On July 18–21, 2025, Archbishop Theofan, Administrator of the Korean Diocese, made an archpastoral visit to the capital of the DPRK, Pyongyang. He was accompanied on the trip by Archpriest Dionisy Kazantsev, Secretary of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ for the Moscow Region, and Sergei Yuryevich Rudov, Deputy Head of the World Russian People’s Council.

On July 19, a meeting of the delegation members with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation Alexander Ivanovich Matsegora was held at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the DPRK. During the conversation, the guests familiarized themselves with the activities of the diplomatic mission, and also discussed the participation of the embassy staff in the life of the only Orthodox church in North Korea — the Holy Trinity Parish in Pyongyang.

On July 20 Archbishop Theofan served the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Trinity Church. His Eminence co-served with Archpriest Dionysius Kazantsev, Priest Vladimir Zhang, and Deacons Pavel Pak and Georgy Yun. Employees of the Russian diplomatic department and guests of the capital prayed at the service. At the end of the service, the Archbishop warmly greeted the parishioners, thanking them for their diligent participation in the life of the parish.

With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, Archbishop Theofan, in recognition of his contribution to the development of church-state relations and in connection with his 70th birthday, presented Ambassador Alexander Matsegora with the Order of the Holy Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky, 3rd degree.

On the same day, His Eminence the Archpastor laid flowers at the Korean Liberation Monument and visited the Soviet soldiers’ cemetery in Pyongyang, where he led a memorial service for the fallen Soviet soldiers buried in the North Korean capital.

On July 21, after the program was completed, the delegation departed for Russia.

Press Service of the Korean Diocese