Wedding in Manila

On the last Sunday of Pascha, under the patronage of St Xenia of St Petersburg, our parishioners Lawrence and Anna have tied up their lives with the Lord’s blessing. A new Orthodox family is born! Many years, many children and many God’s blessings! Love each other as Jesus loves His Church, as St Xenia loved his husband

ROC Missionary Congress

The clergy of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia took part in the congress of missionaries of the Russian Orthodox Church.

With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the VI All-Church Congress of Diocesan Missionaries of the Russian Orthodox Church was held in Moscow from May 14 to 16, 2021. More than 250 participants of the Congress, chaired by the head of the synodal missionary department of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan John of Belgorod and Starooskolsky, considered topical issues of spiritual enlightenment and discussed the most effective methods and ways of developing missionary service in modern Russia and in the external mission of the Church.

In the direction of “External Mission of the Russian Orthodox Church”, the co-chairs were: Hieromonk Cornelius (Molev), Secretary of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church, member of the Academic Council of the Orthodox Missionary School and Priest Anthony Skrynnikov, Head of the Missionary Department of the Stavropol Diocese. Father Cornelius in his report touched upon the problems of the impact of the practice of shamanism on the Filipinos, with the severe consequences of which Orthodox priests have to face in their ministry. And Priest Dimitri Lavrentiev continued the topic with the report “Organization of missionary activity in the Philippines”.

Missionaries, translators, and representatives of foreign and Russian dioceses also made presentations:

  • Elena S. Mahler, representative of the Argentine and South American diocese in Russia, organizer of the Orthodox missionary society “Southern Cross”.”Prospects and directions of the Orthodox Mission in South America”
    Hieromonk Innokenty (Karpov), Cleric of the Argentine and South American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church ” Modern Orthodox Mission in the territory of the Argentine and South American Diocese»
    Mark S. Dasic, Serbian Orthodox missionary and translator “Current missionary projects for the South American region”
    Missionary work with foreigners in Russia
    Priest Dionysius Grishkov, member of the Commission for Missionary Work and Catechism in Moscow, responsible for the mission among migrants, founder of the “Near Home” migrant aid fund. “Experience and problems of missionary work with migrants in Moscow»
    Konstantin Dmitrievich Gorditsa, responsible for missionary work in the Moskvoretsky deanery of the Central Vicariate, teacher of the Orthodox Missionary School. “Features of missionary work among foreign diasporas in Moscow»
    Erofeeva Natalia Anatolyevna Japanist, guide, translator; head and author of the project “The Way of St. Nicholas of Japan from the Birch to the Cherry Tree” “Missionary and educational projects for the 150th anniversary of the Orthodox Mission in Japan”.

The participants performed both remotely and in person. Representatives of foreign dioceses got in touch via zoom, and the audience could ask their questions to the speakers from the conference hall in Moscow. At the end of the session, the participants took a general photo and continued to communicate and exchange experiences of missionary service in the context of the pandemic in an informal setting.

CHRIST IS RISEN!

The Resurrection of Christ is the day of Victory over the most terrible enemies of humanity-death and the devil. The gates of paradise have opened for everyone, and to enter them, you only need to want to be always with Christ. And our joy is that we have such a God Who, having created the universe, washes the feet of fishermen, and He is even ready to die for us, if it is necessary for our salvation!While the Philippines is once again plunged into lockdown due to the pandemic, the situation in Vietnam allows to fully celebrate our main Holiday. Almost a hundred people took part in the procession, and about seventy received communion of the holy Mysteries of Christ. The Easter Service was held in Vung Tau, where the Service was broadcast live to the Orthodox communities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Several people came to the service from Nha Trang, Mui Ne and Ho Chi Minh City. According to tradition, the Gospel of John was read in different languages: Church Slavonic, Vietnamese, Chinese, Greek, French, Turkish, Russian, Ukrainian, Kazakh, and others.

Paschal Epistle of the Metropolitan of Singapore and South-East Asia, SERGIY to the Most Reverend bishops, clergy, monastics, and all the God-loving flock of the Patriarchal Exarchate of South-East Asia

Most Reverend Archpastors, Venerable Fathers, beloved brothers and sisters

CHRIST IS RISEN!

On this bright, salvific and sacred day, I address all of you with this ancient greeting and congratulate you on the Lord’s Pascha.
Today our hearts are filled with inexpressible joy, because the Giver of life Christ not only resurrected by the power of His Divinity, but also abolished the power of death, destroyed the gates of hell and granted all those who believe in Him the opportunity to be with Him not only here on earth, but also in blessed eternity.
During the time that has passed since last spring, since last Pascha, people have begun to think more often about the meaning of life, about enduring values, about their soul, about God, and it is important for every believer to understand what the greatest event of the Resurrection of Christ means for him personally. We must remember that the Lord accepted the death on the cross and rose from the grave for the salvation of each of us, so that the light of eternal life might shine on everyone, that the joy of the presence of God and His unceasing care for us might touch every heart. We believe that this joy of being with Christ, Whom we have loved with all our souls, with all our lives, will accompany us into eternity, will become complete and never end.
I wish you all, my dear ones, that the wonderful Paschal light transform each of you and inspire you to perform deeds of love and mercy, so that you share this light and this joy with your family and friends, so that you overcome all difficulties and sorrows with hope in the Savior and confidence that we can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens us (Phil. 4:13).
Again and again I greet you with the feast of the Lord’s Pascha and proclaim with special feeling:

CHRIST IS RISEN!
TRULY CHRIST IS RISEN!

Metropolitan of Singapore and South-East Asia,
Patriarchal Exarch of South-East Asia

Friday of Passions

On Great Thursday evening the divine service of the Great Friday Matins with 12 “Gospels of Passions” was held in the parishes of the diocese in Vietnam and the Philippines.

From the St Petersburg Academy:

Students from Indonesia and the Philippines celebrated the Feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem in the house church of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, where they continue their studies. During Holy Week, the seminarians are within the walls of the Academy and do not leave its borders, preparing for the Bright Holiday of the Resurrection of Christ on long divine services. Let us pray for our brothers in Christ and turn to the words of the troparion of the first three days of Holy Week, calling the faithful to spiritual vigil: Behold, the Bridegroom cometh at midnight, / and blessed is the servant, whom he will find watching,/ but unworthy is he, whom He will find despondent./ Beware, O my soul,/ lest thou be weighed down with sleep,/ lest thou be given up to death,/ and be shut out from the kingdom. But arise, calling:/ Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou, O God,// through the Theotokos have mercy on us.

Press service of the Moscow Patriarchal Exarchate of the Southeast Asia