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03 May 2009

A Lutheran was converted to Orthodoxy

Hegumen Oleg (Cherepanin), Representative of Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) in Thailand converted a Lutheran, Mr. Jakra Taranwan, citizen of Thailand, to Orthodoxy through anointing with Holy Chrism. Jakra graduated from Bangkok Ramkankhen University in 2004, and was later baptized at Lutheran church of the USA. Also, he has been on catechumenism for about 4 months at St. Nicholas' chapel of Moscow Patriarchate in Bangkok.

In accordance with the order of Lutheranian conversion to Orthodoxy, with many parishioners present, Jakra Taranwan expressed his free will to become an Orthodox and his renouncement of delusions and faults of Lutheranism, e.g.: Filioque (adopted from Catholicism), professing only two Sacraments (the Eucharist and baptism) instead of seven accepted in Orthodoxy, the doctrine of salvation through faith without good deeds, and others.

After reading the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed in Thai, Jakra Taranwan was anointed and later received the Communion, as an Orthodox Christian. This decision was based upon the fact that Lutherans saved the true baptizing expression «In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit», and on the basis of the Holy Synod's act of 1722, where conversion of Lutherans to Orthodoxy through anointing is mentioned.

Mr. Jakra Taranwan (servant of God Dimitri) at St. Nicholas' chapel after conversion to Orthodoxy

In order to avoid possible misunderstanding, a few days before the conversion of Jakra Taranwan to Orthodoxy, hegumen Oleg (Cherepanin) notified the head of Lutheran mission in Thailand Yukka Helle about that fact, and he accepted with understanding the choice of his ex-coreligionist.

29 April 2009

Missionary trip to Chiang Rai.

A missionary group of 3 people by St. Nicholas' parish of Bangkok visited northern parts of the country (Chiang Rai province), where missionary meetings with locals were organized, on which they preached about Christ and told people about Orthodoxy. On the outcome, some local inhabitants wished to be baptized at the Orthodox Church, and one young man wanted to learn more about Orthodoxy directly at St. Nicholas' parish. The catechumenism of the newly converted was entrusted to monk Nicholas (Raicea) and servant of God Paraskeva (Mrs. Promthida Charshuraksha).

25 April 2009

Deacon Daniel Wanna took part in an Inter-Christian seminar in Bangkok.

Chairman of the Orthodox Church in Thailand Foundation deacon Daniel Wanna took part in an inter-Christian seminar «Easter get together» in Bangkok. The goal of the seminar was to discuss the possibility of a future unity of the Christian churches. The seminar was also attended by representatives of Catholic and Protestant communities of the country.

In his speech, Daniel Wanna highlighted some particular causes preventing the churches from unity. For instance, in terms of Catholicism - the doctrine of the eternal procession of the Holy Spirit from the Son (Filioque), misrepresentation of the Church doctrine and some other dogmatic violations. Lutherans were also reminded of Filioque and non-recognition of the church's Sacraments (excluding the Eucharist and Baptism). According to fr. Daniel, first time during an inter-Christian meeting there was a conversation concerning particular issues obstructing the Christian world, not only the wishes for the future unification, as it was before. Deacon Daniel Wanna called to abstain from joint divine service, but not to limit the inter-Christian collaboration in terms of charity and social help to people in need.

25 April 2009

Representative of Russian Orthodox Church hegumen Oleg met with the administration of Pattaya TV channel.

Representative of Russian Orthodox Church hegumen Oleg (Cherepanin) visited the city of Pattaya (Chonburi province), where he met with the administration of TV channel «Welcome to Pattaya». During the meeting, construction of an Orthodox church in that city was discussed. «Welcome to Pattaya» broadcasts in Russian and is extremely popular among the members of the Russian-speaking community of the city. After the conversation, hegumen Oleg, accompanied by the TV group, visited the building site of the church, where they shot hegumen Oleg's speech to the Orthodox parishioners for later broadcast.

Representation of the Orthodox Church in Thailand and the Orthodox Church in Thailand Foundation express their gratitude to «Welcome to Pattaya» TV channel and their manager - Mr. Oleg Borisov for assistance and consideration of Church's needs.

21 April 2009

A Romanian Patriarchate cliric hieromonk Paisius Ipate visited Thailand.

On the invitation of the Orthodox citizens of Romania living in Thailand, cliric of Romanian Patriarchate hieromonk Paisius Ipate (Molodovan Angel), serving in Chernik Romanian monastery, visited Thailand on 21-29 of April, 2009. On April the 23rd fr. Paisius visited Representation of Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand and the Orthodox Church in Thailand Foundation. Fraternal meeting of the Orthodox priests took place. At the request of of the Romanian priest, Representation of Russian Orthodox in Thailand offered an opportunity to conduct a holy-water public prayer at St. Nicholas' Chapel, during which about 15 Romanian parishioners were praying, including the consul of Romania in Thailand. During the Great Litany the Most Holy Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia KIRILL and His Eminence Patriarch of Romania DANIEL were praised.

On April the 29th, once more hieromonk Paisius Ipate visited Representative of Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand hegumen Oleg (Cheperanin). They had a conversation concerning peculiarities of the Orthodox way of life in South-East Asia.

20 April 2009

EASTER IN THAILAND

The night before April the 19th, 2009, Orthodox believers of Thailand had a merry celebration of Easter. The paschal divine service was conducted at St. Nicholas' Chapel in Bangkok. Orthodox believers from Bangkok and other provinces of the country were present, particularly from Pattaya, Chonburi province. The divine service was conducted by hegumen Oleg (Cherepanin), Representative of Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand, and deacon Daniel Wanna, cliric of St. Nicholas' Chapel and Chairman of the Orthodox Church in Thailand Foundation Committee. Due to a great number of pilgrims present, the majority of people had to stay in the church garden, as there was no free space in the chapel. Among the worshippers, people of different nationalities were present - Russian, Belorussian, Ukrainian, Romanian, French, Bulgarian and Thai. Traditionally, the Gospel during the celebration was read in Slavic, English and Thai. After the Divine Liturgy first meal after the fasting was served in the church house.

Photo: Easter of 2009, St. Nicholas' Chapel in Bangkok

On Sunday festive vespers were conducted in the evening. Representatives of Catholic and Protestant communities of the country came to congratulate the Orthodox believers on Easter. In honour of the Easter celebrations, Representation of Russian Orthodox Church in the Kingdom of Thailand with the assistance of the Orthodox Church in Thailand Foundation and parish council of St. Nicholas' Chapel of Bangkok organized a ceremonial supper.

05 April 2009

Service of conversion into Orthodoxy from Roman Catholic church has been conducted.

Before the Divine Liturgy, at the Chapel of Saint Nicholas the Wonder-Worker, Arch-Bishop of Mira in Lycia of Bangkok, hegumen Oleg (Cherepanin), Representative of Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) in the Kingdom of Thailand performed the conversion of Mr. Thongkham Phiaxayavong from Roman Catholic faith into Orthodoxy.

Mr. Phiaxayavong, citizen of Laos, was baptized and confirmed into Roman Catholic Church in his motherland, and later went on a Catholic mission to one of Thai provinces near Bangkok. Soon after that Catholic missionaries granted Mr. Phiaxayavong's education at Saengtham college, planning to send him to a Catholic seminary on the Philippines so that another Catholic priest in South-East Asia would be prepared. However, God gave him a different path.

Living on his Catholic mission, Mr. Phiaxayavong started to visit Orthodox church in Bangkok during his free time, and took interest in theological distinction between Orthodoxy and Catholicism. College education provided him an opportunity to study thoroughly the history of Christianity and the tragedy of Christian schism of 1054. Upon the completion of his 2nd year at the Catholic college, Mr. Phiaxayavong left it, as well as his Catholic mission, and addressed to Representative of Russian Orthodox Church with a statement on his deliberate choice to become an Orthodox Christian. Mr. Phiaxayavong preserved the wish to become a priest, so he asked for an opportunity to receive education at a theological seminary in Russia.

In the course of time, after testing the faithfulness of Mr. Phiaxayavong's request, it was decided to convert him to Orthodoxy anointing with Holy Chrism and let him stay at St. Nicholas Chapel in Bangkok for internship, after which the Supreme Authority of the Russian Orthodox Church will be asked for Mr. Phiaxayavong's admission to a theological seminary in Russia.

At St. Nicholas' parish, with numerous parishioners and pilgrims present, Mr. Phiaxayavong renounced the delusions of Roman Catholic Church and professed the truth of Orthodoxy, reading the genuine Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed without the Filioque addition in loud voice, and made his communion of Life-Giving Sacraments of Christ in both kinds, something he was deprived of in Catholicism. In Orthodoxy, Mr. Phiaxayavong was baptized as Anthony, in honour of St. Anthony the Great.

in the picture: Mr. Thongkham Phiaxayavong (batpized as Anthony) after conversion to Christianity

04 April 2009

Schedule of Divine service for Easter 2009.

Festive Easter Divine Service will be at the night from 18 April (Saturday) to 19 April (Sunday).

18 April (Saturday)

  Beginning of Easter Service - 23.30
  Procession with the Cross and Paschal Matins - 00.00
  Paschal Divine Liturgy - 1.30

In Easter night the Divine Service will be finished around 3.00 a.m. Blessing of Easter cakes and eggs will be conducted after the Liturgy of The Great Saturday, 18 April, after 9.00 a.m. during whole day, or after the Easter Service on 19 April at 3.00 a.m.

19 April (Sunday)

  Paschal Vespers - 17.00

Attention! There will be transportation organized from Pattaya to Bangkok and back for Festive Easter Divine Service. Find the information at the local Russian TV channel. Organizing is performed by «ILVIS Tour» (tavern «8 horseshoes». Pattaya).

28 March 2009

Pastoral visit to Samui island.

Representative of Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) in the Kingdom of Thailand hegumen Oleg (Cherepanin), on the invitation of the Orthodox believers, paid a pastoral visit to the island of Samui (Suratthani province). During the visit, the sacrament of baptism was performed over two members of the community.

In the picture: «The servant of God Bogdan is baptised In the Name of the Father. Amen. And of the Son. Amen. And of the Holy Spirit. Amen»

Hegumen Oleg also arranged a pastoral meeting, during which it was decided to organize a parish in honour of the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and Parish council and auditing commission were elected. In terms of the location, the Ascension parish includes the Samui island itself and the nearby islands Ko Pangan and Ko Tao. The parishioners intend to consider the question of purchasing a plot of land and constructing an Orthodox church on the island.

The corresponding documents concerning the creation of a new parish in Thailand under the jurisdiction of Moscow Patriarchate were sent for the Most Holy Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia KIRILL's approval.

In the picture: With Orthodox parishioners on Samui (Suratthani province)

27 March 2009

Visit to the Immigration detention centre in Bangkok

With the permission of police administration and assistance of Russian embassy in Thailand, Representative of Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) paid a pastoral visit to the Immigration detention centre of Bangkok, where various individuals are kept, including those who violated the immigrational rules of the Kingdom, visa system, or those who await deportation to their country after serving their sentence in Thailand. It has to be mentioned that Thailand does not deport people at the expense of its state budget, so the prisoners have to find money for their deportation themselves. This leads to many people staying at the immigration detention centre for many months. In the early February, 2009, at the instance of Russian consulate, the Orthodox Church in Thailand Foundation offered 20,900 Thai baht for the deportation of a Russian citizen; now the Orthodox Church's help is requested by a Russian citizen who has been staying at the Immigration detention centre for more than 7 months. Hegumen Oleg discussed the problem with Russian vice-consul in Bangkok Mr. S. Popov, the administration of the Immigration detention centre and conversed with the imprisoned person. In conclusion, despite the obscure situation, hegumen Oleg asked the Orthodox Church in Thailand Foundation Committee to bring this question to the discussion during its next session, inviting representatives of the consulate department.

Immigration bureau of Bangkok

During the conversation with the police administration, hegumen Oleg noted some positive changes in the centre's conditions. For example, in the territory of the centre a sports ground was constructed, where the imprisoned can play voleyball and other games, the cellphone coverage was widened, etc. Police representatives also shared some thoughts on improving prisoners' living conditions.

In the end of hegumen Oleg (Cherepanin)'s pastoral visit to immigration detention centre, the police informed him that he, as a Representative of Russian Orthodox Church, is allowed to visit the centre at any time during the year 2009, and next year the question would be reconsidered.