Moscow Patriarchate delegation holds a press-conference at the Vladivostok airport upon their return from Pyongyang
18.08.2003 · English, Архив 2003
MOSCOW PATRIARCHATE DELEGATION HOLDS A PRESS-CONFERENCE AT THE VLADIVOSTOK AIRPORT UPON THEIR RETURN FROM PYONGYANG
The delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church who had been on a visit to the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea held a press conference on June 24, 21003, at the Vladivostok airport, upon their return to Russia.
Speaking on the result of their visit, the head of the delegation, Archbishop Clement of Kaluga and Borovsk, the first deputy head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, reported some details concerning the construction of the first Orthodox church to be built in North Korea.
The Orthodox church dedicated to the Life-Giving Trinity will be erected on a small hill in one of the new districts of North Korean capital city. The new house of God will be a one-cupola church building designed after the 17th century Russian church architectural pattern. The interior will also be executed in the Russian Orthodox tradition, though the design was made by Korean architects. The construction materials will be local, while the bells will be brought from Russia.
Both Russians and Koreans will finance the construction. Through the efforts of the North Korean authorities, the work to lay down the foundation of the church building has been already completed. However, it will take over a year to complete the entire construction. A cleric of the Russian Orthodox Church will conduct divine services in the new church, and one of the possible candidates for this mission is now studying Korean in Pyongyang, while four North Korean citizens are being trained at the Moscow Seminary.
Archbishop Clement made a special notice of the fact that among the participants in the laying the foundation of the church of the Life-giving Trinity were North Korean high ranking officials and diplomats from many countries, as well as ordinary people. All the activities during the visit of the Moscow Patriarchate delegation were broadly covered in the local and foreign press.
Archbishop Clement also emphasized that the construction of the first-ever Russian Orthodox church in North Korea became possible due to the change in the status of the Church in Russia. Attitude to religion has changed in North Korea as well. He referred to a great interest shown precisely in Russian Orthodoxy in that country. However, a center of Orthodox spirituality built there is necessary first of all for the Mother Church to take pastoral care of Orthodox Russian citizens residing in North Korea.
From the press service of the Vladivostok diocese Russian Orthodox Church.
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