On November 18, Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi, Administrator of the Diocese of the Philippines and Vietnam, arrived in Manila, the capital of the Philippines.
At Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Metropolitan Pavel was met by Hieromonk Korniliy (Molev), Secretary of the Diocese; Hieromonk Alexei (Lapshin), Dean of the Manila District; Hieromonk John (Gondayao), cleric of the Church of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God in Manila; and representatives of the Russian Embassy in the Philippines.
During his archpastoral visit, Metropolitan Pavel is accompanied by Hegumen Anthony (Kirpichev), Secretary of the Khanty-Mansiysk Diocese; Priest Anthony Dolgushin, Chairman of the Department for Church Relations with Society and the Media of the Khanty-Mansiysk Diocese; Deacon Daniil Matveyev, cleric of the Resurrection Cathedral in Khanty-Mansiysk; Deacon Nikolai Shevchenko, cleric of the Church of the Nativity of Christ in Nizhnevartovsk; and Vsevolod Malinovkin, Metropolitan Pavel’s assistant.
A number of parishes and sites are planned for the visit. Meetings and services will be held in the cities of Tagaytay, Manila, Davao, Arakan, as well as on the islands of Panglao and Mindanao. During the trip, the Great Consecration of the newly built Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Quick to Hear” on Panglao Island will take place. His Grace will visit the Church of the Nativity of Christ in Tagaytay City and the Parish of the Apostle Thomas in Kinabalan, Mindanao, where he will inspect the progress of the new church’s construction.
In Davao City, Metropolitan Pavel will celebrate a prayer service at the Church of Blessed Matrona of Moscow and visit the Missionary Center construction site.
In Arakan Municipality, His Eminence will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos and hold a diocesan meeting of the clergy of the Diocese of the Philippines and Vietnam.
