On February 13, 2024, Metropolitan Pavel of Khanty-Mansiysk and Surgut, the administrator of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese, arrived in the city of General Santos of the Mindanao Island of the Republic of the Philippines. At the airport, Metropolitan Pavel and representatives of the delegation of the Khanty-Mansiysk diocese were met by the Secretary of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese, Hieromonk Cornelius (Molev), the clergy of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese. On the trip, His Eminence is accompanied by: Archpriest Anthony Isakov, dean of the Surgut City Deanery of the Khanty-Mansiysk Diocese, Archpriest Sergiy Shevchenko, dean of the Nizhnevartovsk City Deanery of the Khanty-Mansiysk Diocese, Priest Konstantin Memyachkin, chairman of the Architectural and Construction Department of the Khanty—Mansiysk Diocese, Hierodeacon Nikodim Pirkhovsky, resident of the Dimitrievsky Monastery of Khanty-Mansiysk, General Director of SC “YuviS” Vladimir Yurievich Bashkov. As part of the archpastoral visit, visits to parishes in different provinces of the Republic of the Philippines are planned. Metropolitan Pavel will visit a number of Orthodox communities on the island of Mindanao, where he will perform divine services and ordinations of clerics of the Philippine–Vietnamese diocese. Metropolitan Pavel will visit the parish of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in General Santos, perform a prayer service in Lambayon at the parish of St. Ignatius the God-Bearer and will lead the all-night vigil at the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Lake Cebu settlement. On February 15, on the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi will celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos of the settlement of Polomoloka. At the end of the Liturgy, a Diocesan meeting of the clergy and laity of the Philippine–Vietnamese Diocese will take place. On this day, an inspection of the church of the Apostle Thomas under construction in the village of Kinabalan, a visit to the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin in Banate, the temple of St. John of Shanghai in Santa Maria and the Church of the Epiphany in Talas are planned. On February 18, the diocesan governor will preside over the Divine Liturgy in Davao City. On February 19, His Eminence will visit the church under construction in honor of the icon of the Theotokos “Quick to Hear” on the island of Panglao, where he will perform a prayer service. On February 24, the archpastor will lead an all-night vigil at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Tagaytat. On February 25, on the patronal feast day, Metropolitan Pavel will celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the temple in honor of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God in Manila, the capital of the Republic of the Philippines. On February 26, His Eminence will visit the church in honor of the Exaltation of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord in Siniluan, Laguna and perform a prayer service. As part of the archpastoral trip to the Republic of the Philippines, the Administrator of the Philippine—Vietnamese Diocese will also hold working meetings with representatives of the state authorities of the cities of the republic and representatives of the diplomatic mission of the Russian Federation. The archpastoral visit to Vietnam will begin on February 27 and will last until March 4. During the visit of the head of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese meetings with the parishioners of Nha Trang and a prayer service in Vung Tau are planned. On March 2 and 3, Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi will celebrate Divine Liturgies in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Also in Hanoi, Metropolitan Pavel plans to meet with the Russian Ambassador to Vietnam and members of the Committee on Religious Affairs of the Republic of Vietnam.
Reference: By the decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church dated August 30, 2019 (journal No. 97), His Grace Metropolitan Pavel of Khanty-Mansiysk and Surgut, in addition to his obedience, was entrusted with the administration of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia with the naming of the title within the specified diocese “Manila and Hanoi”. The Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese was established by the decision of the Holy Synod of February 26, 2019 (Journal no. 8) within the Republic of the Philippines and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, with the title of diocesan Bishop of Manila and Hanoi. It is included in the Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia.
