Aaron Nadim Samuel told about life of the Orthodox parish in Pakistan
On December 30 th 2012, with the blessing of Illarion (Kapral), the metropolitan of East America and New York and the head-hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Overseas, the first Russian Orthodox parish was established in Sargodha, Pakistan.
On January 2013 Joseph Faruh was ordained as a priest by metropolitan Illarion and started to serve in the Archangel Michael church in Sargodha.
On December 12 th 2019 a Missionary committee of the Moscow Theological Academy hold a meeting with Aaron Nadim Samuel, Coordinator of the Orthodox Parish Youth section in Sagodha, Pakistan.
The meeting was opened by Faddey (Pryadun), Head of a Missionary Committee.
After that the Missionary Committee showed a documentary “Punjabian cross” about the first Russian Orthodox parish overseas. It was filmed in 2019 in Sargodha, state Punjab. Fr. Joseph Faruh told about establishment of the parish and features of Christian life in Pakistan. As a rule of fact believers gather at each other’s houses for the Holy Service and the Community. The parishioners described their ordinary life, told their stories about converting into Orthodox and their attitude to Russia.
After watching the film Aaron told about his life experience, faith and a parish. He was an economics and English teacher in Pakistan. Now his current dream is to become a priest. His wife is a senior nurse and using her example he described the ways to manifest Orthodox in his country:
My wife was brought in a strict Protestant family but then conversed into Orthodox. She works as a nurse. Being a highly-qualified specialist she helps in different health centers, where she establishes small committees to voluntarily help the patients. That is how both the patients and medical staff become Orthodox.
After that Aaron answered students’ questions.
At the end of the meeting hieromonk Faddey passed a linen cassock and surplice to the Missionary committee in Sargodha.
MThA Press Office
