Tomsk, Russia, February 14, 2023
Fr. Paul and his parish community. Photo: tomskeparhia.ru
The Russian Orthodoxy is represented in Pakistan both by clergy and parishes directly under the Moscow Patriarchate, and by clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, and clergy and faithful both in Russia and abroad actively support the growing mission there.
In October, parishioners of churches in the Siberian city of Tomsk participated in a charity gathering for the construction of the first church in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad. The church will be dedicated to the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos and served by Fr. Paul Anjum, a native Pakistani who graduated from the Tomsk Theological Seminary several years ago.
With the funds raised in Tomsk and online, the parish community in Islamabad was able to purchase land for its future church, reports the Diocese of Tomsk.
Fr. Paul is rector of the Sts. Peter and Paul parish that meets on the second floor of his parent’s home in Lahore, Pakistan. Six Christian families make up the core group of parishioners. He also looks after communities in Islamabad (three families), Mian Channu (four families), and Hyderabad (21 families). After building the church in Islamabad, they plan to do the same in the other cities, Fr. Paul said in a thank you video sent to the diocese.
Meanwhile, Fr. Joseph Farooq, a Pakistani priest of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, is currently on a trip to America, where he has had the chance to visit the Synodal headquarters in New York City and Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville.
Fr. Joseph being awarded the kamilavka by Met. Nicholas. Photo: eadiocese.org
Fr. Joseph celebrated the great feast of Theophany at the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York with His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas, the First Hierarch of ROCOR, and during the Little Entrance, for his labors in preaching Orthodoxy in Pakistan, he was awarded the right to wear the nabedrennik and kamilavka, reports the Eastern American Diocese of ROCOR.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Fr. Joseph’s ordination at the hands of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, the previous First Hierarch. With his blessing, Fr. Joseph and his team opened an Orthodox education center in Pakistan, and they translate liturgical texts into Urdu, the main language of Pakistan.
Fr. Joseph presented two translations—of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and the Orthodox prayer book—to Met. Nicholas.
Fr. Joseph with monks and seminarians at Jordanville. Photo: eadiocese.org
He then visited Jordanville from January 23 to February 8, participating in the daily services and life of the monastery and seminary. On February 3, Fr. Joseph gave a presentation on the Pakistani mission, including the challenges they face and their desire to build a proper church.
For example, Christians in Pakistan can only evangelize and convert non-Muslims. Attempting to convert a Muslim can result in the death penalty.
Fr. Joseph especially highlighted the help provided to the Pakistani mission by ROCOR’s Fund for Assistance, and encouraged the seminarians to donate through the FFA.
Watch and interview that Fr. Joseph gave to the FFA last week:
Fr. Joseph also presented the seminary with some examples of his translation work, and a soccer ball for the students.
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