Author: Филиппинско-Вьетнамская епархия

On June 1, 2026, an exhibition of photographs and documents dedicated to the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Russia and the Philippines opened at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.

Among those in attendance were: Metropolitan of Singapore and Southeast Asia Sergiy, Patriarchal Exarch of Southeast Asia; Metropolitan of Manila and Hanoi Pavel, administrator of the Philippines-Vietnam Diocese; representatives of the Embassy of the Philippines in Moscow and other foreign diplomatic missions; as well as officials of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other government agencies.

Diplomatic relations between Moscow and Manila were established on June 2, 1976. In advance of the 50th anniversary, the Russian Foreign Ministry prepared an exhibition featuring photographs and copies of key documents from the history of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Addressing the guests with welcoming remarks were Georgy Borisenko, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation; Alexey Gruzdev, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation; and Igor Bailen, Ambassador of the Philippines to Russia.

“Today’s event is a great honour for me and for my country,” the Philippine ambassador stated. The Deputy Foreign Minister noted the unique nature of the documents presented at the exhibition and added that the history of contacts between Russia and the Philippines extends back more than a century.

Based on materials from the Khanty-Mansiysk Metropolitanate.

On November 23, 2025, the 24th Sunday after Pentecost, on Panglao Island in the Philippines, the Patriarchal Exarch of Southeast Asia, Metropolitan Sergiy of Singapore and Southeast Asia, performed the great consecration of the church dedicated to the Icon of the Mother of God “Quick to Hear” and presided over the first Divine Liturgy in the newly consecrated church.

Concelebrating with His Eminence were: Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi; Archbishop Theophan of Korea; Bishop Pitirim of Jakarta, Vicar of the Singapore Diocese; Hieromonk Juvenaly (Marushchak), Secretary of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia; Hieromonk Korniliy (Molev), Secretary of the Philippine–Vietnamese Diocese; Hieromonk Alexy (Lapshin), rector of the church; clergy of the Philippine–Vietnamese Diocese; and other clergy of the diocese.

Present at the divine service were: M. I. Pavlov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Philippines; Mrs. Philippina Piollo, Chief of Staff of the Governor of Bohol Province; Mrs. Joanne Pinat, Head of the Bohol Provincial Tourism Office; Armi Garcia, Honorary Consul of Russia in Cebu; as well as staff members of the Russian Embassy in the Philippines.

At the Little Entrance, by decree of His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’, for his diligent service to the Holy Church, the rector of the church dedicated to the Icon of the Mother of God “Quick to Hear” on Panglao Island, Hieromonk Alexy (Lapshin) was granted the right to wear a pectoral cross adorned with jewels.

Upon the end of the Liturgy, the Patriarchal Exarch congratulated the participants of the service on this important event and addressed those gathered with an archpastoral message in which he emphasized the significance of this historic moment for the development of church life in the Philippines.

In his response, Metropolitan Pavel expressed special gratitude to the clergy and parishioners for their diligent labours in the field of church service.

By decree of His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’, in recognition of his contribution to the development of church–state relations and on the occasion of his 70th birthday, Marat Ignatyevich Pavlov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of the Philippines, was awarded the Russian Orthodox Church’s Order of the Holy Right-Believing Prince Alexander Nevsky, 3rd Class.