On February 4, 2023, Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi , the administrator of the Philippine-Vietnamese diocese, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the church in honor of St. Matrona of Moscow in Davao. His Eminence was co-served by: Secretary of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese, Hieromonk Cornelius (Molev), Dean of the Nizhnevartovsk Deanery of the Khanty-Mansi Diocese, Archpriest Sergiy Shevchenko, Priest Oleg Gordeev, Priest Joachim Gonzalez. The diaconal rank was headed by Hierodeacon Nikodim (Pirkhovsky). During the Liturgy, Metropolitan Pavel ordained Deacon Alexy Bergado, a cleric of the Church of St. Isidore of Rostov in Alabel, to the priesthood, and reader Agustin Ponferrada was ordained a deacon. At the end of the Service, Metropolitan Pavel addressed the audience: “Dear fathers, brothers and sisters, allow me to congratulate you on the holiday and thank you for the common prayer that we have made today. We have celebrated the Divine Liturgy and 2 ordinations – diaconal and priestly. Our church is being multiplied with the clergy and parishioners, and thus right hand of God leads us to salvation. There is no greater glory than to glorify our Heavenly Creator together. I pray to God that He will bless this land with His Divine blessing and send down the Holy Spirit on those who take holy orders today. It is impossible to love God without loving the flock, it is impossible to serve God without serving one’s neighbor. And today, congratulating and admonishing Deacon Agustin, Priest Alexy, I want to say: to serve God means to serve people. To love God means to love your neighbor. God grant that our parishes, and there are already 30 of them, develop, and it is desirable that each parish has its own priest. Most recently, the birth of the Philippine-Vietnamese diocese took place, parishes and flocks are being multiplied, priests are being ordained and trained. I pray to the All-merciful God that He will accomplish His work of salvation, for He desires salvation for all, as it is said in the Holy Scriptures. The Lord calls us, all Orthodox Christians, and says: “You are the Light of the world and the salt of the Earth.” We will bring this Light to those around us, for St. Seraphim of Sarov said: “Acquire the spirit of peace and thousands around you will be saved.” I invoke God’s blessing on everyone: help us, Lord!”
Parish News
Thursday of the Great Canon
17
On March 30, the Thursday of the Great Canon (“Standing of St Mary of Egypt”), the service of the Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete was celebrated in Tagaytay headed by the Dean of Manila Deanery Hieromonk Alexei, with priests David Grubbs and Augustin Ponferrada co-serving. After the service, […]
Cooperation with Cossacks
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On March 26, a teleconference was held with the participation of Cossacks of the Moscow region and the Philippines. The teleconference was attended by: Ataman of the Cossack city district of the Solnechnogorsk city of the Moscow region Alexander Chizhuen, Chairman of the Board for the Cooperation with the Cossacks […]
Presanctified Liturgy translated into Cebuano
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In the third week of Lent at the Mission and Education Center of the Russian Orthodox Church in Davao City the translation of the service book for Presanctified Liturgy in Cebuano was finished. Priest Moses Cahilig and priest Joachim Gonzales first used the translated service book during the celebrations of […]
Sunday of the Cross worship
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ln the middle of the Lent the Orthodox worship the Precious Cross of Christ. The Cross is in the center of our salvation. And thus we also begin to prepare for the Holy Passions. The services in Vung Tau, Vietnam:
First week of Lent
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From Monday to Thursday of the first week of Great Lent, Great Compline is celebrated in all Orthodox churches with the reading of the Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete. One of these services was served in Vung Tau today.
New church in Vietnam
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In Vung Tau, there have been some changes. The apartment that was used for the church became small, and 2 apartments were allocated for the needs of the parish instead of one. And on the eve of Lent, everyone will be able to come to the new church, so that […]
Feast of St Xenia in Hanoi
232
On Sunday, February 5, on the eve of the day of St. Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in Hanoi. Parishioners prayerfully honored the memory of the heavenly patroness of the Hanoi community.
Blessing of the ocean
273
On January 21, on Saturday after Theophany, on the coast of the island of Luzon, the dean of the Manila District, Hieromonk Alexei (Lapshin), performed the rite of the Great Blessing of water in the ocean. After the rite, two parishioners of the Iveron parish were baptized. The events, which […]
Theophany
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On January 19, after the Divine Liturgy, the rite of the Great Blessing of water on Lake Taal was performed at the parish in Tagaytay. In the center of the lake there is the world’s smallest active volcano, which erupted for the last time exactly 3 years ago.
Feast of St Serafim
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The Day of the Repose of St. Seraphim of Sarov on January 15 fell on Sunday this year, so many parishioners were able to pray to the saint, those who on other days cannot be in the church because of work. The unique life of the ascetic and his instructions […]