Department for External Church Relations
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Patriarchal exarch for South-East Asia consecrates Church of the ‘Quick to Listen’ icon of Our Lady in the Philippines.
DECR Communication service, 23.11.2025.
On 23rd November 2025 on the twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost on the island of Panglao in the Philippines, the Patriarchal exarch for South-East Asia the metropolitan of Singapore and South-East Asia Sergius performed the rite of Great Consecration for the Church of the ‘Quick to Listen’ icon of Our Lady and headed the first Divine Liturgy in the newly-consecrated church.
Concelebrating with His Eminence were: the metropolitan of Manila and Hanoi Paul, the archbishop of Korea Theophanes, the bishop of Jakarta and auxiliary of the Singapore diocese Pitirim, the secretary for the Patriarchal exarchate for South-East Asia hieromonk Juvenal (Maruschak), secretary of the diocese of the Philippines and Vietnam hieromonk Cornilius (Molev), the rector of the church hieromonk Alexis (Lapshin) and clergy from the diocese of the Philippines and Vietnam.
Attending the Divine Liturgy were: the Russian ambassador to the Philippines Marat Ignatievich Pavlov, the director of administration of the province of Bohol Mrs. Philippina Piollo, the head of the department for tourism in the province of Bohol Mrs. Joan Pinat, the honorary consul of Russia in Sebua Armi Garsia and colleagues from the Russian embassy in the Philippines.
At the Little Entrance, by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ Kirill for his diligent service to the Holy Church, the rector of the Church of the ‘Quick to Listen’ icon of Our Lady on the island of Panglao hieromonk Alexis (Lapshin) was awarded the right to wear a jeweled cross.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy the Patriarchal exarch congratulated those attending the service on the occasion of this important event and delivered a sermon to those gathered in which he emphasized the importance of the occasion for the growth of ecclesiastical life in the Philippines.
In reply, metropolitan Paul expressed his profound gratitude to the clergy and parishioners for their labours in the field of church ministry.
By decree of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ for his contribution to the development of church-state relations and on the occasion of his seventieth birthday the Russian ambassador to the Philippines Marat Ignatievich Pavlov was awarded the Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky, 2nd Class.
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