On February 27, 2024, Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi, the administrator of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese, performed the rite of minor consecration of the house church in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in Vung Tau, Vietnam. His Eminence was co-served by Hieromonk Cornelius (Molev), Secretary of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese, Priest Eugene Tsukalo, dean of the Vietnamese Deanery, and Priest John Obrembalsky, cleric of the Balashikha Diocese. At the end of the service, Metropolitan Pavel gave the archpastoral blessing and delivered a sermon: “Dear fathers, brothers and sisters, let me express my gratitude for the common prayer. You and I have now performed a small consecration of our temple of the Queen of Heaven, our Patroness, the Intercessor of the Christian family, and asked Her for intercession and help so that She would not leave us, who are far from our Fatherland, would preserve our Fatherland, grant victory to our army and preserve all of us on our life-saving path. Every Christian, passing through the saving path, living his life, cannot live without temptations and without sin. But the Lord also gave us all the saving means so that every person would have the opportunity to get rid of sins, receive forgiveness, and connect with the Lord God. And today we thank the Lord for His immense mercy to us.The Lord gives us such mercy today that today we have this small temple, cozy, beautiful, where each of you, coming here, connects with God, talking in prayer and uniting in the sacraments. This is the mercy of God, and we thank the Lord for giving us his immense mercy and love. Thank you for your common prayers, for there is no greater glory than to glorify your Heavenly Creator together. May the All-merciful Lord, through the intercession of the Queen of Heaven, not leave this holy place, the abbot, the entire flock that comes here and unites with God. God bless you all!”
The Medal of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco for services to the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese was awarded to Svetlana Shcherbakova.
