Russia can help orthodox mission in Pak by sending missionaries

Moscow: Russia can help the Christian Orthodox mission in Pakistan by sending missionaries and asking the country’s government to protect Christians from extremist attacks, Joseph Farooq, the sole priest of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) in Pakistan, told Sputnik.
“The Russians can help us by sending missionaries to Pakistan and supporting us financially. At the government level, they can speak to the Pakistani authorities and ask them to protect and help Christians in Pakistan,” Farooq said. “Our government has land, so they can provide it to the Orthodox community to build an Orthodox church there.”
ROCOR started a mission in Pakistan in 2011, and Farooq is its only priest, serving the entire country in addition to the Moscow Patriarchate clergy being present there separately as well. The mission consists of four stations in different regions of Pakistan, necessitating Farooq to travel frequently to serve the believers there.
Farooq explained that the mission needs support to build an administrative office and a bigger church, which would enable it to attract more people to worship.
The priest said in addition to his church services duties, the faithful ask him at times to help obtain birth certificates or to accompany those who are ill in hospitals or even those facing legal problems in civil court.
“I am also trying to help them if they want to find a job or get admission to the school or college,” Farooq said.
Religious services, however, remain the central element of the mission’s work and the clergy serve Vespers every Saturday evening and the Divine Liturgy on Sunday mornings as well as the holy fests, he said.
Farooq pointed out that the mission has also established a Sunday school for children and an adult center for women.
“Every evening, they learn how to write, read, they learn Orthodox prayers. They also receive some skills in embroidery and stitching,” he said, adding that the center is open to all women regardless of whether they are of other Christian denominations.
Farooq emphasized that an increasing number of people in Pakistan are deciding to become Orthodox Christians because they find true spirituality in ROCOR.
“They feel how we love the Most Holy Theotokos, how we celebrate fests, how we venerate icons. They found true worship, no mixture,” he said.
Farooq noted that Pakistan is a predominantly Islamic country, but Christianity has deep roots there and many trace its history to the preaching of the Holy Apostles.
However, Farooq acknowledged that becoming a Christian is difficult in Pakistan because people do not know the church traditions and history, and sometimes approach the church based on stereotypes.
“In general, people in Pakistan respect the Holy Orthodoxy, they love our traditions and appreciate our veneration of the holy icons and how we serve the Divine Liturgy. All these things touch their hearts,” he said.