8 The report on the life and work of the Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand for 2013.
9 About the Orthodoxy life in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. An Interview with the representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand the Abbot Oleg (Cherepanin) // pravoslavie. ru 16 February 2009; Is it difficult to pray in a tropical Paradise? Talk about Thai Orthodox mission with the representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand the Archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin) // pravoslavie.ru, July 19th, 2011; Ortodoxy in Thai: Bangkok, Phuket, Samui and then everywhere. The interview with the representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand the Archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin) // pravoslavie.ru, 28 December 2012; the Archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin):” Our fundamental position is not to put any pressure and violence upon Thais” // patriarchia.ru 7 August 2013.
10 www.orthodox.or.th/index.php?content=news
11 My path to Christ // Thailand Orthodox. 2013. November.
Its objectivity is conditioned by the fact that it is based on authentic documents, and conclusions, which were conditioned exclusively by data of objective analysis.
The aim of this work is to examine the history of the Orthodox mission in Thailand in the years 1999-2014. To achieve this goal, it was necessary to solve the following research tasks:
1. To study the formation and development of the mission of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand in recent times, including:
– the history of the formation of the structure of the Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand from 1999-2014, (churches, monasteries, educational work);
– the interaction of the Representation with the state and society of Thailand.
2. To analyze trends in the modern Orthodox mission in Thailand, including:
– the mission among the Russian-speaking population;
– the mission among Thais.
The methodological basis of the work was the comparative-historical method, focused on objective completeness of the study and its critical nature, the method of historicism and the systematic approach.
We understand the historicism as the principle of studying and explaining reality, requiring consideration of objects and phenomena in the specific historical conditions of their formation and development. This requirement is based on the fact that all things and phenomena are interrelated and constantly changing. It is the principle of historicism that allows the consideration of the history of Orthodoxy in Thailand in recent times, and in its entirety, being based on the concrete historical material. . The use of a systematic approach allows us to consider the position of Orthodoxy in the Kingdom in the general religious life of the country.
