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N. Korea Russian Orthodox Church opens [ news.yahoo.com] SEOUL, South Korea - North Korea's first ever Russian Orthodox church conducted its inaugural mass Sunday, the North's official news agency said, although there was no sign the hardline communist regime has eased its tight controls on religion. Praise God! 
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Pavel Ivanovich - You are quite right. At the same time, the Word of God has power. I have no idea what could possibly have motivated the "Dear Leader" and his satraps to invite the Orthodox Church in. But they are apt to get more than they bargained for!
Fr. Serge
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Batushka! "Dear Leader" I could not think of the title when I was writing. Daddy was the "Great Leader". Now it comes back to me. Siestas area wonderful institution. Well he is we are told the geatest doctor of physics and that is all areas of the science. Greatest doctor of architecture, civil engineering and to cut it short the expert (the greatest) on everything from finger painting to brain surgery. Now he can be the greatest theologian in the land. Now that would be a first in Marxist state. Sort of reminds me of a very sad couple that used to run Romania. They are up to something alright. It may back fire on them of course and they may come to really believe and then there will be trouble.
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Actually I have read a few releases from the Moscow Patriarchate in the past year. Apparently they have had two North Korean seminarians that are at the final stages of their training. Both will ordained to the priesthood shortly and return to North Korea. What may be forming this tiny community may be part of a group that before the Korean War was part of the Orthodox Church in Korea. An interesting history of the Korean Orthodox Church is listed on the history section of the Korean Church EP's web page. Orthodox Church in South Korea [ orthodox.or.kr] Whatever the motivation Dear Leader has for allowing an Orthodox Church to be built after almost 60 years is not apparent, but let us rejoice that at least a house of worship is now available, and will have two priests for it also soon. In IC XC, Father Anthony+
Everyone baptized into Christ should pass progressively through all the stages of Christ's own life, for in baptism he receives the power so to progress, and through the commandments he can discover and learn how to accomplish such progression. - Saint Gregory of Sinai
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As this thread is in the News Forum, it will inevitably be the subject of analysis and speculation, as we look with incredulity and are seized with suspicion as to the motives involved in the North Korean decision to allow the opening of Trinity Church. Yet, I think it behooves us in the short-term to offer thanksgiving to God that this opportunity has been created for our Orthodox brethren in North Korea to worship.
In the long-term, our prayers need be that they and all other Christians under the regime be kept safe from harm and allowed to render glory to God.
Prayers for the faithful of Trinity Orthodox Church and their presbyters, that their faith be strengthened by the provision of the Divine Liturgy in their new temple and that they be able and worthy witnesses to those who come into contact with them, that all may come to know the truth and love of Jesus Christ.
Many years,
Neil
"One day all our ethnic traits ... will have disappeared. Time itself is seeing to this. And so we can not think of our communities as ethnic parishes, ... unless we wish to assure the death of our community."
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They are definately going as sheep among wolves !!
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A church is always a church, a house of God, and it's better that money was spent building this church than on a reeducation center or a prison camp. Unfortunately I'd bet most christians in Korea are more likely to see the inside of the latter two than of any of these churches in Pyongyang any time soon.
I seriously doubt that the North Korean Orthodox will be allowed to participate in any liturgies in the church, most likely it is just another showpiece for foreigners, like the Catholic church.
North Korea needs our prayers, desperately!
Neil, good to see you back!
God bless,
Filipe
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North Korean representatives said that it was important that Orthodox believers in Pyongyang have the opportunity to practise their faith and expressed hope that the church would strengthen ties between Russia and North Korea .
I suspect this is the real motive behind the move. Anything to keep the links with Russia and their old mates, who are still in power.
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I agree with the cynicism expressed by both Filipe and Pavel, but one can hope and pray.
Filipe, thank you for the welcome back, my dear friend. And, btw, as I read back over nearly a year of posts that I missed or only skimmed, my congratulations to you and your bride and may God grant you both many years of health and happiness.
Many years,
Neil
"One day all our ethnic traits ... will have disappeared. Time itself is seeing to this. And so we can not think of our communities as ethnic parishes, ... unless we wish to assure the death of our community."
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