Celebrations marking 110 years of Orthodoxy in Korea held in Seoul

Korean Orthodox Church

On 29-30 May 2010 celebrations dedicated to 110 anniversary of Orthodoxy in Korea were held in Seoul. The festivities were organized by the Korean metropolia of the Constantinopolitan Patriarchate. With the blessing of His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, a delegation from Russian Orthodox Church headed by the Archbishop Veniamin of Vladivostok and Primorye [Coastland] came to participate in the festivities. The delegation also included Hierodeacon Juvenaly (Lapshin) a cleric of Vladivostok Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church, D.I. Petrovsky from the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations.

On May 28, 2009 Archbishop Venimin was met at Incheon Airport by Metropolitan Ambrose of Korea; Igumen Feofan (Kim), a cleric of the Russian Orthodox Church who is serving his pastoral ministry in South Korea; M.G. Volkov, a Counsellor of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Korea, and by DI Petrovsky who arrived in Seoul earlier.

May 29, 2009 Russian Orthodox Church delegation participated in a conference dedicated to the Orthodox understanding of death. The conference was organized by the Constantinopolitan Patriarchate’s Korean Metropolia as part of a program of commemorative events.

During the conversation, which took place in a warm atmosphere, a wide range of issues relating to the history and present situation of Orthodoxy in Korea was discussed, as was the development of bilateral relations between Russia and the Republic of Korea.

In the evening in Seoul’s St. Nicholas Church, Bishop Veniamin led a service in which the hierarchs of the Constantinopolitan Patriarchate participated: Archbishop Gregory of Thyatira and Great Britain, Metropolitan Sotirios of Pisidia, Metropolitan Amvrosky of Korea, clergy of the Korean Metropolia, celebration guests and parishioners of St. Nicholas Parish.

On May 30, 2010, the Sunday of All Saints week, the archpastors together served Matins and Divine Liturgy in St. Nicholas temple. The service was led by Gregory, Archbishop of Thyatira and Great Britain, representing Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the celebration of 110 years of Orthodoxy in Korea. Concelebrating with him, representing His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, were Archbishop Veniamin of Vladivostok and Primorye — and hierarchs of the Constantinopolitan Church by: Metropolitan Sotirios of Pisidia; Metropolitan Amfilohije of New Zealand, the Metropolitan Ambrose of Korea, as well as clerics of the Korean mitrpopolia and guests in the holy orders. The service was conducted in Korean, English, Church Slavonic and Greek.

Following the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Gregory delivered the welcome address of His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, and Archbishop Veniamin – a message from Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokalamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations. On the same day Archbishop Veniamin of Vladivostok and members of the delegation of the Moscow Patriarch, met with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Korea, K.V. Vnukov at his residence.

In his response, the Metropolitan Ambrose noted the importance of the events being celebrated — In 1900 Archimandrite Chrysanth (Schetkovsky) served the first Divine Liturgy on Korean soil, thus starting the spread of Orthodoxy. Metropolitan Ambrose emphasized the Russian missionaries’ special contribution in spreading the Orthodox faith on the Korean peninsula; thereafter their labors were continued by priests from Greece, America, Japan and New Zealand. Metropolitan Ambrose asked Archbishop Veniamin to convey to the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church that the memory of the Russian founders of Korean Orthodoxy is remembered in Korea, that prayers are elevated for them at every service in all South Korean temples.

Then all Orthodox hierarchs together served a memorial service for all who labored in preaching Orthodoxy in Korea. Praying at the service were the P. Avierinos, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Greek Republic in the Republic of Korea; M. Volkov, Counsellor of the Embassy of Russia in Korea, numerous parishioners who gathered in Seoul from various cities in South Korea; celebration guests and Orthodox Christians from various countries.

After the service, a concert was organized by the parishes of the Korean metropolia. Of great interest to the audience was a performance by hierodeacon Yuvenaly (Lapshin), winner of numerous international singing competitions, who sang a number of Russian church music composition.

In the evening a reception in honor of the guests was given at Korea House by the Korean Metropolia; after this followed performances of traditional Korean music and dance.

On May 31, 2010 the Russian Orthodox Church delegation departed from Seoul. Archbishop Veniamin of Vladivostok and Primorye was accompanied at Incheon Airport by Protopresbyter Daniel On, by Mikhail Volkov, Counselor of the Embassy of Russia , by Igumen Feofan (Kim) and D.I. Petrovsky from the Department for External Church Relations of Moscow Patriarchate.

Visit the Websites of

Korean Orthodox Church (Ecumenical Patriarchate)

Russian Orthodox Church in Korea(ROCR)

Source: