{"id":4307,"date":"2015-12-31T15:26:05","date_gmt":"2015-12-31T13:26:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.patriarchikoidryma.gr\/nea-korea-2015\/"},"modified":"2026-07-16T14:59:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T11:59:17","slug":"nea-korea-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.patriarchikoidryma.gr\/en\/nea-korea-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"Holy Metropolis of Korea: News of 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the coordination of the missionary, pastoral, and wider work of the missionary Holy Metropolis of Korea, the clergy and lay representatives of the seven parishes in Seoul gather each year in a General Assembly under the presidency of the Metropolitan.<\/p>\n

Among other matters, the annual report of the works of the Metropolitan and each parish is presented. From what was reported at the General Assembly of 15 February 2016, we highlight some of the things \u201cwhich God accomplished through them\u201d during 2015 in the missionary field of Korea.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/a><\/span><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Baptisms<\/h3>\n<\/div>
<\/div>

After long-term and systematic catechesis, 44 new brothers and sisters were reborn \u201cof water and the Spirit\u201d through the grace of the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and Chrismation and were \u201cadded to the Church.\u201d<\/p>\n

In particular, at the Church of Saint Dionysios in Ulsan, which was built a decade ago, 43 faithful have been baptized during the last five years.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Divine Worship<\/h3>\n<\/div>
<\/div>

In addition to the regular daily Holy Services in all our churches, vigils were celebrated on 27 March in Ulsan, on the Apodosis of Pascha (19 May) in Seoul, and on 30 October at our Monastery in Yanggu.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Spiritual Formation of the Faithful<\/h3>\n<\/div>
<\/div>

The study of Holy Scripture continued through the weekly gatherings of the faithful in each parish, as well as the development of spiritual topics during weekly parents\u2019 meetings and the operation of Catechetical Schools of all levels.<\/p>\n

The Sunday gatherings of the Korean Orthodox youth organization \u201cKorean Syndesmos\u201d also continued. In addition, two-day (14\u201315 February) and three-day (7\u20139 August) youth gatherings were held in Chuncheon on the theme: \u201cCome and See.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Camps<\/h3>\n<\/div>
<\/div>

Winter and summer camps operated with dozens of students and university students at the facilities in Chuncheon (90 km northeast of Seoul) and Busan. Within a joyful atmosphere, the campers learn through morning and evening prayer, instruction, and fellowship how to live as Orthodox Christians. At the same time, they have the opportunity to improve their English through continuous communication with English-speaking teachers who participate voluntarily in the camp programs.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Pan-Korean Orthodox Gathering<\/h3>\n<\/div>
<\/div>

For the second consecutive year, the \u201cOrthodox Gathering\u201d of all the parishes of the Holy Metropolis of Korea was held at the Orthodox Educational Center \u201cSaint Anna\u201d in Jeonju (9 October). The event was a great success and contributed to mutual acquaintance and the strengthening of bonds among members of the various parishes of our Church. The organization of the event was undertaken by Fr. Stephen Hwang, founder and president of the Educational Center.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Ministry to Seafarers<\/h3>\n<\/div>
<\/div>

The ministry to seafarers continued throughout 2015. The Metropolitan of Korea, Fr. Alexander Han, Fr. Paul Kwon, and Fr. Jeremiah Cho celebrated the inauguration ceremonies of many new ships in Korea, Japan, and China.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Lectures on Orthodoxy<\/h3>\n<\/div>
<\/div>

As every year, lectures were given to hundreds of university students from various universities that visited our churches, as well as in university lecture halls upon invitation, on topics concerning the theology, worship, history, ethos, and art of the Orthodox Church.<\/p>\n

Interviews were also given to newspaper journalists and television stations about the Orthodox Church.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Translations and Korean Publications<\/h3>\n<\/div>
<\/div>

The translation work and publishing activity of the state-recognized publishing organization \u201cOrthodox Editions\u201d continued, with the publication of new books:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Orthodox Faith and Life (A Brief Catechism) by Bishop Sotirios \u2014 366 pages
\nTheosis by Archimandrite Georgios Kapsanis, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Gregoriou \u2014 90 pages
\nFrom the 25th Hour to the Eternal Hour by Virgil Gheorghiu \u2014 222 pages
\nThe Holy Bible for Children \u2014 illustrated edition, 311 pages
\nThe Triodion \u2014 641 pages
\nThe Pentecostarion \u2014 481 pages<\/p>\n

With the last two liturgical publications, the Orthodox Church in Korea acquired the ability to celebrate, according to ecclesiastical order, all the Holy Services of the lengthy liturgical periods of the Triodion and Pentecostarion.<\/p>\n

The 2016 Calendar was also published, dedicated to the twenty great monasteries of Mount Athos, featuring remarkable photographs and available in both desk and wall editions. It is especially helpful for Orthodox faithful because, in addition to feast days, it includes fasting days, days of Divine Liturgy and special services, daily Scripture readings, and even the weekly tone.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

New Website of the Holy Metropolis of Korea<\/h3>\n<\/div>
<\/div>

The new website of the Holy Metropolis, www.orthodoxkorea.org<\/a>, has been available since the previous December in four languages: Korean, Greek, Russian, and English. It was created in a modern format and entirely free of charge by volunteers.<\/p>\n

The parish websites also continue to operate:<\/p>\n

Seoul:
\nwww.nickolas.or.kr<\/a> (Korean)
\nwww.pravkorea.com<\/a> (Russian)<\/p>\n

Busan:
\nwww.orthodoxbusan.or.kr<\/a> (Korean and English)<\/p>\n

Incheon:
\nwww.orthodoxincheon.or.kr<\/a> (Korean and English)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Charity<\/h3>\n<\/div>
<\/div>

Each parish is active in supporting and assisting people in need. They collect food and clothing in the churches and distribute them accordingly, as well as money for medicines and other necessities. Periodically, they offer meals to elderly and lonely people who feel the need for companionship. They also financially support municipal programs assisting the poor.<\/p>\n

In spring and autumn, they organize charitable bazaars with delicious foods and various items, with proceeds used according to current needs.<\/p>\n

Another effective means of securing resources is the \u201cLove Program,\u201d in which faithful voluntarily participate by declaring what they wish to offer regularly for the needs of the Church.<\/p>\n

A collection was also held among the faithful, raising a significant amount that was given to His Eminence Metropolitan Ignatios of Madagascar for his charitable work in his province, which suffers from hunger and extreme poverty. (Fr. Ignatios began his missionary activity in Korea from 1985 to 1991 and visited again from 6\u201320 October 2015.)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Orthodox Kindergarten of Busan<\/h3>\n<\/div>
<\/div>

The \u201cAnnunciation of the Theotokos Kindergarten of Busan,\u201d located in the building complex of the parish church of the same name, has been rated excellent by the competent state authority. In addition to the proper education provided to children, parents are given the opportunity to become acquainted with Orthodoxy, with beneficial results.<\/p>\n

The love of the kindergarten also embraces older children, primary and middle school students, whose homes do not provide suitable conditions for studying. Every afternoon from 6\u201310 p.m., the kindergarten classrooms function as study rooms for these students.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Operation of Holy Monasteries<\/h3>\n<\/div>
<\/div>

The operation of our two Holy Monasteries\u2014the Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior in Gapyeong and the Monastery of Saint Andrew in Yanggu\u2014continued throughout 2015.<\/p>\n

The visits of our faithful to the two monasteries and their communication with His Eminence Sotirios at the Holy Monastery of the Transfiguration are a great blessing and source of spiritual strengthening. Pilgrims receive great consolation and strength from the holy relics of the 24 Patron Saints of the Church of Korea, whose Synaxis is solemnly celebrated on 3 October, the day of the monastery\u2019s consecration.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Anniversary of the Founding of the Orthodox Church of Incheon<\/h3>\n<\/div>
<\/div>

With particular solemnity, the memory of Saint Paul the Apostle was celebrated at the Church of Saint Paul in Incheon, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Orthodox Church there in 1985.<\/p>\n

May the Lord strengthen His Church there unto ages of ages.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4365,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4307","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-koreas"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.patriarchikoidryma.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4307","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.patriarchikoidryma.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.patriarchikoidryma.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.patriarchikoidryma.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.patriarchikoidryma.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4307"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/staging.patriarchikoidryma.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4307\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4396,"href":"https:\/\/staging.patriarchikoidryma.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4307\/revisions\/4396"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.patriarchikoidryma.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4365"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.patriarchikoidryma.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4307"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.patriarchikoidryma.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4307"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.patriarchikoidryma.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4307"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}