On June 22, 2024, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia arrived at Svyato-Trinity Sergius Lavra.
Holy Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia arrived at Svyato-Trinity Sergius Lavra.
In the house church in honor of Righteous Philaret the Merciful of the Lavra's Patriarchal quarters, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church presented the head of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia Metropolitan Sergius of Singapore and Southeast Asia with the Order of Saint Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna (II degree).
The hierarch was honored in consideration of his diligent archpastoral work and in connection with his 50th anniversary.
Holy Vladyka also presented Metropolitan Sergius with a commemorative cross and panagia.
Giving the award, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church said: «I congratulate you on your 50th birthday. Once 50 years was considered to be the age of old age, but now everything has changed. And looking at your face, you think that it is not that old age, — you have not yet reached middle age. Thank you for your labors, for your service. With your coming a lot has changed in the place where the Lord sent you. And I hope that your labors will lead to the strengthening of the church. Orthodoxy in that region, which seems to be very distant from Russia, but is very important due to the processes that are taking place there.
In his reply, Metropolitan Sergius emphasized: «It is very easy to walk along the road you have paved, because everything there is laid down by you. Wherever you come — Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia — everyone remembers the visit of the Patriarch (when he was Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate — Red). And it is very easy for me to follow you.
«But you are already on a completely different road, paving this path yourself. This is an exit to a completely different level, — His Holiness Patriarch Kirill noted. — Then, indeed, we did the most necessary things. The Russian Church appeared in Southeast Asia. Of course, you know about these problems, probably already better than I do. It was both a question of personnel and a question of the attitude of the authorities. Not everything was easy and simple from the start. There were suspicions, they were scrutinizing us, looking at us from all sides.
According to His Holiness, over time the conditions for the development of the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church in the countries of Southeast Asia «by the grace of God became more and more favorable». You have brought about changes in church life. For this I thank you heartily» — concluded the Primate of the Russian Church.
President of the Russian Church.
Press Service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia
