Archbishop Mark of Yegorievsk consecrates the Church of the Ascension on the island of Koh Samui in Thailand

February 2014

On 6 February 2014, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Archbishop Mark of Yegorievsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Administration for Institutions Abroad, began his visit to Thailand and Cambodia.

Meeting Archbishop Mark at the Bangkok airport were archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin), representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Kingdom of Thailand; Mr. Alexei Falunin, vice-consul of the Russian Federation in the Kingdom of Thailand; and local clergymen.

On the first day Archbishop Mark visited the Dormition monastic community in the Ratchaburi province.

On February 7, he laid the foundation stone of the Church of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers in the town of Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan province. The Russian community in Hua Hin numbers three hundred people. About a year ago, its representatives applied to archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin) with a request to build an Orthodox church in the town, as the nearest church is situated at the monastery in Ratchaburi and not all people can get there. A small plot of land was bought with the money collected by the community. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia blessed the construction of the church.

On February 8, the archpastor celebrated a prayer service at the Church of the Holy Trinity on the island of Phuket and blessed a new belfry.

On February 9, the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, the feast of the Synaxis of the New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Church, Archbishop Mark of Yegorievsk consecrated the Church of the Ascension on the island of Koh Samui and celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the newly consecrated church.

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