Ecumenical Patriarchate

Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and South East Asia

Hong Kong, March 17, 2015

Encyclical

of His Eminence Metropolitan Nektarios

of Hong Kong and South East Asia

to the Reverend Priests and Deacons,

the Monks and Nuns,

the members of the Orthodox Communities

of the Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and South East Asia

Dear Brethren in Christ

I have been informed that a certain person whose name is Silouan Thompson came to Philippines and claims that he is an Orthodox cleric.

As your Bishop and spiritual Father I wish to make known to all faithful members of the Church that the above-mentioned Silouan Thompson is not recognised by the Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and South East Asia as a canonical Orthodox clergyman. Any priestly action that he performs is not recognised as valid.

He was ordained as presbyter by a ROCOR Bishop in USA and was sent in Philippines without the Hierarchical permission of the local canonical Orthodox Bishop. This action violates the Sacred Canons.

My beloved Brethren,

Beware of all those who come to Philippines or to other places which are under the spiritual jurisdiction of the Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and South East Asia and try to do missionary work without the Hierarchical blessing of the Canonical Orthodox Metropolitan. Beware of those who come to you and preach and celebrate the Divine Liturgy without to have my written permission and blessing. Beware of those “who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but within are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15) Their purpose is to divide the Church and the Orthodox faithful as their motives are the destructive passion of the controlling spirit and the “virus” of ethnophyletism.

May the Lord Jesus Christ save you from the injuries of the adversary and keep you as a good seed for all kinds of virtues and keep you all in true faith with good works and obedience to your Canonical Bishop and to your Spiritual Mother, the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

The Metropolitan

+Metropolitan Nektarios

of Hong Kong and South East Asia