North Korean clerics to practise in Vladivostok

The Orthodox Committee delegation from the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea in came to Vladivostok from Pyongyang on December 8, 2005. Archbishop Veniamin of Vladivostok and Primorie blessed Orthodox Korean clergymen for carrying out three-month liturgical practice in the Cathedral of St. Nicholas.

Vice president of the DPRK Orthodox committee heads the delegation. Two Korean deacons Feodor and Ioann consecrated in the Russian Orthodox Church after graduating Moscow Theological Seminary are among the members of the delegation. They came to Vladivostok to master practical skills of conducting Orthodox divine service.

Bishop Veniamin got acquainted with the members of the Korean delegation and asked about the problems Korean clerics faced. Archbishop Veniamin was informed the construction of the Church of the Trinity was almost completed, the cross and the doom had been elevated, but the church still lacked interior decoration. Archbishop Veniamin was invited to the consecration of the church in August 2006. Archbishop blessed deacons Feodor and Ioann to participate in divine services in the cathedral and studying divine service in church Slavonic. Kim En Chan, a Korean graduate of Moscow Gnesin Musical Institute, will also learn church choral singing and skills of a chanter.

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy appreciated the choice of the DPRK Orthodox Committee to send Korean clerics for practice to Vladivostok. Representatives of the Committee had visited the Diocese of Vladivostok before and got favorable impression. Also important is that Primorie Region is close to Korea geographically and there is a DPRK general consulate in Vladivostok.

The Diocese of Vladivostok is historically connected with Orthodox mission in Korea. Bishop Pavel (Ivanovsky) of Nikolsk-Ussurijsk headed missionary work among the Koreans in Primorie and Korea in 1906-1917. The Translators Committee worked in Vladivostok and translated divine services and prayers into the Korean language.

Press-service
Diocese of Vladivostok