The first temple of the Russian Orthodox Church consecrated in the Philippines

On the island of Mindanao, in the city of Makalangot, the first temple of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Philippines was consecrated. He was named in honor of the Monk Seraphim of Sarov, the wonderworker of All Russia. The rite of the great consecration of the temple was performed by the administrator of the Philippine-Vietnamese diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan of Manila and Hanoi Pavel (Fokin).

“I am confident that the church foundation being laid today will be strong and reliable like this temple, the first and so far the only one in the history of this diocese, built and consecrated by a great rite. I think that a good, good start has been made, and the construction of churches in our Philippine land will continue, 'TASS quotes Vladyka Paul with reference to the official website of the Russian Orthodox Church.

After the consecration of the St. Seraphim Church in Makalangot, a diocesan meeting of the clergy and laity took place. On it, it was decided to form five deanery districts in the Philippine-Vietnamese diocese: Manila, Davaov, General Santov, Vietnam and Davao del Sur.

Recall that the new diocese of the Russian Church was founded in accordance with the decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church on February 26 2019. It is part of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia, includes the territory of Vietnam and the Philippines, and has 33 parishes and one house of prayer. Metropolitan Pavel (Fokin) of Khanty-Mansiysk and Surgut has been appointed governor of the Philippine-Vietnamese diocese with the right to bear the title of 'Manila and Hanoi'.