A missionary monastery of the Russian Orthodox Church has been established in the South Korean city of Incheon, as announced by the press service of the Korean Diocese.

The monastery was organized by Archbishop Theophan of Korea and Hierodeacon Nectarius, who secured a private residence for this purpose and set up a container structure adjacent to it. They converted the container into a church dedicated to St. Anthony the Great, one of the founders of monasticism.

The inaugural liturgy at the monastery took place on the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany, attended by several Orthodox families from nearby areas.

"In our recently established diocese, we will strive to have a monastery. It is essential not only for monks but also for laypeople, for whom the monastery would serve as a guide to a more disciplined Christian life. We will practically build the monastery from scratch, relying on God's assistance, hoping that through the efforts of compassionate individuals, it will eventually become a true monastery where people will steadfastly walk the path of salvation," wrote Archbishop Theophan in the monastery's telegram channel.

The Korean Diocese was founded just over five years ago. On December 28, 2018, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church established the Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia due to significant successes in the mission of the Russian Orthodox Church in Southeast Asian countries. This mission resulted in an increase in the number of churches and communities, the emergence of local clergy, growing interest in Russian Orthodoxy, and the rise in the Russian-speaking population residing permanently or temporarily in the region. The Korean Diocese, including both North and South Korea, became part of this exarchate.

Bishop Theophan (Kim) leads the diocese, becoming the first Korean to be consecrated as an Orthodox bishop. He recently published a book on the missionary activities of the Russian Church among Koreans, delving into the historical work of the Russian Spiritual Mission in Korea, which existed from 1900 to 1949