The Orthodox Church in Phuket – History, Architecture, How to Get There

The cross encircling the rolling hills of lush tropical greenery and the golden cupola soaring in the sky are no mirage, because there really is an Orthodox Church in Phuket. And it is called – the Church of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity. Christian Church in Phuket peacefully neighbors temple Wat Phra Thong. She was consecrated in February 2012. The rector of the temple is priest Roman Bychkov. Services are conducted by him daily. He also administers sacraments and services upon request of the faithful.

Orthodox Temple in Phuket

How the temple was built

The Orthodox Church in Phuket is subordinate to the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is the largest in Thailand – the cupola of the dome is 25 meters high and the perimeter of the walls is 84 meters. The decision to build it was taken by a general meeting of the future parishioners in 2008. Initially a parish in the name of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity was organized and subordinated to the Orthodox Church of Thailand. The faithful chose the members of the parish administration and also adopted a draft statute, which they sent to the Moscow Patriarchate for approval.

Orthodox Church in Phuket

A plot of land of 4,200 square meters was purchased and cleared for the construction of the temple. One meter high topsoil was used for flood protection. The funds for the work were collected from all over the world. There were many benefactors. This happened despite the fact that it was 2008. They managed to raise over one million, two hundred thousand baht. The work could have begun at that time, in 2009, but due to the construction of an Orthodox church in Pattaya it had to be deferred. The final chord – the lifting of the gilded dome on the drum was carried out in February 2011. The structure is one piece, measuring six meters in diameter and the same height.

Orthodox Church in Phuket

Orthodox Church in Phuket

Phuket Orthodox Church

Photo: phuket.ortox.ru

The rite of the great consecration was conducted by Archbishop Mark of Yegorievsk. It took place in February 2012. Subsequently, the territory was landscaped and the accompanying buildings were built. In July, the chapel of Nicholas the Wonderworker was consecrated, in the baptistery which then performed the first ceremony of baptism according to the Orthodox rite. In August, a Sunday school opened its doors, where young men and women are taught the Scriptures and the basics of iconography. In December, the bell tower, whose bell tower was consecrated in February 2014 by Archbishop Mark, was roofed.

Architecture-and-sacred-parish

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The Orthodox Church in Phuket, Thailand, is built as a one-cupola, square in plan, temple. There are entrance doors on the north, west and south, decorated with frescoes depicting saints. Two apses were attached to the altar wall and the zakomar is decorated with the image of the Mother of God. There are daily liturgies and services from eight in the morning until six in the evening. All rites are held, including communion, confession, baptism and marriage. The parish has a Sunday school for children in Phuket.

The Orthodox Church in Phuket is a place where Christian shrines are preserved: