The seminar on Catechism for priests of Mindanao island at the center of St. Matrona in Davao has ended. For several days, the priests studied how to organize a systematic catechization in their parishes. They also attended lectures on the history of Ecumenical Councils. During the days of the pandemic, meetings of the priesthood are especially difficult, so for the fathers it was also a unique opportunity to pray and, of course, to celebrate the Divine Liturgy together.

In Mindanao, the leader of a mountain tribe brother John died of covid. He had brought many of his fellow tribesmen to Orthodoxy with him. Memory eternal!

In some unknown way, John became very fond of Orthodoxy and patiently waited for the missionaries for more than two years. After his baptism, he decided to donate the land on which his house stood for the construction of the temple and demolished his own house! A very zealous Christian. Remember him.

On August 10, a service for the departed brother John was held in Davao by Hieromonk Cornelius together with priests Joachim, Moses and Roman.

Due to lack of vaccines, the vaccination rate is slow in the Philippines, that’s why facing the new strains of the coronavirus, the authorities impose new lockdowns in Manila some other territories.

The Department of Charity of our diocese has weekly outreach mission in Quezon province, 130 km from Manila. Dozens of poor people, mostly hungry children, are fed with champorado (rice dish) and other food and snacks. Catechetical classes are also held for those preparing for the Holy Baptism. After the miraculous healing after Baptism of one of these people many of them wish to become Orthodox.

Sunday services in the parishes of the diocese. Tagaytay, General Santos, Kinabalan, Mahongkog

On August 1, on the day of St. Seraphim of Sarov, the congregation in Makalangot (Arakan, Cotabato) celebrated its Patronal feast.

The spiritual celebration was headed by the Secretary of the Philippines-Vietnamese diocese Hieromonk Cornelius Molev with priest Moses Cahilig and deacons Nicolas and Ambrose.

The Department of Charity and Social Ministries-Philippines and Vietnam-ROC (Moscow Patriarchate) first responded to calamity victims on the lakeshore of Laguna thru the FMI Outreach led by Fr. David Grubbs in November 2020. Since then, continued supplies of nutritious food, shoes, multi-vitamins, clothes, even personal care items (soaps, toothbrush, toothpaste) are being distributed to children in rural areas thru the Theotokos Mercy-feeding. Now led by a native Orthodox priest Archimandrite Philemon based in a town of Siniloan, the parish of “The Exaltation of the Precious and Life-giving Cross of the Lord” has recorded a total of 3000 beneficiaries within the first quarter of the year. Several anonymous donors (in cash or in kind) have shown a typical of Filipino norm of bayanihan even in the midst of Covid pandemic. Our volunteers & beneficiaries can sing with joy “Through the prayer of the Theotokos…”

Through the 2nd quarter of the missionary works, the spirit of orthopraxy has taken an upward step. In addition to sharing God’s plenitude with the hungry, this charitable activity is now coupled with nurturing the spiritual needs of the beneficiaries. The pastoral care includes short catechetical instructions thru icons, hymns, and blessing the households with Holy Water. The presence of a “man-in-black” with his trained volunteers harness the atmosphere of Christian community. Though lacking of proper venue & orderly arrangements, the event practically touches the hearts of grateful beneficiaries. Eventually as this missionary develops, the priest will be focused on praying & teaching the Word of God and administering the Holy Sacraments. At the beginning of this 3rd quarter of the year, we hope to see more volunteers “go-grow-glow” in God’s love “Through the prayer of the Theotokos…”

At the training center of St. Matrona of Moscow in Davao city, a week-long seminar for singers of Davao del Sur and Davao deaneries has been held. During the seminar, choirs from the parishes of the Nativity of the Theotokos in Arakan, the Epiphany in Talas, St. Apostle Thomas in Kinabalan and St. John of Shanghai in Santa Maria learned new hymns of the Divine Liturgy and the All-Night Vigil, studied the Ustav (order of the divine worship). We hope that the acquired knowledge will help to make our divine services more beautiful.

On July 21, the festival celebration took place in the parish of The Kazan icon of the Mother of God in Vung Tau

On Sunday, July 18, on the day of commemoration of St Serguis of Radonezh (translation of his relics), in the village of Kinabalan on the parish of St Apostle Thomas, the divine liturgy was celebrated led by the Secretary of the diocese Hieromonk Cornelius Molev.

July 12 is the holiday of the St Apostles Peter and Paul. This is the patronal feast of the parish in Salasang (Arakan, Cotabato). The Divine liturgy was offered by Hieromonk Cornelius Molev, priests Joachim Gonzales and Moses Cahilig and deacon Nicolas Salgado.

Holy Apostles, pray to God for us!