The Philippines celebrated the Liturgy on New Year’s Eve for the first time

Newly ordained deacons continue to undergo liturgical practice at the missionary center of Blessed Matrona of Moscow in Davao (Philippines), and serve daily at the Divine Liturgy.

On New Year’s Eve, according to Filipino superstition, many people make as many loud sounds as possible in order to scare away evil spirits. Because of this, of course, it is completely impossible to rest before the morning service.

So, the staff and students of the missionary center decided to celebrate the New Year in prayer to the Creator.

On the night of December 31 to January 1, the Liturgy was celebrated in the service of the deacons by the secretary of the diocese, Hieromonk Cornelius (Molev).

The parishioners also decided to pray at the New Year’s Eve Liturgy, wishing to thank the Lord for His blessings in the past year and ask for help in the coming year.

A New Year’s prayer service was held in Vung Tau (Vietnam). On December 30, on the eve of the New Year, in the Kazan Church in Vung Tau, Priest Evgeny Tsukalo, held a traditional prayer service for the New Year. The believers prayerfully thanked the Lord for all the events of the past year and asked for gracious help from the Lord for the coming year.

Traditional New Year and Christmas events were held in Tagaytay at the Nativity of Christ Parish. The Department of Charity and Social Service of the Diocese of the Philippines and Vietnam organized a New Year’s performance and gift distribution for children from the poorest neighborhoods of the city.

Congratulations and many years to newly illumined Mary and Hermione!

During the entire Nativity Fast, newly ordained deacons celebrate daily service at the parish of Blessed Matrona of Moscow in Davao (Philippines), a 40-day liturgical practice traditional for clergy who have just received holy orders. Deacons Dimitri Cahilig and Luka Tababa were ordained in November by Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi during his archpastoral visit to the Philippines. On December 25, the feast of St. Spyridon of Trimythous, Hieromonk John (Gondayao) celebrated the Divine Liturgy with the new deacons. In the evening, on the eve of the day of remembrance of the martyrs Eustratius, Auxentius, Eugenius, Mardarius and Orestes, the polyeleos service was performed by the secretary of the diocese, Hieromonk Cornelius (Molev). Thus, during the daily services in the training center in the morning and evening, new clergy are trained, as well as our students who help as altar boys, readers and singers.

The first Liturgy was held at the Pokrovsky parish in Vietnam in a new permanent premise. Our parish of the Intercession of the Holy Mother of God in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) now has a permanent location for holding services. This is a long-awaited event for believers. On December 14, priest Evgeny Tsukalo celebrated the first Divine Liturgy in the new location. After the service, parishioners had tea with Father Evgeny to share the joy of this significant day.

Divine Liturgy in Hanoi on the 26th Sunday after Pentecost

On December 22, the 26th Sunday after Pentecost, at the parish of Blessed Matrona of Moscow in Davao (Philippines), the secretary of the Philippine-Vietnamese diocese, Hieromonk Korniliy (Molev), after the Divine Liturgy, performed the rite of catechism. In Russia, this rite is usually performed together with the sacrament of Baptism, because as presumed, people there are familiar with Orthodox culture. But in the Philippines, people know little about the doctrine, worship, history and traditions of the Orthodox Church, so the process of catechism can stretch out up to six months. This rite here is performed on those preparing to be baptized in advance, but only on those who are studying the Orthodox faith and have already confirmed their intention to become members of the Orthodox Church. Today, 12 people, both adults and children, underwent the rite of catechumenate. Among them were three families. “Several people from this group were brought to Orthodoxy by another catechumen, who has been preparing for baptism for about six months and is already actively preaching,” the priest said.