Translator’s Note: The bourgeois, capitalist system, whilst oppressing genuine religion on the one-hand, and encouraging deficient and degenerate religion on the other, has always perpetuate the myth that Socialist regime suppress and eradicate all religious belief. The exact opposite is true. Whilst protecting the people against superstition and aberrant (and damaging) beliefs, the Socialist State removes all temptations of “greed” and the desire to acquire “land” and “political” power – leaving the “private-space” as an area where true religious self-development can take place (a sacred-space similar – if not identical – to the inner-workings of a monastery). Of course, a Socialist State is a “secular” space within which ALL religions are created equal. Furthermore, atheism, non-theism, and agnosticism are granted an equal (legal) footing – with the persecution of one group by any other group(s) being completely outlawed. It is interesting to note that North Korea treats the capitalist countries with a far-greater respect than most capitalist countries treat North Korea or its citizens. Today, of course, North Korea is a staunch political and military ally of (modern) capitalist Russia. An interesting development given that the USSR (the Red Army of which “liberated North Korea in 1945) was actually comprised of 15 countries! Finally, out of the four countries mentioned in the below text – that is Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, and Vietnam – “Vietnam” is also a “Socialist” country! ACW (27.12.2024)
Metropolitan of Southeast Asia: Russian Orthodox Church Encounters No Problems in North Korea!
March 4, 2019
Metropolitan Sergei (Chashin) of Singapore and Southeast Asia told Russian journalists in Bangkok on Sunday that despite the general perception that the North Korean government has strict management of religious beliefs, the Russian Orthodox Church encounters no problems in North Korea.
Metropolitan Sergei is currently visiting the four major dioceses in Southeast Asia: Singapore, North Korea, Thailand, and the new exarchate after the merger of the Philippines-Vietnam diocese. He is currently in Thailand.
He told reporters: “After visiting Thailand, Pyongyang is the most convenient and simplest place for me. The Trinity Cathedral, built on the instructions of the late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, has been there for many years. North Korean university students study at the Moscow Theological Seminary and are ordained. There is also a group of five people studying at the Khabarovsk Theological Seminary. Patriarch Kirill ordained two of them in Moscow in August 2018.” He added: “I went to Pyongyang in November 2018 and worshipped there. The North Korean government is very friendly to the Russian Orthodox Church. Our diplomats go to the cathedral, and the staff of the Bulgarian and Romanian embassies go to the church to pray. We have no trouble in North Korea, not even in carrying out activities.” The metropolitan stressed that all religious people in North Korea have all rights and opportunities, and they are happy to receive visits from the Russian Orthodox Church. He also said: “They welcomed us very much, we worshipped there, and they recognized me as a bishop.”
Sergey said: “North Korea respects the Patriarch very much. Patriarch Kirill may visit North Korea in the near future at the invitation of North Korea’s top leader Kim Jong-un.”
Chinese Language Text:
https://sputniknews.cn/20190304/1027826721.html
东南亚都主教：俄东正教会在朝活动未遇问题
2019年3月4日, 14:33
新加坡及东南亚都主教谢尔盖（恰申）周日在曼谷向俄罗斯记者表示，尽管世界普遍认为朝鲜政府在宗教信仰问题上管理严苛，但俄罗斯东正教会在朝活动未遇到问题。
都主教谢尔盖正在对东南亚四大教区新加坡教区、朝鲜教区、泰国教区和菲律宾-越南教区合并后的新督主教区进行访问，目前他身处泰国。
他对记者说：”访问泰国之后，平壤对我来说最方便也最简单，按照已故朝鲜领导人金正日指示建造的三一大教堂多年来一直都在。朝鲜大学生在莫斯科神学院进修，被授予教职。目前还有一组五人正在哈巴罗夫斯克神学院学习。大牧首基里尔于2018年8月在莫斯科向其中二人授予了教职。”
他补充道：”我曾于2018年11月到过平壤，在那里做了礼拜。朝鲜政府对俄罗斯东正教会十分友善。我们的外交官会去大教堂，保加利亚和罗马尼亚大使馆的工作人员会去教堂祷告。我们在朝鲜没有遇到任何麻烦，在开展活动方面也是。”
都主教强调，在朝鲜所有宗教人士享有所有权利和机会，他们很乐意接受俄罗斯东正教会的访问。他还表示：”他们非常欢迎我们，我们在那里作礼拜，他们把我认作主教。”
谢尔盖说：”朝鲜非常尊重大牧首。大牧首基里尔或于近期应朝鲜最高领导人金正恩邀请访问朝鲜。”
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 