The first wedding ceremony according to the Russian Orthodox rite in the first Orthodox church in the Philippines in Siniloan was performed on Sunday, February 20 by the dean of the Manila Deanery, Hieromonk Alexei Lapshin and the rector of the Parish of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord, Archimandrite Philemon Castro. Congratulations to Mark and Barbara on the creation of a new small church!
Medal “For Merits” is established
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia blessed the establishment of the diocesan Medal of Merit and the Episcopal Diploma of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia of the Russian Orthodox Church. Medal of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia of the Russian Orthodox Church “For Merits” was established in accordance with the definition of the Holy Synod of May 27, 2009 (Journal No. 43, item 3) and on the basis of the resolution of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia of February 18, 2022. The medal “For Merits” is a form of encouragement for clergymen, monastics and laity for their labors and services to Orthodoxy – in pastoral ministry, theological, scientific and administrative activities, the revival of spiritual life, the restoration of churches, missionary, charitable, social and educational works at the diocesan level. It will be awarded to clergymen, monastics and laypeople for their special contribution to the creation of church life in the diocese. The medal has three degrees. Each copy of it is decorated with an iconographic belt relief image of St. John, Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco. In a semicircle, above the saint, there is an inscription made in English: “St. JOHN THE ABP. OF SHANGHAI and SAN FRANCISCO». Now the diocese will be awarded a special award in honor of the saint with the name associated with the beginning of the Orthodox mission in the Philippines. St. John has been staying on the island of Tubabao (Philippines) for 3 years since 1949. The International Organization for Refugees has appealed to the governments of a number of countries to provide temporary shelter to refugees, as well as Russian emigrants and persons of some other nationalities who have permanently resided in Shanghai. Only the Philippine Republic responded to this call, and allocated Tubabao Island for temporary settlement of refugees from Shanghai. The evacuation of refugees from Shanghai to Tubabao began in January 1949 and ended in early May of the same year. St. John himself arrived at the camp on Tubabao a few days before Easter in 1949, which became an event of exceptional importance in the spiritual life of the camp. By the resolution of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia dated February 18, 2022, the episcopal diploma of the diocesan bishop is also established for clergymen, monastics and lay people as a reward for their work for the glory of the Holy Church in the Philippine–Vietnamese Diocese.
Let’s meet the Lord
On the feast of the Meeting (Presentation) of the Lord, the Divine Liturgy in Tagaytay was conducted by the dean of the Manila Deanery, Hieromonk Alexey Lapshin and the rector of the parish of Christ the Savior, Priest David Grubbs.
On this day, Priest Joachim Gonzalez, Priest Silouan Thompson (ROCOR) and Deacon John Mahinai celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the village of Santa Maria. Priest Silouan, who until recently was the rector of the parish of St. John of Shanghai in Santa Maria, currently is serving in the United States, but briefly returned to the Philippines to complete his business here.
Liturgy in a mountain village
On February 13, on Sunday of Publican and Pharisee, the secretary of the diocese, Hieromonk Cornelius (Molev), held the Divine Liturgy in a mountain village near Kinabalan. It is difficult for the villagers to get to Kinabalan, where the church of St. Apostle Thomas is, therefore, they cannot regularly participate in the Holy Sacraments. For them, today’s divine service has become an opportunity to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ for the first time in a long time.
First Liturgy
On February 13, on Sunday of Publican and Pharisee, the newly ordained priests Nicholas Salgado and Ambrose Sumagaysay, together with Priest Moses Cahilig, celebrated their first Liturgy in the Philippines in the village of Arakan. The clergy returned from Russia at the end of January and were quarantined upon arrival.
Patron feast in Lambayong
February 11 is the memorial day of St. Ignatius the God-Bearer (transfer of relics). In the parish of Lambayong village (Sultan Kudarat Province, Mindanao Island), the patronal feast was celebrated on this day. The Divine Liturgy, which unexpectedly gathered a lot of people, was conducted by the Secretary of the Diocese, Hieromonk Korniliy (Molev), Priest Roman Buniel and Deacon Matthew Sale. After the liturgy and the procession, the celebrations ended with a festive meal.
From the Academy:
From the St. Petersburg Theological Academy:
This semester, students of the Faculty of Foreign Students perform a joint divine service on Saturday mornings, at which they read and sing independently. On January 22, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated with the participation of foreign students. And starting from January 29, foreigners independently perform divine services in a lay rank in the Church Slavonic language. So the Third and Sixth hours were read in the Assumption Academic Church. Then, under the guidance of the 1st year undergraduate student of the Faculty of Ecclesiastical Arts Georgy Shevyakov, the students sang the Typica and read the extracts of the day from the Apostle and the Gospel. Such services contribute to better understanding of the structure of the services of the daily circle and in the future will be useful for organizing services in parishes where there is not always a priest.
Blessing of Taal
On January 30, the rector of the Parish of Christ the Savior in Tagaytay, Priest David Grubbs, after the Divine Liturgy, performed the blessing of the water on Lake Taal. Then parishioners and employees of the Charity and Social Ministry Department of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese visited the refugees affected by the eruption of the Taal volcano 2 years ago, brought them humanitarian aid and gifts.
Divine Liturgy on Cebu
On January 29 the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in Catmon Cebu. The service was headed by the Dean of Manila Deanery Hieromonk Alexei Lapshin.
Happy Day of Angel!
On January 23 is the memory of St. Pavel Komelsky (Obnorsky) – the heavenly patron of Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi. We heartily congratulate our Vladyka on his day of Angel! We wish him spiritual and bodily strength in the field of archpastoral ministry, and, of course, the prayerful intercession of his heavenly patron!
