Department for External Church Relations
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Archbishop Theofan of Korea visits Pyongyang
DECR Communication Service, 22/07/2025
On 18th – 21st July 2025, Archbishop Theofan, administrator of the Korean Diocese, undertook an archpastoral visit to Pyongyang, capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). He was accompanied by Archpriest Dionisy Kazantsev, Secretary to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ for the Moscow Region, and Mr Sergei Rudov, deputy head of the World Russian People’s Council.
On 19th July, the delegation met with Mr Alexander Matsegora, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the DPRK. The meeting took place at the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang. Ambassador Matsegora told his guests about the work of the diplomatic mission. Among other topics discussed during the meeting was the participation of the Embassy staff in the life of the Holy Trinity Church in Pyongyang – the only Orthodox church in the country.
On 20th July, Archbishop Theofan celebrated the Divine Liturgy in that church, Press Service of the Korean Diocese reports. Concelebrating with the hierarch were Archpriest Dionisy Kazantsev, Priest Vladimir Zhang, and Deacons Pavel Pak and Georgy Yun. Among those who attended the divine service were staff members of the Russian diplomatic mission and guests. After the Liturgy, His Eminence warmly greeted the parishioners and thanked them for taking an active part in the life of the Holy Trinity Church.
With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, Archbishop Theofan of Korea presented to Ambassador Alexander Matsegora the Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky, 3rd Class. The award marks the Ambassador’s contribution to promoting church-state relations and is timed to his 70th birthday.
Later that day, the archpastor laid flowers at the Liberation Monument and visited the cemetery of Soviet soldiers in Pyongyang. There, a memorial litiya was celebrated for the fallen Soviet soldiers buried in the capital of North Korea.
On 21st July, the delegation departed for Russia.
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