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06 March 2016

A Thai Citizen is Baptized on Phuket

06 March 2016 Another Thai citizen, Solomon Ryangsri, became an Orthodox Christian at the Holy Trinity parish in Phuket. According to the parish website, Solomon Ryangsri spent more than a month undergoing catechesis with the parish priest, Fr. Roman Bychkov. He regularly visited the parish church on Sundays and prayed during the liturgy. According to Solomon, he has been preparing more than 16 years to take this step and has been interested in Christianity for a long time. Several years ago, thanks to Orthodox.or.th, Solomon learned about Orthodoxy. Now, he is a member of the Church of Christ.

Photo: Baptism of Solomon Ryangsri on 06.03.2016 (by Matushka Kseniya)

03 March 2016

Archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin), representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand, visited Koh Phangan (Surat Thani Province)

01-02 March 2016 Archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin), representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand, visited Koh Phangan (Surat Thani Province). The main purpose of the trip was to assess the feasibility of building an Orthodox church on the island and buying, in this regard, the plot of land. On this trip, Archimandrite Oleg was accompanied by the rector of the Ascension Church on Koh Samui, Priest Alexey Golovin. Following the meeting with Orthodox believers on Koh Phangan, taking into account the opinion of the priest Alexei Golovin and his personal acquaintance with the situation, Archimandrite Oleg stated:

1. On Koh Phangan, there is a sufficiently large Russian-speaking community, which is made up of both permanent residents of the island and seasonal visitors. A large number of tourists, including those from Orthodox countries, annually visit the island.

2. Koh Phangan is a dynamic resort destination in Thailand. Today, the island has more than 400 hotels, an international school, and an international airport.

3. On the island, there are Catholic and Protestant churches, mosques, Buddhist temples.

In addition, Archimandrite Oleg is now familiar with the offer for sale of land plots, their value and suitability for subsequent construction of an Orthodox church. According to the Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in the region, an Orthodox temple on Koh Phangan will be in demand, and this issue deserves closer study. However, Archimandrite Oleg drew attention to the fact that, at the present time, the Church is already conducting several large-scale construction projects: the Theological College in Phuket, the Holy Temple of the Saint George the Martyr in Phnom Penh, the reconstruction of the Church of All Saints in Pattaya, all of which requires considerable consolidation of the general church funds. Therefore, the final decision on the purchase of land on Koh Phangan and the subsequent construction of an Orthodox church there will be made after discussion with the benefactors and donors.

Representation of Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand sincerely thanks members of the Ascension Church on Koh Samui, who wished to assume the costs associated with Archimandrite Oleg's visit to see Koh Phangan.

Photo: Koh Phangan

14 December 2014

For those who celebrate Christmas in new (Gregorian) calendar.

For the Orthodox believers who celebrate the Nativity using the Gregorian calendar (new style), the festive Divine Liturgy will be celebrated

The service will be performed in English language by Father Ian Nield, a cleric of Antiochian Patriarchate, archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines.

07 October 2014

Saint Panteleimon's Church under Construction in Sihanoukville (Cambodia).

According to the parish website of Saint Painteleimon (Martyr and Healer), construction work continues to meet the expectations spelled out under the contract. According to Mr. M. Ryumshin (Chairman of the local Orthodox parish community), frequent heavy rainfall delays construction work. Inspite of this, contractual deadlines continue to be met.

At the moment the basement is under construction. It is not an easy task owing to large amounts of rock contained within that plot of land. Explosives are required in order to progress with the construction work. Metal work for the basement is also under way.

In the photo: Rocky ground causing problems for construction work.

Father Paisius (Hieromonk), who is responsible for the Cambodian Orthodox community, will visit the site soon and celebrate the Divine Liturgy. Furthermore, Father Oleg Cherepanin, (Archimandrite and Representative of Russian Orthodox Church, Moscow Patriarchate in Thailand), will make a pastoral visit to Cambodia in October, during which he will visit Sihanoukville.

International sponsors and believers are being asked to make charitable donations for this project given the poor status of this region.

01 October 2014

A Meeting With the New Russian Ambassador to Thailand.

Archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin), the Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) in the Kingdom of Thailand, met with Kirill Mikhailovich Barsky, the newly appointed Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Thailand. Fr Oleg congratulated the Ambassador on his new appointment and the two went on to discuss topics of mutual interest.

One such topic was the forthcoming sanctification of Holy Royal Martyrs Church in Hua Hin and Saint Sergius Chuch in Koh Chang.

Particular attention was given to the Temple in Hua Hin as 2015 will be the 115 anniversary of the Crown Prince of Nicholas Alexandrovich who became the holy martyr Emperor Saint Nicholas II. Other topics included the potential support of non-governmental Russian Language Institutions in Thailand and of Russian tourists in difficult situations.

Fr Oleg was grateful for the positive relations between the Church and the Russian Embassy and this sentiment was reciprocated by the Russian Ambassador. Finally, the Ambassador expressed his desire to become acquainted with the Thailand and to visit all Orthodox parishes in the country.

04 September 2014

Orthodox church construction in Sihanoukville (Cambodia).

Sihanoukville is situated within the Kingdom of Cambodia. It was here, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, that a contract was signed for the construction of the church of Saint Panteleimon (Great Martyr). The Orthodox Church in Cambodia is part of the representation of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand, which in turn takes its instructions from the Department of the Moscow Patriarchate for foreign institutions of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Committee of the Orthodox Christian Church of Cambodia enabled the signing of the contract and approved the estimate given for the construction work.

The construction company «Sam Sarath» is a reputable company boasting many positive reviews from its clients. The total cost of construction is estimated at $301,663 US dollars and the duration of work is estimated at sixty weeks. Saint Panteleimon church is the first of three planned projects for Cambodia. The total area of the temple is 144 metres with its height measuring just over 21 metres. In accordance with the contract, a deposit of 30% of the total cost was paid allowing work to commence forthwith.

The Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) in Thailand thanked the Orthodox Church in Cambodia (Moscow Patriarchate) for its hard preparatory work. It also encouraged its flock to financially support the efforts of the Orthodox Church in Southeast Asia given the poverty of the inhabitants of this region.

In the photo: A model of an Orthodox Church in the city of Sihanoukville.

28 August 2014

Thai English newspaper published an interview with archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin).

«The Nation», one of the leading English mass media in Thailand published an interview with archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin), the Representative of Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand. The interview was published in "Russia beyond the headlines", the supplement dedicated to Russia.

28 August 2014

Holy Dormition monastic community in Ratchaburi celebrates its Feast.

The Feast of the Holy Dormition was celebrated in the monastic community bearing the name of this important event. Traditionally, all Orthodox Christians from all over Thailand make a pilgrimage to the monastery. This great feast drew such a large crowd that many pilgrims had to pray outside the church. Pilgrims also arrived from Cambodia.

In the photo: The Divine Liturgy on the feast day of the Holy Dormition of Our Lady in the male monastic community of Ratchaburi (2014).

The Divine Liturgy was led by archimandrite Oleg Cherepanin, Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) in the Kingdom of Thailand, assisted by priest Daniel Wanna, rector of All-Saints church in Pattaya and the Chairman of the Foundation Committee of the Orthodox Church in Thailand. They were also assisted by hieromonk Paisius Ipate, priest for the Orthodox parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in Cambodia. During the service, archimandrite Oleg preached to the pilgrims and thanked the inhabitants for their unceasing prayers and work concerning the maintenance of the monastery.

In the photo: Pilgrims during the Divine Liturgy of the Holy Dormition.

After the Divine Liturgy there was a procession with the cross around the temple featuring Shrine of Our Lady. Believers had the opportunity to worship and reverence the sacred Iberian icon of the Mother of God in the chapel near the church. They were also able to reverence the many temple relics and pay their respects to the deceased buried in the monastery cemetery.

In the photo: The procession around the church of the Holy Dormition (Ratchaburi, Thailand).

Benefactors worked hard to help arrange this pilgrimage: "Russian House" company provided the free transportation to the pilgrims, while the Pattaya restaurant “8 Horseshoes” provided all the pilgrims with free food.

The celebration of the Holy Dormition of Our Lady, ‘Theotokos’, in the monastic community of Ratchaburi is becoming an increasingly important annual event in the life of the Orthodox faithful in Thailand. It helps to unite the various Orthodox parishes in Thailand and Cambodia and radiates the joy of joint spiritual communion and prayer.

26 August 2014

A plot of land purchased for a new Orthodox church in Chiang Mai.

With the blessing of the Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) in the Kingdom of Thailand, archimandrite Oleg Cherepanin, Fr. Danai (Daniel) Wanna, Chairman of the Foundation Committee of the Orthodox Church in Thailand visited the city of Chiang Mai in the northern Thailand, and purchased a plot of land for the construction of an Orthodox church and associated property.

The plot measures 532 square metres, sufficient for the construction of an Orthodox Temple. The site is located in the central part of the city, adjacent to the historic centre of Chiang Mai, which should encourage many people to visit the church.

In the photo: The plot of land that was purchased.

As 2015 is a jubilee dedicated to the 1000th anniversary of the repose of Saint Vladimir, Baptist and Apostle of Russia, the Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand presented the case to the Church hierarchy that the new temple be dedicated in honour of Saint Vladimir. If possible the church should be constructed before the end of 2015.

Archimandrite Oleg Cherepanin requested Fr. Roman Bychkov (acting Rector of Holy Trinity church in Phuket), to prepare several sketch options of a future church in Chiang Mai for consideration by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.

In the photo: Sketch of the desired outcome regarding the construction of a new Orthodox Church in Chiang Mai.

The local community of believers in Chiang Mai is blessed to elect the local parish administration.

The accounts regarding income and expenditure for this project will be displayed on the official website of the Orthodox Church in Thailand (Moscow Patriarchate) - www.orthodox.or.th.

17 August 2014

Two Cambodian Citizens Receive Baptism in Thailand.

On the 17th August, 2014, at the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Bangkok, two citizens of Cambodia received the sacrament of Baptism. Chamnann Pech and Lone Prom took as their Baptismal names Cyril and Alexander. With the blessing of archimandrite Oleg Cherepanin, Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) in Thailand, the Baptism was conducted by priest Ian Nield, a cleric serving in the Diocese of New Zealand and Australia under the Patriarchate of Antioch. The Baptism took place in the baptismal chapel dedicated to the Matrona of Moscow, located within the Cathedral. Chamnan and Lone spent several months preparing for their Baptism by receiving catechesis and by becoming acquainted with the basic teachings of Orthodoxy. They also participated in daily worship.

Having accepted the teachings of the Holy Orthodox Church, the newly baptised expressed a strong desire to deepen their knowledge of Orthodoxy and continue their education in one of the theological schools in Russia.