First Orthodox Church to be built in Pyongyang

A Russian Orthodox Church delegation led by Archbishop Climent of Kaluga and Borovsk, first deputy chairman of the foreign church relations department, has gone Monday on a four-day visit to Pyongyang to attend the ceremony of inaugurating the construction of the first Orthodox temple in North Korea.

According to the Moscow Patriarchate's Orthodox Encyclopaedia scientific centre, a two-cupola Holy Trinity church will be built in Pyongyang's eastern district on a total area of 300 square metres close to the Taedonggang riverside.

The Korean side assumes nearly full financing and construction responsibilities, under the direction of the Korean Believers Union's Orthodoxy Committee. According to its chairman Ho Il Jin, construction work will last nine to twelve months, with the Russian side to be engaged in bell welding and rendering technical assistance in cupola making.

"The building of the church is of exceptional importance for the development of relations between Russia and North Korea. After a long time, Orthodoxy is returning to Korea, said Andrey Karlov, the Russian ambassador in North Korea."