On February 15, 2023, on the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the church in honor of the Resurrection of Christ in General Santos in the province of South Cotabato, on the island of Mindanao. His Eminence was co-served by the Secretary of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese, Hieromonk Cornelius (Molev), the rector of the church, Priest Roman Buniel, and the clergy of the Philippine-Vietnamese diocese. The deaconess rank was headed by Hierodeacon Nikodim (Pirkhovsky). By the Metropolitan’s decree, for the diligent service to the Holy Church, the rector of the parish in honor of the Resurrection of Christ, General Santos, Priest Roman Buniel was awarded the right to wear a loincloth. During the Liturgy, Metropolitan Pavel ordained the reader Juventinus Bulakvenya as a deacon. At the end of the service, Metropolitan Pavel addressed the audience: “Dear fathers, brothers and sisters! Allow me to congratulate everyone on the feast of the Presentation of the Lord! On this day, Saint Simeon the God-Receiver took Christ into his own hands and thanked God: “Now let Your servant depart in peace, Master, according to Your word!”, for it was promised to him – until he sees Christ, he will not die. It is said in the Holy Scriptures that Simeon the God-Receiver was a man of holy life and was honored to take into his hands the God-Child and thus sum up his earthly life. He was expecting this event. One can only imagine what joy he had when the Lord promises and you get what you ask for, and he asked for a meeting with God. Each of us desires a meeting with God, so that the Lord will guide us in this earthly life and in eternity, everyone truly desires this. But the Lord does not appear to everyone during His lifetime, only to those who live holy on Earth. And we follow this path, waiting, hoping, trusting the Lord that He is with us, even if we are unworthy of meeting Him now. The fact that He makes it possible to perform the Sacrament of Holy Communion with His Body and Blood, and to unite with Him, is a great providence of God for each of us. It is not for nothing that the Lord says: “Whoever does this in my memory will not see death”. And we know that everyone is alive with God, the soul is immortal. Having lived an earthly life, the soul goes to God and remains in Eternity with him. May God grant us to follow this right, true path, on which the Lord has chosen and set us. I am very glad to meet you, celebrating the Divine Liturgy here, praying together, and I hope that the Lord will give us the strength to see each other more often. The Lord has given us the opportunity during these two weeks of our visit to the Philippines to increase our church with pastors — priests and deacons. We have performed the seventh ordination today and I thank God that our church is developing and growing both flock and pastors. I congratulate you, I wish you spiritual and physical strength, God’s help to all! I thank everyone for the service, for the common prayers!”
On the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord metropolitan Pavel celebrated the Divine Liturgy in General Santos
You might also like
Metropolitan Pavel met with Ambassador of the Philippines
On December 12, Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi met with Igor Garlit Bailen, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippines to the Russian Federation. The meeting took place at the Philippine Embassy in Moscow. During the conversation, the parties discussed the presence of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Philippines and […]
The visit of Metropolitan Pavel to the Philippines is finished
From November 18 to 28, Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi, Administrator of the Diocese of the Philippines and Vietnam, visited the Republic of the Philippines. On November 19, Metropolitan Pavel celebrated a prayer service at the Church of the Nativity of Christ in Tagaytay City. The following day, he celebrated a thanksgiving service at […]
Metropolitan Pavel performed a prayer service in Davao
On November 27, Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi, Administrator of the Diocese of the Philippines and Vietnam, celebrated a prayer service at the Church of Blessed Matrona of Moscow in Davao, Philippines. Following the service, the archpastor addressed those gathered: “Dear brothers and sisters! I thank everyone for the shared prayers we offered during […]
Metropolitan Pavel performed a prayer service in Kinabalan
On November 27, Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi, Administrator of the Diocese of the Philippines and Vietnam, celebrated a prayer service at the church under construction in honor of the Apostle Thomas in the village of Kinabalan on the island of Mindanao, Philippines. His Eminence was assisted by Hieromonk Korniliy (Molev), Secretary of the […]
Diocesan Assembly
On November 26, the Diocesan Assembly of the Clergy of the Diocese of the Philippines and Vietnam was held at the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in the Municipality of Arakan, Cotabato Province, Philippines, under the chairmanship of Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi, Administrator of the Diocese. During the assembly, […]
Metropolitan Pavel celebrated the Liturgy in Arakan
On November 26, the feast day of St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi, Administrator of the Diocese of the Philippines and Vietnam, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Arakan, Cotabato Province, Philippines. His Eminence was assisted by Hieromonk Korniliy […]
Metropolitan Pavel arrived in Mindanao
On November 25, Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi, Administrator of the Diocese of the Philippines and Vietnam, arrived in Davao City, Mindanao, Philippines. On November 26, Metropolitan Pavel will celebrate Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Arakan City and hold a diocesan meeting of the clergy […]
The Patriarchal Exarch for Southeast Asia performed the Great Consecration of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Quick to Hear” in the Philippines.
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 […]
Synod of Exarchate in Tagaytay
On November 21, a meeting of the Synod of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia was held at the Church of the Nativity of Christ in Tagaytay City, Republic of the Philippines, chaired by Metropolitan Sergius of Singapore and Southeast Asia, Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia. Participating in the Synod were Metropolitan Pavel of Manila […]
The bishops of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia celebrated a cathedral service in Tagaytay City
On November 21, the feast of the Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the Other Bodiless Powers of Heaven, a conciliar service of the hierarchs of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia was celebrated at the Church of the Nativity of Christ in Tagaytay, Philippines. The Divine Liturgy was led by Metropolitan Sergius of Singapore […]
Patriarchal Exarch of Southeast Asia, Metropolitan Sergius of Singapore and Southeast Asia, arrived in the Philippines.
On November 20, Metropolitan Sergius of Singapore and Southeast Asia, Patriarchal Exarch for Southeast Asia, arrived in the Republic of the Philippines. At the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, Metropolitan Sergius was met by Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi, Administrator of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese, Hieromonk Cornelius (Molev), Diocesan Secretary, clergy of the Manila […]