Author Archives: Антоний

Paschal Epistle of the Metropolitan of Singapore and South-East Asia, SERGIY to the Most Reverend bishops, clergy, monastics, and all the God-loving flock of the Patriarchal Exarchate of South-East Asia

Posted on 1,959

Most Reverend Archpastors, Venerable Fathers, beloved brothers and sisters

CHRIST IS RISEN!

On this bright, salvific and sacred day, I address all of you with this ancient greeting and congratulate you on the Lord’s Pascha.
Today our hearts are filled with inexpressible joy, because the Giver of life Christ not only resurrected by the power of His Divinity, but also abolished the power of death, destroyed the gates of hell and granted all those who believe in Him the opportunity to be with Him not only here on earth, but also in blessed eternity.
During the time that has passed since last spring, since last Pascha, people have begun to think more often about the meaning of life, about enduring values, about their soul, about God, and it is important for every believer to understand what the greatest event of the Resurrection of Christ means for him personally. We must remember that the Lord accepted the death on the cross and rose from the grave for the salvation of each of us, so that the light of eternal life might shine on everyone, that the joy of the presence of God and His unceasing care for us might touch every heart. We believe that this joy of being with Christ, Whom we have loved with all our souls, with all our lives, will accompany us into eternity, will become complete and never end.
I wish you all, my dear ones, that the wonderful Paschal light transform each of you and inspire you to perform deeds of love and mercy, so that you share this light and this joy with your family and friends, so that you overcome all difficulties and sorrows with hope in the Savior and confidence that we can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens us (Phil. 4:13).
Again and again I greet you with the feast of the Lord’s Pascha and proclaim with special feeling:

CHRIST IS RISEN!
TRULY CHRIST IS RISEN!

Metropolitan of Singapore and South-East Asia,
Patriarchal Exarch of South-East Asia

Friday of Passions

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On Great Thursday evening the divine service of the Great Friday Matins with 12 “Gospels of Passions” was held in the parishes of the diocese in Vietnam and the Philippines.

From the St Petersburg Academy:

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Students from Indonesia and the Philippines celebrated the Feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem in the house church of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, where they continue their studies. During Holy Week, the seminarians are within the walls of the Academy and do not leave its borders, preparing for the Bright Holiday of the Resurrection of Christ on long divine services. Let us pray for our brothers in Christ and turn to the words of the troparion of the first three days of Holy Week, calling the faithful to spiritual vigil: Behold, the Bridegroom cometh at midnight, / and blessed is the servant, whom he will find watching,/ but unworthy is he, whom He will find despondent./ Beware, O my soul,/ lest thou be weighed down with sleep,/ lest thou be given up to death,/ and be shut out from the kingdom. But arise, calling:/ Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou, O God,// through the Theotokos have mercy on us.

Press service of the Moscow Patriarchal Exarchate of the Southeast Asia

Entry of the Lord to Jerusalem

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The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem is the triumph of the Savior’s earthly life. They want to make him King, because He can Make Israel Great Again. So that they would not obey to the Romans but they would be paid tribute by the barbarians, as in the times a thousand years before. And that it would be good for everyone in Israel. But it is impossible to build happiness on neighbor’s grief, and instead of seizing power, Christ continues to teach: “Pay to Caesar that is Caesar’s and to God that is God’s”, and “Love your neighbor”. And we know that in a few days the Son of God will be betrayed, tortured, and crucified by His people. And no one will stand up for Him. Such is the gratitude of Israel for that the Lord healed his children of diseases. For freeing him from the bondage of Egypt and Babylon. He would have freed them from the Roman one as well, but He came to free us from the bondage of death.And in the coming days, called the Great Days, we will once again watch with awe the realization of the Divine plan for our salvation. Holy Week is the culmination of Christianity and human history. Yes, the creation of the world was also the greatest event and miracle, but this is hardly mentioned in the church calendar. Because it was easier for God to create the universe than to guide us to the right path, for which He had to taste death. The trillions of stars in the sky do not obscure His main creation for Him; the life of each of us matters to Him! As well as the prayer of each of us.

Meeting with the Consul General

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On April 15, the parish of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in Vung Tau hosted a meeting of the Consul General of the Russian Federation in Ho Chi Minh City Mr Sadykov with the rector of the parish priest Evgeniy Tsukalo.
Timur Sirozhevich Sadykov just arrived at a new place of work and when visiting Vung Tau offered to get acquainted. The Consul General was accompanied by Consul-Adviser Vadim Valeryevich Basinsky.

Priest Evgeniy spoke about the parishes in Vietnam, about the peculiarities of a parish life.

Sunday of Veneration of the Cross

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Today, the Catholic Philippines celebrate Easter. But today, the Jews also celebrate their Easter (the exodus from the Egyptian captivity). The Orthodox Church does not celebrate Easter together with the Jews, since the Resurrection of Christ was after the Jewish Old Testament Passover. In our calendar, today is the middle of Lent, and we remember the Cross of the Lord- “a temptation for the Jews, a madness for the Hellenes” (1 Cor. 1: 23). A temptation, because the crucifixion was an execution for the worst villains but the weapon of death became the weapon of victory over death. Madness, because the Son of God suffered for the people. Suffered for we can be saved and see this His Love for us forever. Love which “never ceases” (1 Cor. 13, 8)

Seminar in Davao

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On March 29-31, at the education center of St. Matrona of Moscow in Davao city, one more seminar was conducted about Lenten services for the clergy. Now it was for the General Santos deanery. Priest Roman Buniel and deacons Matthew Sale and Alexiy Bergado, after the classes, together with Hieromonk Korniliy (Molev), completed a full daily circle of Lenten Divine Service, ending it with the Vespers with the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts like their brothers did a week ago.

Seminar for clergy in Davao

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On March 23-24, at the education center of Blessed Matrona of Moscow, a seminar was conducted about Lenten services for the clergy of the Davao deanery. Priest Moses Cahilig and deacons Ambrose Sumagaysay and Nikolay Salgado, after the class, together with Hieromonk Korniliy (Molev), completed a full daily circle of Lenten Divine Service, ending it with the Vespers with the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts.

Secretary of the Diocese visited N. Zamboanga

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During the Cheesefare Week, hieromonk Korniliy (Molev) visited two communities of the Independent Nestorian Church in the province of Northern Zamboanga, that wish to join Orthodoxy. Last year, the priest of these communities came to the Davao Mission Center to get acquainted with the history and teachings of the Orthodox Church. Due to the pandemic, teaching the faith for these communities was remotely, but, finally, it was possible to visit them personally. Local Christians were keenly interested in the teachings of the holy fathers, asked about the nature of evil, about the danger of superstition. We hope that with God’s help, people in this region will have the opportunity to learn about the intact apostolic faith.