On November 23, the 24th Sunday after Pentecost, on Panglao Island (Philippines), the Patriarchal Exarch for Southeast Asia, Metropolitan Sergius of Singapore and Southeast Asia, performed the Great Consecration of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Quick to Hear” and celebrated the first Divine Liturgy in the newly consecrated church.
His Eminence was assisted by Metropolitan Paul of Manila and Hanoi, Archbishop Feofan of Korea, Bishop Pitirim of Jakarta, Vicar of the Singapore Diocese, Hieromonk Juvenaly (Marushchak), Secretary of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia, Hieromonk Korniliy (Molev), Secretary of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese, Hieromonk Alexy (Lapshin), rector of the church, and clergy of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese.
Attending the service were Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Philippines M.I. Pavlov, Chief of Staff of the Governor of Bohol Province Ms. Filipina Piollo, Director of the Bohol Provincial Tourism Authority Ms. Joanne Peanut, Honorary Consul of Russia in Cebu Armie Garcia, and staff of the Russian Embassy in the Philippines.
At the Little Entrance, by decree of His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’, Hieromonk Alexy (Lapshin), rector of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Quick to Hear” on Panglao Island, was awarded the right to wear a pectoral cross with ornaments for his zealous service to the Holy Church.
Following the Liturgy, the Patriarchal Exarch congratulated the participants on this important event and addressed those gathered with an archpastoral sermon, emphasizing the significance of this historic moment for the development of church life in the Philippines.
In his response, Metropolitan Pavel expressed special gratitude to the clergy and parishioners for their diligent labors in the field of church service.
By decree of His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’, in recognition of his contribution to the development of church-state relations and in connection with his 70th birthday, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of the Philippines Marat Ignatyevich Pavlov was awarded the Order of the Holy Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky, 3rd degree, of the Russian Orthodox Church.
