Author: Корейская епархия

On February 26, the Cheesefare Week, remembrance of Adam’s exile (Forgiveness Sunday), Archbishop Theophan of Korea celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Seoul. On the eve, the bishop performed the All-Night Vigil.

His Eminence was co-served by Archpriest Pavel Kang and Hierodeacon Nektarios (Lim).

In the evening, Bishop Theophan served vespers in the Resurrection Church and headed the Rite of Forgiveness.

After the dismissal of Vespers, the Archpastor delivered a sermon, at the end of which he kneeled and asked for forgiveness from the clergy and parishioners.

Then Archbishop Theophan read a prayer for the beginning of Great Lent, and the believers, according to tradition, asked each other for forgiveness.

On February 2, at the School of the Orthodox Missionary at the Synodal Missionary Department, Archbishop Theofan of Korea gave a lecture “Mission in Tuva and Korea”.

Archbishop Theofan told the audience about the history of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Korea in the XX c., which underwent various changes as a result of the changes in the political situation in the Russian Empire and dramatic events after the revolution of 1917. Vladyka also spoke about the waves of Korean immigrants who found themselves in modern Russia, about the process of returning ethnic Koreans to South Korea and the need for their pastoral care. He spoke about the resumption of missionary service, the mentality of Koreans and Tuvans, their way of life and religion, as well as the features of parish life in South Korea at the present time. The process of catechesis takes about a year, and at least 50 lectures are given before the sacrament of Baptism.

Archbishop Theofan also shared some inspiring stories of the churching of local residents and noted that in the mission, everything important is accomplished by the grace of the Lord, rather than by the efforts of missionaries. Fascinating stories about Koreans who sincerely accepted Orthodoxy and wholeheartedly strive to know the true God could hardly leave anyone indifferent. At the end of the meeting, Bishop Theofan answered the students’ questions and gave his archpastoral blessing.

Source: Orthodox Missionary School at the Synodal Missionary Department

On the night of January 6 to 7, on the Great Feast of the Nativity of our Lord God and Saviour jesus Christ, with the blessing of Archbishop Theofan of Korea, divine services of the feast of the Nativity of Christ were performed in the parishes of the Korean diocese.

In the church in honour of the Resurrection of Christ in Seoul, the night Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Hieromonk Theofan (Pozhidaev) co-served by Archpriest Pavel Kang and Deacon Nektariy Lima.

The church was full of believers who came to pray, partake the Sacrament of Holy Communion and congratulate each other on the Great Feast.

Festive services were also, held in the church in honour of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Busan, where hieromonk Pavel (Choi) performed divine services.

On December 9, in the Great Hall of the Moscow Theological Academy, Archbishop Theophan of Korea met with the students who are in their final year of bachelor’s and master’s degrees at MTA.

During the meeting, Archbishop Theophan spoke about the current state of the Orthodox community in Korea and also shared his personal experience from his pastoral practice. The bishop paid special attention to the history of the formation of the Russian spiritual mission in Korea at the end of the XIX century and at the beginning of the XX century, as the website of the Moscow Theological Academy reports.

Archbishop Theophan also dwelled on some features of the priestly ministry associated with the culture and mentality of the inhabitants of Korea. People who are disillusioned with Eastern philosophy and local religious traditions, but have a great spiritual potential, crave an encounter with the True God. On this path, they need to get help not just from Christians with theological education, but also from experienced priests who sincerely want to serve others.

After the bishop’s story about the life of Orthodox believers in Korea, the students had an opportunity to ask him questions. At the end of the meeting, Archbishop Theophan invited everyone who is willing to do so to serve for the benefit of the Orthodox communities of the Korean diocese.

Source: website of the Moscow Theological Academy

On December 3, at the end of the service on the eve of the Feast of the Entrance to the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos, Archbishop Theofan of Korea performed monastic tonsure of the deacon Nektary Lim, a clergyman of the Resurrection of Christ church in Seoul, with the tonsure name in honor of St. Nectarios of Aegina, a well-known ascetic of our time and wonderworker.

After the rite of tonsure, Vladyka Feofan admonished the newly tonsured monk.

On November 5, with the blessing of Archbishop Theofan of Korea, a religious procession was held in the Korean diocese, timed to coincide with the autumn day of commemorating the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.

To the singing of the Jesus Prayer, the participants of the procession, together with Vladyka Theofan, went to the Tobongsan Mountains, located in the vicinity of Seoul. During the procession, they made stops to read the Gospel. Thus, the Sermon on the Mount from the Gospel of Matthew was read in full.

The publishing house plans to translate, print, and distribute Orthodox literature in Korean.

As of now, the following books have been published in Korean for Orthodox believers in the Korean Diocese:
– “Orthodox catechism of St. Philaret of Moscow” by publishing house “Pushkinhaus”,
– Divine Liturgy
– Daniil Sysoev’s book “Instruction for immortals”.

Currently, work is underway to translate an Orthodox liturgical collection.

On September 21, on the day of the feast of the Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, the parish in honour of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos of the Patriarchal Exarchate of South-East Asia celebrated its patronal feast.

Today, a festive divine service was held in an Orthodox church in the city of Busan. The Divine Liturgy was officiated by Hieromonk Pavel (Choi). The permanent parishioners of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos gathered to share in prayer the joy of the great twelfth feast.

At the end of the service, Father Pavel congratulated the parishioners on the feast and addressed the faithful with a sermon.

On September 18, on the 14th Sunday after Pentecost, on the feast day of the Prophet Zachariah and the Righteous Elizabeth, the parents of St. John the Baptist, Archbishop Theophan of Korea celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the parish in honour of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Busan.

His Eminence was assisted by Deacon Nectarios Lim

Regular parishioners of the Mother of God’s Nativity parish prayed at the Sunday service. The chants of the Liturgy were traditionally sung in Church Slavonic and Korean.

At the end of the service, Vladyka Theophan addressed those present with an archpastoral word and congratulated everyone on the feast and the parishioners who took communion – on the partaking of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, after which he blessed the faithful.

В этот день, архиепископ Корейский Феофан возглавил служение Божественной литургии на приходе Воскресения Христова в г. Сеуле.

Архипастырю сослужили иеромонах Павел (Чхве) и диакон Нектарий Лим.

В последний раз в этом году на Ли­тур­гии прозвучали пас­хальные песнопения и мы приветствовали друг друга словами пасхальной радости: «Христос вос­кре­се!».

Заканчивается сорокадневное празднование Светлого Христова Воскресения. Сегодня православные верующие готовятся встречать грядущий праздник Вознесения Господня.