Seminarians from Philippines and Indonesia at Optina Pustyn in Russia

This is the first time prayers have ever been offered in Cebuano, Tagalog, or Bahasa Indonesia at Russia’s Optina monastery.

On August 2, on the 8th week after Pentecost, on the feast of the Prophet Elijah, the abbot of Optina Pustyn, Bishop Leonid of Mozhaisk, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the temple of the Icon of Most Holy Theotokos “Life-giving Spring” located at the monastery field camp.

Liturgical hymns in Indonesian and Filipino were sung by the Asian seminarians. At the end of the service, Vladyka Leonid spoke with the students.

During their stay at the monastery, seminarians perform monastic obediences, and get acquainted with the way of life of the famous Russian monastery and the Optina monastic tradition.