On September 14 in the Central House of Journalists in Moscow, the exhibition entitled, “Apostles of the 21st Century” opened. This is the first exhibition here dedicated to modern foreign missions of the Orthodox Church. Visitors were able to see how Orthodoxy is spreading in such countries as the Philippines, Mongolia, India, Pakistan, Thailand, Cambodia, the Ivory Coast, Kenya, and elsewhere. The photographs were accompanied by text with quotes from the stories of both the missionaries and the newly converted. The exposition includes modern missionary publications on Orthodoxy in various languages, and displays showing how Christianity finds expression in the culture of non-Orthodox peoples. Visitors were able to hear the singing of Orthodox Africans, watch videotapes of missionary journeys, and communicate with those who have been on missions. Missionaries who had been in Mongolia invited visitors to taste authentic Mongolian tea. The exhibition was organized by the Orthodox Missionary School of the Synodal missionary department, and therefore the event also included presentations by the School, which is currently accepting candidates for the coming academic year. Representatives of the missionary department Igumen Serapion (Mitko) and Archpriest Alexander Korotikin, as well as teachers at the School Deacon Giorgi Maximov, A. V. Liulka, D. M. Volodikhin, A. M. Maler, and I. A. Molev, also spoke. The exhibition closes today, September 30. Those wishing to know more about today’s missionary work or help support missionaries may contact the St. Serapion of Kozheozersk Orthodox Missionary Society and the Orthodox Missionary School.
Exhibition, “Apostles of the 21st century. The flags mark the places represented in the photographs
Visitors to the exhibition
Christian calligraphic titles in the traditional Chinese style. Taiwan
Fragment of the exhibition. Orthodox books in Chechen, Kirgiz, Tatar, Kumyk, Thai, and Urdu
A graduate of the Missionary School, Ilya Molev, tells about his trip to Kenya
Visitors listen to the presentations
Graduate of the Orthodox Missionary School, Priest Roman Bychkov, who left to serve permanently in Thailand
A sermon during the Liturgy in Kenya. Priest Vladimir
A sermon during the Liturgy in Pakistan. Priest Joseph Tanveer
Confession in Jakarta, Indonesia. Hieromonk Joasaph (Tandibilang)
First Communion. Chandrapur, India. Priest Stanislav Rasputin
Orthodox Indians
A prosphora, Hong Kong
A graduate of the Orthodox Missionary School, Deacon Andrei Kalinin, in Tyva
He left for permanent service to the Republic of Tyva, and is now the chairman of the Missionary Department of Kyzyl diocese
New converts to Orthodoxy. The community of St. John of Shanghai, Davao del Sur, the Philippines
Orthodox Filipinos
The Monastery of the Dormition in Ratchaburi Province, Thailand
A Baptism in Kenya
After Baptism. Shagonar, the Republic of Tyva
The Church of the Apostles Peter and Paul in Hong Kong
Archpriest Michael Li
One of the last living priests of the old Chinese mission. He was born to a family of Orthodox Chinese, and went to church from his childhood. After the Communists came to power in China he endured persecution and twenty years of imprisonment. He now lives and serves in the Australian diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
The Church of Great Martyr George in Pnom Pen, Cambodia, built in memory of the Bulgarian peacekeepers who died there
In the photo appears an Orthodox missionary who came to organize the celebration of Orthodox Pascha for the local Orthodox community
The Holy Trinity Church in Ulan Bator, Mongolia. It is the largest Orthodox church in Asia
An Orthodox Mongolian listens to a priest
Working with orphans in the Greek Orthodox orphanage in Calcutta, India
A chapel dedicated to St. John Chrysostom in Bangalor, India, of the Russian Orthodox Church
Among the parishioners is a former Brahmin, who converted along with his whole family to Orthodoxy after Christ miraculously appeared to him
Orthodox Indian, Silhouan, preaches to his neighbors, telling them about icons. Bangalor, India
An icon in the residence of Metropolitan Macarios of Kenya
Reading the Gospels in Church. Kenya
Orthodox Laotian, Constantine, shows his first icon
Orthodox Papuans
Singing the Creed at the Liturgy in the Church of St. Athanasius the Great in Jayapura (Indonesian Papua)
Pakistani Orthodox priest Kirill (ROCOR) greats a new convert
Orthodox faithful at the parish of St. Sergius of Radonezh during the Liturgy in Sargodha, Pakistan
Orthodox Christians in Guatemala
So very impressive. I am so touched by all of the photos. They all speak of a church, “alive”. Thank you.
My impression exactly, Mary. They witness to a Church which is indeed “alive”!
Love your work… Journey to Orthodoxy. What a great work!
Paul Neustrom
Wonderful!!
It is indeed good to see that Orthodoxy does in fact do mission work/evangelization, contrary to how grim some paint the picture. Now if only we could focus on doing more mission work here in the U.S!