North Koreans do not lose love for homeland despite difficulties.

24/8 Tass 101

PYONGYANG, August 24 (Itar-Tass) - North Korean citizens are
"surprising people, having a real rather than fake feeling of patriotism",
said here on Tuesday to Itar-Tass archpriest Sergy of the Vladivostok
eparchy of the Russian Orthodox Church.
"Despite difficulties of every-day life," the archpriest continued,
"they do not lose love for their homeland."
The priest was greatly impressed by Pyongyang. According Sergy, the
North Korean capital is "a clean and well-tydied city which may place
first among other cities in this respect, including Russian towns".
The priest said that since the time of sanctifying the St. Life-Giving
Trinity Church in Pyongyang in 2004, the Sacred Synod of the Russian
Orthodox Church instructed the Vladivostok eparchy to exercise pastoral
care for it. Since that time on, the archpriest noted, members of the
clergy seek to visit the church three or four times a year. "I hope that
we shall stick to the schedule," the priest continued.
He called as very successful the work of two Korean orthodox priests -
Father Fedor and Father Ioann who studied at the Moscow theological
seminary. "Both of them are very educated people and constantly improve
their knowledge as pastors, despite the fact that orthodoxy is of course a
new thing for People's Korea," the archpriest said.
Father Sergy noted that a decision on building a church in Pyongyang
had been taken by chairman of the North Korean State Defence Committee Kim
Jong-Il after his visit to the Baptiser Innokenty of Irkutsk Church in
Khabarovsk during his tour of the Russian Far East in 2002. "The military
leader's words are known to never differ with deeds," Father Sergy said.
"Now this spectacular temple shines with its cupolas in Pyongyang."
Father Sergy performed a Sunday sermon in North Korea. He held a
ceremonial funeral service at the cemetery of Soviet troops in the North
Korean capital. There are graves of Soviet soldiers and citizens there who
were buried there in 1945-1950. They include men and officers who gave
their lives to liberate Korea from Japanese invaders.
-0-bur/ast


Delete & Prev | Delete & Next