The foundation stone of the St. John of Shanghai church on Tubabao island was consecrated

On December 1, with the blessing of Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi, Hieromonk Korniliy (Molev), Secretary of the Philippine-Vietnamese diocese, performed the rite of consecration of the foundation stone in the base of the St. John of Shanghai church on Tubabao, Philippines, which is now under construction. Hieromonk Korniliy was co-served by the clergy of the diocese: Hieromonk Alexei (Lapshin), Priest Moses Kahilig, and Priest Ambrose Sumagaysay.

On the same day, a ceremony of the state flags raising were held, followed by a wreath laying in memory of the Russian refugees who were sheltered on the island. The monument is located in the central part of the island. The events were attended by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Philippines M. I. Pavlov and his wife, Senior Consul Y. Pavlov, First Secretary of the Embassy N. Ovsyannikov, Mayor of the Guiuan Municipality Annaliza Gonzales Kwan, Vice Mayor V. Kabakaba-Ramirez and employees of the Town Council, and also other officials, residents and guests of the island of Tubabao.

In 1949-1951, six thousand Russian refugees from among those who emigrated from Russia to Shanghai after the start of the Civil War found temporary shelter on this island. The spiritual mentor of the community at that time was St. John of Shanghai. The Filipinos gave a warm welcome and support to the refugees, who, in turn, made a great cultural contribution to the life of the local population. Their memory is still honored here. In her welcoming speech, Mayor Annaliza G. Kwan said that she was taught ballet by a student of one of the Russian immigrants.

St. John of Shanghai is also very revered by the locals, because miracles happen through prayers to him. For example, people miraculously escaped during typhoons, and even the typhoons themselves often bypassed the island, as was the case during the refugees stay here. The same miracle happened in Manila on Sunday, November 1, 2020, when the strongest supertyphoon Goni, which was approaching the city, abruptly lost strength and went south from the metropolis immediately after the prayer service at the Iveron Icon of Mother of God parish in Manila to St. John were celebrated.