Orthodox Christian parishes across Southeast Asia are experiencing growing interest in the faith, including cases of entire families being baptized in Thailand, according to Metropolitan Sergius, head of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Southeast Asian Exarchate.

In an interview with TASS, Metropolitan Sergius said the increase in baptisms reflects a combination of social, political, and spiritual factors that have prompted many people in the region to seek greater stability and meaning in their lives.

“People in different countries across the region have faced a very real sense of fragility,” he said. “During such periods, individuals begin searching for a firm foundation for themselves and their families.”

The metropolitan noted that decisions to convert to Orthodoxy are rarely made spontaneously. Instead, they often result from years of interaction between local residents and Orthodox clergy and parish communities.

According to Sergius, growing trust in Orthodox congregations has played a significant role in attracting new believers. He pointed to Thailand as one example, where some entire families have chosen to receive baptism after long-term engagement with the Church.

A key priority for the Southeast Asian Exarchate remains the development of local clergy. Over recent years, students from the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and other countries in the region have received theological education in Russia before returning home to serve in church ministries.

“A church that relies exclusively on foreign priests is a church that remains a guest,” Sergius said. “We are building a church that lives on this land.”

The metropolitan described the cultivation of local clergy as a strategic objective for the exarchate, which was established in 2018 and today oversees Orthodox communities stretching from South Korea to Indonesia.

Addressing interfaith relations, Sergius said cooperation in Southeast Asia is based less on theological debate and more on practical efforts to help those in need. Social and charitable initiatives, he said, have helped Orthodox communities build trust with the region’s Buddhist and Muslim majorities.

Looking ahead, the exarchate plans to expand educational and outreach programs while continuing several major infrastructure projects. Among them is the ongoing development of a new Orthodox cathedral in Singapore, which church leaders view as an important center for the growing Orthodox presence in the region.

The reported increase in baptisms highlights the gradual expansion of Orthodox Christianity in Southeast Asia, where church leaders say local engagement and community-building remain central to their long-term mission.