of the Philippines, in response to the petition of Metropolitan Pavel, with the blessing of Metropolitan Georgiy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas, from the Holy Trinity Seraphim-Diveyevo Convent for the worship of the faithful of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese.

His Eminence was assisted by: Secretary of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese Hieromonk Korniliy (Molev), Secretary of the Khanty-Mansiysk Diocese Hegumen Anthony (Kirpichev), Dean of the Nizhnevartovsk City Deanery of the Khanty-Mansiysk Diocese Archpriest Sergiy Shevchenko, clergy of the island of Mindanao. The deacon’s rank was headed by Deacon Daniil Matveyev. Special petitions were offered at the litany of supplication, Bishop Pavel read a prayer for Holy Rus’. During the Liturgy, Metropolitan Pavel ordained reader Dmitry Kahilig to the rank of deacon and performed the chirothesia of reader and subdeacon Luka Tababa. At the end of the service, the archpastor addressed those gathered: “Dear fathers, brothers and sisters! Today we celebrated the Divine Liturgy in this holy church on this special day when we celebrate the Synaxis of Archangel Michael and all the Heavenly Bodiless Ghosts. I thank you all for your common prayers and, of course, I cannot help but rejoice together with the newly ordained deacon Dmitry, who received the rank of deacon today. He studied in Russia, graduated from the seminary, is now studying at the academy by correspondence, and, of course, I am glad that there is one more cleric, a sacred deacon, who will bear the obedience of enlightening the flock here. We understand that we, as a diocese, as all the clergy, and the flock, still need to work hard on ourselves in order to truly become a strong, good diocese and a strong big Orthodox family. And we see in this the great providence of our Lord God Jesus Christ, who gives us all the opportunities, gives us everything so that we can pray with you today, celebrate the Divine Liturgy, enlighten the people in the true Orthodox Faith. Isn’t this the mercy of God? Of course, the immeasurable mercy of our Lord, who enlightens all of us! At my request, the Metropolitan of Nizhny Novgorod, who serves where the relics of Seraphim of Sarov are, blessed us to allocate a particle of the relics with an icon for our church, which is dedicated to St Seraphim of Sarov. Today I am ready to transfer this shrine with a particle of the relics of Seraphim of Sarov to this church which is dedicated to this great Russian saint. l congratulate Father Nikolai, the rector of this church, because this icon and relics are transferred to him, to his church. This is truly a shrine for us, a great saint who lived not so long ago and, of course, glorified the Lord with his service, was honored to be a saint and to perform great and wondrous miracles not only during his life, but also after his blessed death, from his holy relics. l am very glad to share the liturgical joy with you, and of course, not only to take communion, but also to communicate in such a short period of time, but we thank the Lord that He gave us such an opportunity to meet together today. Well, I want to say that the construction of the church is being completed in Panglao, we will go to see it, maybe some additions, changes need to be made, and also meet with the flock, and then, in Manila, we will serve the Divine Liturgy. We are preparing to perform the deacon’s ordination of Luka, our student, who also studied in Russia, and I hope will be a worthy servant of the altar of the Lord. And we have two more students-graduates from the St. Petersburg Theological Seminary – Stefan and Kirill, who will also be ordained in Russia and will come after graduation as priests. So our diocese will have four more clergy, which is great. Once again, I thank everyone for the common prayers, and I would like to give everyone an icon of the new martyrs of Russia, and also, the Sunday school of Nizhnevartovsk prepared today, on the day of Archangel Michael and the cathedral, figurines of angels like these for everyone. May the Lord protect everyone!”

The Bishop handed everyone an icon of the new martyrs and confessors of the Russian Church and figurines in the form of angels made by the students of the Sunday school of the Church of the Nativity of Christ in Nizhnevartovsk.

On November 20, 2024, Metropolitan Pavel visited the missionary center in honor of Blessed Matrona of Moscow in Davao City. Upon arrival at the center, the administrator of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese performed a thanksgiving service to the Lord God on the birthday of His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’. The bishop was assisted by: Secretary of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese Hieromonk Korniliy (Molev), Secretary of the Khanty-Mansiysk Diocese Hegumen Anthony (Kirpichev), Dean of the Nizhnevartovsk City Deanery of the Khanty-Mansiysk Diocese Archpriest Sergiy Shevchenko, and Deacon Daniil Matveyev. At the end of the thanksgiving service, Metropolitan Pavel addressed those gathered: “I thank everyone for their common prayers, may the All-Merciful Lord keep our Most Holy Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ Kirill in good health, in long life, and, of course, may He not leave us without His mercy! The Lord says, “Ask, and it will be given to you, knock, and the door will be opened.” Let us hope for the mercy and help of our Lord Jesus Christ, may the Lord protect everyone! During the current, although not very long, trip, we have a large program ahead of us: to hold a diocesan meeting with the clergy, to resolve many diocesan issues, to perform two deacon ordinations. It is imperative to hold meetings with those in power, with the Ambassador of the Russian Federation. Therefore, every day will be spent in work, in communication with both the flock and the clergy. And, of course, there will be a Divine Liturgy, and not just one, as well as prayers when visiting each church. I hope that with God’s help we will carry out the program that we have planned. Of course, it was not so easy to get here, we spent more than a day on the road, but I am sure that with God’s help we will succeed this week.”

Then there was a meeting with students of the missionary center.

On November 19, 2024, Metropolitan Pavel of Khanty-Mansiysk and Surgut, Administrator of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese, arrived in the capital of the Republic of the Philippines, Manila. At the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Metropolitan Pavel and representatives of the delegation of the Khanty-Mansiysk Diocese were met by the rector of the Church of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God in Manila, Hieromonk Alexei (Lapshin). The bishop is accompanied on the trip by: Secretary of the Khanty-Mansiysk Diocese Hegumen Anthony (Kirpichev), Dean of the Nizhnevartovsk City Deanery of the Khanty-Mansiysk Diocese Archpriest Sergiy Shevchenko, Priest Anthony Dolgushin, Chairman of the Department for Church Relations with Society and the Media of the Khanty-Mansiysk Diocese, cleric of the Resurrection Cathedral in Khanty-Mansiysk Deacon Daniil Matveyev. As part of the archpastoral visit, visits to parishes in the cities and towns of Manila, Davao, Arakan, and Panglao Island are planned. During the archpastoral visit, the Administrator of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese will perform a number of deacon ordinations. On November 20, Metropolitan Pavel will visit the missionary center in honor of Blessed Matrona of Moscow in the city of Davao on the island of Mindanao, where he will meet with students. On November 21, the day of remembrance of the Council of Archangel Michael and other heavenly incorporeal powers, the Administrator of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese will lead the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Arakan, and will perform the ordination of Dmitry Kahilig as a deacon. Also on this day, a meeting of the clergy of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese will be held. On November 22, during the archpastoral visit, a visit to the island of Panglao is planned, where the bishop will get acquainted with the progress of construction of the Church in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Quick to Hear” and will perform a prayer service. On November 23, in the capital of the Republic of the Philippines, Manila, a meeting will be held between Metropolitan Pavel and the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Philippines. On November 24, the Bishop will lead the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God in Manila and ordain Luka Tababa as a deacon. As part of the archpastoral trip to the Republic of the Philippines, working meetings will be held between the Administrator of the Philippines-Vietnamese Diocese and representatives of the state authorities of the cities and towns of the Republic.