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08 July 2010

Approved diaconal ordination of monk Seraphim (Raicea).

With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, parish clerk of St. Nicholas Chapel in Bangkok, monk Seraphim (born Iulian Raicea) will be ordained deacon to serve in Thailand. The ordination will be performed by the Vicar of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, archbishop of Yegorievsk Mark, Secretary of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department for foreign institutions of the Russian Orthodox Church. The diaconal ordination for monk Seraphim is scheduled in Moscow, between August-September 2010.

Monk Seraphim (secular name - Iulian Raicea) was born March 4, 1973 in Bucharest, Romania, to a family of engineers. He was baptized in 1973 in the Romanian Orthodox Church as an infant.

08 July 2010

Miss Natalia (Napatra) Aphichataphong sent to study at the St. Petersburg Theological Seminary.

With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Miss Natalia (Napatra) Aphichataphong a parishioner of St. Nicholas Chapel in Bangkok will be sent for training to the St. Petersburg Theological Seminary.

07 July 2010

Statement by the Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand regarding the famous Russian pianist Mikhail Pletnev.

Statement by the Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin) regarding the famous Russian pianist Mikhail Pletnev.

The Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand has received several inquiries in regards to the famous pianist Mikhail Pletnev and the allegations to him from Thai police of child sexual abuse, which received wide publicity in Russian and foreign media. However, many media deliberately distort, simplify or not telling fully the position of the Church in the Kingdom. In this regard, I would like to state the official position on the issue and ask for nothing more be interpreted than the views expressed.

I testify that the Orthodox Church condemns pedophilia, and considers this a very serious sin, especially since it involves minor children, negatively affecting their physical and mental health, and moreover wounding their soul. Therefore, I personally support the strict laws of the Kingdom of Thailand, to protect children from such sinful assault.

However, in relation to any person accused of a crime there should be the presumption of innocence. In Thailand, the presumption starts to act from the date of the trial and therefore a police charge may be biased. It would be irresponsible to support allegations not proven in court. The Church has no judicial functions, so we must wait for the completion of the trial.

I was very confused by some media details of the police charges against the pianist Mr. Pletnev which until now do not legally prove wrongdoing and therefore cannot be considered as evidence. Having lived in Thailand for a long time and being familiar with the work of the Thai justice system, I can say that granting bail to Mr. Pletnev, along with permission to leave the country, gives reason to believe that the evidence of these charges are not so strong and unequivocal as represented by journalists.

As to the hypothetical question about possible aid from the Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand to Mr. Pletnev, this was never asked. All the more, it is unlikely the world famous pianist needs financial assistance. First of all, the Church treats the spiritual, helping people to recognize their sins and bring about worthy repentance. For pastoral help, Mr. Pletnev has also not asked.

I can say that as an Orthodox Christian priest, I have no right to deny a visit to anyone requesting pastoral care.

archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin),
The Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church
(Moscow Patriarchate) in Thailand.

07.07.2010 г.

04 July 2010

Report of a meeting of the Committee of the Orthodox Church in Thailand Foundation.

On Sunday July 4, 2009, after the Divine Liturgy at the Representational office of the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) in Thailand, a meeting was held by the Foundation Committee of the Orthodox Church in Thailand. The meeting was attended by archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin), Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Kingdom.

Chairman of the Committee and cleric of St. Nicholas Chapel in Bangkok fr. Daniel Wanna informed the participants about the activities of the Foundation in 2009, presented the financial balance of the Foundation, and the legal assessment by an independent auditor. Special attention was paid to the financial cost of the ongoing construction of the Holy Trinity Church in Phuket and the interior finishing work on the Holy Dormition Church in Ratchaburi province, as well as the social activities of the Foundation of the Orthodox Church in Thailand. The overall assessment of the Foundation for the reporting period was positive.

Archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin) in his address to the Committee of the Foundation was concerned with the perhaps too optimistic estimates. One of the shortcomings in the work of the Foundation, in the opinion of. fr. Oleg is the lack of a clear system of replenishment of fund, which today is replenished only by the voluntary contributions of the faithful. He invited the Committee to look for projects that could be added to the Foundation in addition to private donations (such as the creation of a language school, etc.), and to examine in this respect, the experience of other religious communities in the country. Committee members have agreed to consider the views of the Representative.

As noted fr. Oleg: « ...there is concern for the control of the Committee of the Foundation over the temple construction». Fr. Oleg criticized the policy of the Foundation in respect of missionary activity: «in addition to the construction and decoration of churches special attention should be paid to the indigenous people of Thailand interested in Orthodoxy, by the translation and publication of spiritual literature. The work carried out by the Foundation in this area cannot be considered satisfactory. The figures of the financial report, no matter how impressive they may be, are not quite the reality of life is a map of the Orthodox communities in the country».

In conclusion, fr. Oleg briefed the Committee of the Foundation with the latest decisions of the authorities of the Russian Orthodox Church concerning the Orthodox Church in Thailand. The Foundation Committee meeting began and ended with a prayer to the Holy Spirit. Many Years were declared to His Majesty King of Thailand Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX); in accordance with the Constitution the king is the Supreme Protector of all religions in the Kingdom; and to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the Primate of all Orthodox believers in Thailand.

01 July 2010

A group of female students from St. Tikhon's University will participate in an internship in Orthodox parishes in Thailand.

With the blessing of Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokalamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, a team of four women students from the missionary faculty of the Orthodox St. Tikhon Humanities University will participate in a month-long summer internship (practicum) in Thailand, beginning July 9, 2010.

At a joint meeting of a committee of the Orthodox Christian Church in Thailand Foundation and the Pattaya (Chonburi Province) All Saints Parish Council, archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin) said the Church in Thailand was glad of the students' visit and promised to acquaint them with features of the activity of Orthodox parishes in a country with a completely different religious and cultural tradition. It is assumed that the young women will spend most of their time in Pattaya and will directly participate in the life of All Saints Church and fulfill other various required tasks.

Archimandrite Oleg asked the parish council of All Saints parish to provide the students' room and board at the expense of the parish, and also to provide relevant cultural program, allowing them to become better acquainted with the country. Priest Danai (Daniel) Wanna, Chairman of the Orthodox Christian Church in Thailand Foundation assured the archimandrite that, if necessary, the foundation will also provide any possible assistance from the Church's general resources.

28 June 2010

Official reception of Vatican Nuncio in Thailand.

Upon the anniversary of the enthronement of Pope Benedict XVI, the Vatican Nuncio in Thailand hosted an official reception at the capital hotel «The Mandarin Oriental». On behalf of the Orthodox Church, priest Daniel Wanna, Chairman of the Foundation Committee of the Orthodox Church in Thailand, visited the reception. Also in attendance was Dr. Vladimir Buntilov, assistant to the Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) in Thailand and Mr. Michel de Valliere, Deputy Chairman of the parish council of St. Nicholas Chapel in Bangkok.

Upon the completion of the Vatican Nuncio archbishop Salvatore Pinnakio’s seven-year diplomatic career in the Kingdom of Thailand, Mr. Michel de Valliere gave His Eminence a memorable gift and good wishes on behalf of the Orthodox believers in Bangkok.

Archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin) was unable to take part in this diplomatic event due to a pastoral visit to the province of Chonburi.

20 June 2010

Completion of painting the dome for All Saints church in Pattaya.

The painting of the main dome of the temple of All Saints in Pattaya (Chonburi province) was finished. The center painting is an image of Our Lady of The Sign, framed with the inscription of the prayer "Hail Mary, Hail..." in the Thai language, then - the Holy Evangelists, Ss. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, writing the Scriptures in anticipation of the angels. In accordance with the labor laws of the Kingdom of Thailand, the artwork was done ​​by Thai artists. After Sunday’s Divine Liturgy priest Daniel Wanna blessed the painting. The Church parish council decided to continue the work on the art of the temple. All painting costs are assigned under church parish budget.

In the photo: The painting of the main dome of the temple of All Saints in Pattaya (Chonburi province)

19 June 2010

Completion of the main construction works of the Holy Dormition Church in Ratchaburi province.

Upon the completion of the main construction worls of the temple of the Holy Dormition and the adjacent buildings, the Foundation Committee of the Orthodox Church in Thailand held a meeting in Ratchaburi province. The work of the Committee had the participation of the Representative of Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin). The Foundation Committee found the high quality of work and expressed gratitude to the builders and donors. Archimandrite Oleg gave appropriate instructions for the internal format of the temple. The general opinion was confirmed on the desirability of opening at this place Holy Dormition monastery for men, previously filed as a petition to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. Catechetical courses will be located in one of the buildings of the complex and an Orthodox cemetery will be arranged on land belonging to the Church.

In the photo: Holy Dormition Church in the province of Ratchaburi (19.06.2010)

15 June 2010

Official reception for the Independence Day of Russia.

For the Independence Day of Russia in the Bangkok hotel “Dusit Thani”, the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Thailand hosted an official reception. At the invitation of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia Mr. A.G. Maryasov, assistant Dr. Vladimir Buntilov on behalf of the Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) attended. The reception was also attended by priest Daniel Wanna, Chairman of the Orthodox Christian Church in Thailand Foundation with his wife, and Mr. Michel de Valliere, Deputy Chairman of the parish council of St. Nicholas Chapel in Bangkok. Dr. Vladimir Buntilov offered congratulations and good wishes on the occasion of the National Day of Russia on behalf of the Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin), who himself was making a pastoral visit to the province of Chonburi.

09 June 2010

The deportation of a Russian citizen home.

The Committee of the Orthodox Christian Church in Thailand Foundation has once again decided to allocate 16,000 Thai baht for deportation home of the Russian citizen who is in the Bangkok immigration jail and who has no personal funds to pay for the ticket and payment of related immigration charges. This decision was made ​​based on "Rules of material assistance for the fund to the Orthodox Church in Thailand for social services" (para. 10), where it says, in part: «Material assistance to foreign nationals in prisons in Thailand (including immigration insulator), is if they are Orthodox, and if requested by the appropriate diplomatic or official Thai authorities)». Given the request of the vice-consul of the Russian Embassy in Thailand, the Foundation Committee adopted a positive decision for the allocation of funds.

However, a meeting of the Foundation Committee noted the lack of responsibility of our compatriot, expressed not only in violation of Thai criminal and immigration law, but also his attempt to defraud the benefactors who previously offered fund for the purposes of deportation. Based on the above, it was considered appropriate to transfer the funds allocated directly to a Russian consulate employee requesting him to personally see to the deportation.

The Foundation Committee of the Orthodox Church in Thailand thanks a servant of God Mikhail who specifically donated for the purposes of the deportation of our compatriot back home.