Menu:

• Main page
• News
• Our Parishes
• What is Orthodoxy
• Donations
• Church Government
• Education
• Documents
• Literature
• About Thailand
• Archive

Collection of donations for raising churches in Thailand

Details...

SUPPORT LOCAL SEMINARIANS

Details...

30 April 2010

Working visit of the priest Daniel Wanna to Samui.

President of the Foundation of the Orthodox Church in Thailand and priest of St. Nicholas Church in Bangkok, fr. Daniel Wanna made a working visit to the island of Koh Samui (Suratthani province). Fr. Daniel met with the representatives of the mayor office of this resort island and visited the land department. The meetings addressed the establishment of the Holy Ascension Church on Samui and specifically the status of the land as Church property along with building plans. Agreement was reached during the visit with the administration responsible for land and construction. Consultations will continue.

The Foundation Committee of the Orthodox Church in Thailand is undestanding the position of the administration of the island, since almost all the territory of Samui is a national park and the construction of high-rise buildings on the island is strictly regulated.

23 April 2010

Work began on the painting at All Saints Church in Pattaya.

The Committee of the Orthodox Christian Church in Thailand Foundation together with the Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Kingdom, archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin) at its regular meeting approved the sketches and paintings of the dome ceiling of All Saints temple in Pattaya, Chonburi province. A group of native Thai artists were invited for the work. It was considered to write the prayer "Hail Mary..." in Thai language. Work on the painting of the temple in Pattaya will be completed within four months. Financing the artwork will be funded by the parish of All Saints church in Pattaya.

In the photo: Work on the painting at All Saints temple in Pattaya.

23 April 2010

Aggravation of the political situation in Bangkok.

Receiving numerous inquiries regarding the grenade attacks from the opposition protesters in downtown Bangkok, which took place on April 22, 2010, in which, according to preliminary data, killed three and wounded 75 people, including seven foreigners, the Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) in Thailand said that among the affected people there were no members of the Orthodox community. Directly around St. Nicholas Church in Bangkok, the situation remains calm; services are held according to the schedule. With the blessing of archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin) all churches of the Orthodox Church in Thailand should include prayers for the pacification of violence.

The Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand strongly advises to heed the recommendations of the Russian Foreign Ministry not to visit places where there are demonstrators.

22 April 2010

Transfer of the miraculous icon of St. Nicholas to the Church of All Saints in Pattaya.

A working meeting between the Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) in Thailand archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin) and the Chairman of the Orthodox Christian Church in Thailand Foundation priest Daniel Wanna was held with the parish councils of St. Nicholas Chapel in Bangkok and All Saints Church in Pattaya (Chonburi province). The agenda of the meeting had only one issue: the location of the miraculous icon of St. Nicholas, archbishop of Myra in Lycia. The icon of St. Nicholas was formerly kept in the Chapel in Bangkok. Well-known healings from serious illnesses, help in family life and in life's difficult circumstances have been worked through the icon. As a testimony for the respect of St. Nicholas, and in gratitude for God's help by the prayers before the holy icon, using the donations of the faithful a precious riza was made for the icon, which was consecrated on the church’s feast day December 19, 2009 by metropolitan Hilarion in an official trip to Thailand marking the 10th anniversary of Orthodoxy in the Kingdom.

The main consideration presented by archimandrite Oleg to the parish councils of both churches was the icon being available to pilgrims. At the end of a long discussion, the meeting decided to move the miraculous icon to All Saints Church in Pattaya, where the parish council has diligently arranged a special kiot. It was also decided to transfer the miraculous icon monthly to Bangkok for worship, as well as on the days of the Church's patronal memory. The participants assigned to the parish council of St. Nicholas Church in Bangkok to make the appropriate case for the transportation of the icon, which guarantees it from damage.

In the photo: Kiot with the miraculous icon of St. Nicholas, archbishop of Myra - a shrine of Orthodox believers in Thailand in the Church of All Saints Pattaya.

President of the Orthodox Christian Church in Thailand Foundation priest Daniel Wanna announced that an exact replica of the miraculous icon would be ordered which will be on display in the chapel during the absence of the original. Archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin) ended a protracted debate between the parish councils, recalling that the miraculous icon of St. Nicholas is the common heritage of the Orthodox community and cannot be treated as the property of one of the parishes. The Representative of the Orthodox Church in Thailand also called on those present to strive to thin of themselves not only as members of a parish, but as members of the Church, putting parochial interests aside for the general church. Archimandrite Oleg also said that he, by popular demand of the faithful, blessed prayer services to be performed before the miraculous icon twice a day, at 12 am and 6 pm. Prayers will be served by the temple priest and their commission will begin immediately upon completion of the temple paintings. By tradition, the prevailing practice of parishes in Thailand, commemorations for the prayer service will be free of charge. After the meeting, those present sang the Paschal troparion and ask each other for forgiveness for the emotional views expressed. The same day, the miraculous icon of St. Nicholas, archbishop of Myra was moved to Pattaya and set in a prepared shrine.

Hierarch Father Nicholas, pray for us!

13 April 2010

Archimandrite Oleg's visit to Phuket.

The Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin) paid a working visit to the province of Phuket. Together with the parish council of the island's Orthodox community, archimandrite Oleg inspected the construction work on the temple of the Holy Holy Trinity. Father Oleg called active parishioners to donate towards the construction of the church, not to impose "grievous burdens" on the other Orthodox parishes in Thailand, as each parish should be self-sufficient. During a meeting with parishioners archimandrite Oleg explained the general church situation in Thailand. Father Oleg performed the Sacrament of Holy Baptism for two babies. On the same day archimandrite Oleg returned to Bangkok.

12 April 2010

Condolences to the Polish Embassy in Thailand.

In connection with the plane crash near Smolensk that killed Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his wife Maria along with several other senior leaders of the country, the Representative of the Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) in Thailand, archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin), accompanied by the assistant of the Representative Vladimir Buntilov visited the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Bangkok to express his condolences to the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Poland to Thailand, Dr Jerzy Bayer. Also Fr. Oleg left an entry in the book of condolences.

The day before, archimandrite Oleg also signed an official letter of condolence addressed to the Embassy of Poland, where in name of the Orthodox flock in the Kingdom he expressed sorrow for the Smolensk tragedy.

06 April 2010

Ongoing construction work of the Holy Dormition Monastery.

Archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin), Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) in Thailand, paid a working visit to the province of Ratchaburi, where he familiarized himself with the continued construction of the Holy Dormition Monastery. In his trip archimandrite Oleg was accompanied by the assistant Vladimir Buntilov and the head of construction, Mr. Panya. The status of the construction was found satisfactory. The discussion focused on technical aspects of internal arrangement the temple.

In the photo: Construction on the temple of the Holy Dormition of the Mother of God in the province of Ratchaburi (06.04.2010)

05 April 2010

The tense political situation in Bangkok.

With inquiries being made about the availability of worship at the Chapel of St. Nicholas in Bangkok, the Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) in Thailand reported that despite the political opposition during the days of the Holy Week and for Pascha and the difficulties of the faithful to attend worship services, services were conducted according to the approved schedule. Also, there are no difficulties in visiting of the temple now. However, the Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church supports the statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry in which our compatriots were cautioned when visiting Bangkok where they should completely refrain from visiting the concentrations of protesters.

04 April 2010

For the first time this year, the Paschal services were made not only in the capital of the Kingdom - Bangkok, where Pascha was celebrated for the 10th time, but in Pattaya, in the newly-built Church of All Saints. Because of the large number of people, the Paschal procession went over the wall of the temple allowing all the worshipers to take part. Paschal services in Pattaya were televised by channel "1-RU», which then aired them within the news. After the Paschal service the parish council arranged the festive banquet. The services in Pattaya were officiated by archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin), Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand.

In the photo: Paschal services at the Church of All Saints in Pattaya

In Bangkok at the St. Nicholas Chapel, priest Daniel Wanna officiated. The temple also was full for the night service. After Paschal Vespers a festive dinner was offered by the parish council.

30 March 2010

In the Orthodox temples of Thailand a memorial is held for the dead in Moscow.

Memorial services for the victims of the terrorist attacks in the Moscow metro were made Tuesday at All Saints Church in Pattaya and in the Chapel of St. Nicholas in Bangkok. Orthodox believers, Russians and others, gathered in the Russian Orthodox Churches for a memorial service for those killed in the attacks in the Moscow metro on March 29. Archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin) performed the memorial in Pattaya, while the first Thai Orthodox priest, Fr. Daniel Wanna served in Bangkok.

«When there was a terrorist attack, we were both in Pattaya. Here, there is a large parish with many Russians living in the city and many coming for holiday. The temple is a brand new, and we were here for the first Pascha. First, it is unimaginable what happened in Moscow, a confusion of the senses. We talked with the parishioners who felt the same confusion, and we sought the right words and actions to comfort them, and ourselves, through this terrible tragedy. For a Christian person, it is best at this time to express his feelings in prayer», - said in an interview with RIA Novosti, archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin).

Archimandrite Oleg addressed the faithful gathered in the church of All Saints in Pattaya, saying that the crime committed yesterday in Moscow - is a crime not only against men, but against God. «Only God can dispose of human life. Nobody has the right to take away a person’s life. On those who commit such crimes, the Lord puts a curse. He cursed Cain who killed his brother Abel. In this terrible crime, what is frightful, is that the lifes were taken by women, who by nature of their Lord are meant to give life in birthgiving. These women correctly identify themselves as "suicide bombers" - because the commission of such a crime, they are dead for eternity, for Eternal Life. Despite the fact that today we are far away from Russia, in Thailand we mourn with the rest of Russia. We are in mourning with all our people, and together we pray for the souls of the dead and ask God to ease the suffering of those who are now the pain », - said the Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand.

Father Oleg asked the Russian-language media in Pattaya to join in the mourning for those killed in Moscow on Tuesday by refraining from entertainment programming on March 30.

TV channel «1-RU», one of the three Russian TV channels in Pattaya, broadcasted the memorial service live, interrupting the entertainment programming, and then repeated the broadcast, along with the address to the faithful of archimandrite Oleg several times during the day.

(according to RIA Novosti)