Metropolitan Sergiy of Singapore and Southeast Asia, Patriarchal Exarch of Southeast Asia, has arrived in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar on an archpastoral visit aimed at supporting the development of the Orthodox Christian community and advancing plans for the construction of a Russian Orthodox church in Yangon.

According to the Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia, Metropolitan Sergiy met on the day of his arrival with U Zaw Oo, Director of the Yangon Region Department for Religious Affairs under Myanmar’s Ministry of Religious Affairs. During the meeting, the two sides discussed the growth of church life in the country and the future activities of the Parish of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Myanmar’s largest city.

Following the talks, Metropolitan Sergiy visited the site allocated by Myanmar’s authorities for the construction of a new Orthodox church. At the future building site, he led a prayer service seeking blessings for the successful implementation of the project and the commencement of construction work.

After the service, participants inspected the area and reviewed practical matters related to the preparation and development of the church project. Organizers noted that the construction of an Orthodox church would represent an important step in expanding humanitarian and cultural cooperation between Russia and Myanmar, while also strengthening friendly ties between the two countries.

Among those attending the event were Dmitry Borisov, Second Secretary of the Russian Embassy in Myanmar and Head of the Consular Section, as well as clergy representatives from the Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia.

The expansion of the Orthodox presence in Myanmar has been underway for several years. In August 2025, Yangon hosted a formal ceremony marking the registration of the charter of the Parish of the Transfiguration of the Lord. The milestone followed agreements reached in February 2025 in Naypyidaw, when the Russian Orthodox Church received official authorization to conduct religious activities within Myanmar.

At the time, Metropolitan Sergiy said that the future Orthodox church in Yangon would serve not only as a prominent architectural landmark but also as a symbol of friendship between the peoples of Russia and Myanmar.