Trinity Church, known in Thai as โบสถ์พระตรีเอกภาพ, is a temple of the Thai Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church located on the island of Phuket. Administratively, it belongs to the tambon Thepkasattri in the Thalang district of Phuket province, and it is the largest Orthodox church in Thailand.
Since the 1990s, Thailand has become a popular destination for tourists from the former USSR. Phuket Island ranks second in popularity among tourist routes in Thailand, second only to Pattaya. Priest Oleg (Cherepanin), who was the first to hold Orthodox services in Phuket, notes that the peak tourist season in Thailand coincides with Orthodox Christmas. In Russia, this time is a holiday, and many travel to warm places for the New Year and Christmas celebrations. For a Russian Orthodox person, Christmas is a special day, and tourists often ask hotel management to organize Orthodox services, leading hotels to contact clergy.
However, for a long time, it was not possible to officially register a parish, as foreigners in Thailand do not have rights to private property and face other restrictions. This became possible after Thai authorities registered the Orthodox community as a legal entity in the format of a public foundation called 'Orthodox Christian Church in Thailand' on June 20, 2008. On June 24, at the first meeting of the Orthodox Church Foundation Committee in Thailand, Daniil (Danai) Vanna was elected chairman.
On July 18, 2008, a meeting of more than 30 Orthodox believers took place in Phuket, where it was decided to organize a parish in the name of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity and include it in the Orthodox Church of Thailand under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate. Governing bodies of the parish were elected, and the Charter was sent for approval to Metropolitan Cyril (Gundyaev) of Smolensk and Kaliningrad.
On August 24 of the same year, representatives of the Phuket provincial administration visited the main office of the Orthodox Church Foundation in Thailand to learn about Orthodoxy and the Foundation's social activities in connection with plans to build a church in Phuket. On August 26, a meeting was held at the Representative Office of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand with representatives of the Foundation, the Russian Embassy, and other interested parties to discuss the creation of a Russian cultural center and school at the church. It was decided to continue consultations at a higher level to discuss project funding.
Subsequently, the Orthodox Church Foundation in Thailand acquired a plot of land of about 4200 square meters among rubber tree plantations thanks to donations from local believers. The construction project required approval from local authorities, which was documented in a decree from the provincial governor. On October 7, 2008, a representative of the Phuket governor personally inspected the site.
On November 10, 2008, an official meeting took place in Phuket between the chairman of the Foundation, Daniil Vanna, and the provincial leadership, during which he was presented with a written permit for the construction of the church and the use of the land for religious purposes. The document noted that the commission reviewed the plans, inspected the site, and interviewed local residents, finding no obstacles to construction. It also emphasized the absence of other Christian churches nearby. Daniil Vanna held meetings in the land and construction departments of the Phuket administration. On December 12, the Foundation was handed a certificate of ownership of the land in the Talang district land department.
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