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).
