中文 | Русский | Provided by 'DECR Communication Service of the Russian Orthodox Church'

Metropolitan Kirill concludes his visit to South-East Asia with a trip to Singapore

In conclusion of this visit to South-East Asia, Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad arrived on December 22, 2003, in Singapore. The Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External church Relations was met at the airport by Russian Ambassador in Singapore S. Kiselev, councilor K. Kozhanov and councilor M. Abashkov.

On December 23, Metropolitan Kirill celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Armenian Church of St. George the Illuminator. There were over eighty worshippers including citizens of Russia, Serbia, Hungary, Ukraine, Singapore and other countries.

After the service, His Eminence Kirill warmly greeted the congregation and expressed special thanks to Archbishop Sirpasian Balosian (Armenian Apostolic Church) of Australia and New Zealand for providing the church building and giving other organizational help to the head of the Armenian diaspora in South-East Asia, Dr. Horah Gevorkian.

A solemn reception was given in honour of Metropolitan Kirill. Present at the reception were ambassadors of Russia, Ukraine, Hungary, the Armenian Honorary Consul, the Anglican Bishop of Singapore, the rector of the Church of the Resurrection (Patriarchate of Constantinople), diplomats and local public figures, businessmen, and members of the Orthodox community. After the reception, the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church visited the Church of the Resurrection (Patriarchate of Constantinople) at the invitation of its rector, Archimandrite Daniel (Torn).

Later that day, Metropolitan Kirill met with the Singapore state minister of education, public development and sport, Mr. Chan Su Sen. His Eminence Kirill informed his interlocutor about the major landmarks in the history of Russian Orthodoxy, the role of the Church in the formation of Russian statehood, the present status of Orthodoxy in Russia and the contribution of religious organizations to the development of relations between peoples in Russia and other countries.

Both condemned the attempts to ascribe to the international terrorism features characteristic of religious confrontation.

The minister informed the Russian Orthodox Church delegation about the religious situation in Singapore and the laws safeguarding peace and accord in interreligious relations. In conclusion of the talk, the Singapore minister expressed deep gratitude to the Russian Church for the visit of so high an Orthodox hierarch and expressed the wish that his government develop bilateral relations with the Russian Orthodox Church, which answers the idea of brining nearer together the peoples of Singapore and Russia.

Metropolitan Kirill conducted a thanksgiving with the blessing of water at the Russian Embassy in Singapore and had a talk with the embassy staff, drawing their attention to the need for preserving the moral principles in man in their purity and for continued efforts to cultivate one's soul.

On the same day, the Russian ambassador S. Kiselev gave a dinner in honour of His Eminence Metropolitan Kirill.

On December 24, having given his archpastoral blessing to the Russian Ambassador Kiselev, members of Russian organizations abroad and the Russian Orthodox Church representative in Thailand, Hegumen Oleg (Cherepanin), who came to see him off to the airport, Metropolitan Kirill flew out to Moscow.