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18 August 2012

A citizen of India begins catechism courses at the St. Nicholas parish in Bangkok

At the request of His Grace bishop of Cleveland Peter, hierarch of the Mid-American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, the Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand (Moscow Patriarchate) started to catechize and prepare Mr. Sunil Benedict for Holy Chrismation. Mr. Benedict is a citizen of India, who has consciously decided to convert from the Roman Catholic confession.

Mr. Sunil Benedict has arrived in Bangkok with his wife and daughter to begin catechism studies at the St. Nicholas parish in Bangkok, which will last for a week and the expected outcome will be their reception into Orthodox Church on behalf of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. The catechesis of Mr. Sunil Benedict is entrusted to hieromonk Seraphim (Raicea), priest of St. Nicholas church in Bangkok and to the instructor of the courses Paul Sidebottom.

11 August 2012

Work Saturday at Holy Trinity parish.

A work Saturday was held in Phuket for the gardening and landscaping around the temple. The staff of the church along with local residents - our compatriots living on the island cooperated. On this day, much greenery was planted and a large area landscaped.

Officers of the local Rus Phuket TV channel actively participated.

In the Photo: A working Saturday for landscaping and planting at the Holy Trinity Church in Phuket.

11 August 2012

STATEMENT FROM THE ORTHODOX CHURCH IN THAILAND regarding the theft of donations from the church in Pattaya.

STATEMENT FROM THE ORTHODOX CHURCH IN THAILAND
(MOSCOW PATRIARCHATE)
regarding the theft of donations from the church
of All Saints in Pattaya

***

August 10, 2012 the Orthodox Church in Thailand (Moscow Patriarchate) notifies that the Pattaya's police arrested Anatoly Karajani a Russian citizen for the theft of donations from the All Saints Church in Pattaya. He was born in 1980, living in Magnitogorsk, Chelyabinsk region.

It was found that the theft of church donations was carried out repeatedly, with a premeditated plan using special devices. The arrest of Anatoly Karajani took place during a subsequent attempt to commit theft in the temple.

This crime, and the manner in which it was committed under the Criminal Code of Thailand, calls for up to 5 years in prison.

After the arrest Mr. Karajani showed repentance and he asked forgiveness of the Orthodox believers. He said that he stole from the church for about 2 months. The total amount stolen is estimated at 30,000 Thai Baht. The reason for stealing from the church, given by Mr. Karajani, was his financial distress, lack of work and hunger.

Priest Daniel Wanna visited Mr. Karajani’s rented room with the police in Pattaya. According to the testimony of fr. Daniel, the room had no furniture and no food. Unfortunately, marijuana was discovered there. When Mr. Karajani was asked why he had not asked for help from the priest or why he did not to come to the refectory of the church, where he could eat for free, Mr. Karajani answered that he felt shy. This suggests that Mr. Karajani was stealing donations from the church for more than merely food, probably marijuana.

Recognizing the complaint by All Saints parish for property damage, however, Mr. Karajani did not commit blasphemy nor did he insult the Name of God. Therefore, this crime was not so much a crime against God, but the desperation of a physically and mentally ill person in need of help and compassion.

Nevertheless, justice and civil laws of Thailand require that the damage caused by Mr. Karajani to All-Saints Church be compensated, the damage being the stolen donations to the temple. Therefore, the clergy of the Orthodox churches in Thailand, the wardens of the Orthodox parishes and missionaries, all wish to forgive the thief, and decide to collect the amount of 30,000 baht from their personal funds to repay the missing funds.

Guided by the words of mercy and love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the fallen, Who «came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance» (Mt. 9:13), and the teachings of the Holy Fathers of the Orthodox Church to - "condemn the sin, but not condemn the sinner » and humanitarian considerations, we sincerely forgive Mr. Karajani and hope that the love of Christ, which guides the Orthodox Church, will today become the healing medicine to cure him from sin. In following Christ, we repeat to Mr. Karajani: «sin no more, lest a worse thing come to you» (Jn.5:14).

Further we, the Orthodox Church in Thailand, officially request the civil authorities of the Kingdom not to press charges against Mr. Karajani for his robbery. We thank the authorities for hearing and accepting our request, dropping the prosecution of Mr. Karajani as an exception at the behest of the Church.

As reported by the Thai authorities, Mr. Karajani would be deported from Thailand to Russia, and he will be denied re-entry. Deportation proceedings will take from 2 to 4 months during which time he will be held in an immigration detention center, according to the immigration laws of the Kingdom.

10 August 2012
ORTHODOX CHURCH IN THAILAND (MOSCOW PATRIARCHATE)

See the video-recording of the statement (in Russian).

11 August 2012

Visit to the police station in Pattaya.

The Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin), accompanied by the Chairman of the Committee of the Orthodox Christian Church in Thailand Foundation priest Daniel Wanna visited the police station in the central district of Pattaya. There they met with the prisoner caught stealing money from the donation box of the All Saints Church in Pattaya. Anatoly Karajani, a 32-year old Russian citizen cooperated in lengthy, pastoral conversation. Anatoly said he did not expect any leniency and he is willing to incur the penalty of 5 years imprisonment, since he is suffering from his denunciations of conscience along with his confusion of how he came to such a shameful condition. Mr. Karajani only asked for the clergy to pray for him, and the forgiveness of Orthodox believers in Pattaya.

In the picture: The Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin) and the Chairman of the Orthodox Christian Church in Thailand Foundation Committee fr. Daniel Wanna visit Anatoly Karajani in police custody.

The clergy held consultations on the future of Mr. Karajani with the administration of the police department. This crime, and how it was committed in accordance with the Criminal Code of Thailand receives up to 5 years in prison for the perpetrator. The clergy carefully reviewed the video evidence of the crime of the alleged Russian citizen, noticing that during the arrest, before the appearance of the police, he dropped to his knees in front of the icon of All Saints in prostration asking for God’s forgiveness.

Having considered all the circumstances and guided by the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for mercy and love for the fallen, who «came to call not the righteous, but sinners to repentance» (Mt.9,13), the congregation decided to not proceed with charges for the theft of the Russia citizen Mr. Karajani against of the Orthodox Church.

Given that Mr. Karajani is illegally residing in Thailand, he will be deported from Thailand to Russia and he will be denied re-entry into Thailand. Deportation proceedings will take from 2 to 4 months during which time he will be held in an immigration detention center. This, according to Orthodox believers, seems sufficient discipline.

Also published the Statement of Orthodox Church in Thailand regarding this case. Watch the video-recording of the statement (in Russian).

10 August 2012

A video about Orthodox Youth Camp 2012 in Thailand.

A video-report about the Orthodox Youth Camp 2012 in Thailand has been published:

10 August 2012

Feast of the Holy Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Holy Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary
August 28, 2012, Tuesday

August 28, 2012 Tuesday – Holy Dormition, for the feast day of Holy Dormition Monastery in Ratchaburi a pilgrimage is organized to the monastery from both Pattaya and Bangkok.

The bus will depart from All Saints Church (in Naklua St., Soi 16) at 6.00 am; and from St. Nicholas Church in Bangkok (Sukhothai Rd., Soi 3) at 7.00 am. The return departure time from the monastery will be around 12:00. Travel and food for all pilgrims is provided free of charge.

02 August 2012

First annual Orthodox youth camp established in Thailand.

On August 1 the first annual Orthodox labor camp was established in Thailand. This year, young people (from Thailand, Cambodia and Laos) will be sent to the Holy Trinity Church in Phuket, as well as to the Holy Dormition Monastery in Ratchaburi. Within 10 days the boys will work for the Church, taking short tours to the sea or mountains. In Phuket, the youth will arrange the temple grounds and in the monastery they will work in the garden, planting trees. Of course the rule of prayer takes priority. Every day begins and ends with worship in the temple. This is the first such activity in the church community in Thailand and therefore the Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin) also arrived on Phuket to meet personally with young people and be familiar with their working conditions. 

In the photo: Orthodox young people in Thailand are working at the Holy Trinity Church in Phuket.

30 July 2012

CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT SIGNED FOR A NEW ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH IN BANGKOK.

July 30th, 2012 at the Representative office of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand there was signed the construction contract for the new Bangkok Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas, archbishop of Myra in Lycia. From the Orthodox community in the Kingdom, the contract was signed by the Chairman Orthodox Christian Church in Thailand Foundation Committee priest Daniel Wanna. The total amount of construction and finishing works for the church amounted to 16 million Thai baht (about 630,000 U.S. dollars). The signed agreements provide for the erection of the temple in just nine months. The main work will be completed by April 2013. A plot of land for building, recently acquired by the Orthodox Church in Thailand (Moscow Patriarchate) in full ownership, is situated on the street Sukhumvit Soi 101/1.

With regard to the estimates of construction and the signing of the contract, the Foundation Committee of the Orthodox Church reversed its earlier decision to suspend the collection of contributions, noting that the shortfall to cover all costs for the construction of the temple would amount to about 4 million baht (about 130,000 dollars US) sin the work on gilded domes, the purchase of church utensils and everything necessary to perform worship is a separate item of expenditure.

The Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin) approved the construction documents, as well as conditions of the contract for the temple in Bangkok, agreeing with their validity and called on the Orthodox congregations in the country continue to collect contributions until the full amount for the cost estimates of the temple’s construction is accumulated.

As before, the details of the receipt and expenditure of funds for the construction of an Orthodox temple in Bangkok will be displayed on the official website of the Orthodox Church in Thailand www.orthodox.or.th.

Bank account details for the donations:

ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN THAILAND Foundation
Bank Acc. 130-103505-5
Beneficiary's Bank: THE SIAM COMMERCIAL BANK PUBLIC CO.LTD
Branch- RATCHAWAT
SWIFT Code- SICOTHBK
Bank address: 9 Rutchadapisek Rd., Jatujak, Bangkok, 10900.
when transferring, please indicate: «Donation for Bangkok».

It is possible to donate using the electronic payment system PayPal (use the data which are available on the website www.orthodox.or.th), or transfer cash in any Orthodox Church in Thailand. 

29 July 2012

Plans for an Orthodox church in the resort town of Hua Hin in Thailand.

After the Sunday Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas Church in Bangkok, the Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin) received a group of Orthodox Christians from the town of Hua Hin (Prachuap Khiri Khan province), who have expressed their desire to have a parish and construct an Orthodox temple in Hua Hin. Currently, the closest church to Hua Hin is the Holy Dormition Monastery in the province of Ratchaburi, about 120 km from Hua Hin. Thus, the distance often makes it difficult to visit.

Archimandrite Oleg understood the request of the group, and agreed that in view of the intensive development of resorts in Hua Hin by Russians and Orthodox believers from other countries, the issue of creating a separate parish and the building of the temple in Hua Hin deserves close attention. At the meeting he explained some features of state registration of an Orthodox parish and the ecclesiastical aspects of organization, answered the questions of believers and promised to bring up the matter to the Russian Orthodox Church.

This initiative group was blessed to find a choice piece of land suitable for the construction of the temple. More consideration at the future site in Hua Hin will be made by the Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand archimandrite Oleg and the Chairman of the Foundation of the Orthodox Church in Thailand priest Daniel Wanna.

In the photo: Map of Thailand and the view of the resort coast of Hua Hin (based on the Internet materials).

25 July 2012

Russian citizen Alexander Makarov, convicted criminal in Thailand, will soon be sent home.

The Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin) visited the province of Ratchaburi, where Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Dormition Monastery for the feast of the icon of Mother of God "Three Hands". At the monastery, excepting the brotherhood, the Russian citizen Alexander Makarov was temporarily residing. Mr. Makarov was convicted by a court in Thailand, but for medical reasons and at the request of the Russian Orthodox Church was sentenced to a suspended sentence. Prior to completion of formal legal proceedings, Mr. Makarov stayed at the Dormition Monastery, where he was assigned, at his own request, various obediences according to the monastic rule.

After the Divine Liturgy, Fr. Oleg gave the good news to Alexander that a few days ago, Governor of Chonburi Province had approved the decision of the Pattaya City Court probation conviction. The relevant documents have already arrived in Pattaya Court and transferred to the Consular Section of the Embassy of Russia, which gives Mr. Makarov the right to freely leave Thailand and return home. Mr. Makarov planned to return to Russia by the soonest possible flight. Mr. Makarov spent about three months in the monastery, to where he gave a warm farewell to the brethren, who all this time took care of him, saying that the only place in Thailand where he wanted to return was to the Dormition Monastery. With the blessing of archimandrite Oleg, before flying to Russia, Mr. Makarov will be staying at the Representative office of the Russian Orthodox Church in Bangkok.

In the photo: A citizen of Russia, Alexander Makarov, at St. Nicholas Church in Bangkok.