Some 50 members of the Russian community in Phuket today (December 18) attended the first service held in the recently dedicated Russian Orthodox Church, just north of Thalang Town.
The Church of the Holy Trinity Church, built to the classic cross-shaped plan and topped with a gold onion-shaped dome, sits among rubber plantations to the southwest of Thanyapura.
Inside, the entire east wall is taken up with images of Christ and Orthodox saints set in a gold wall.
The church completed recently after some two years in construction, funded almost entirely by donations from the Russian community in Thailand.
The service was led by the representative in Thailand of the Russian Orthodox Church, Father Superior Oleg, assisted by Father Danai, the first Thai to be ordained a priest of the Russian Orthodox Church.
There are already Russian Orthodox churches in Bangkok and Pattaya, and there are plans for two more, in Ratchaburi and on Koh Samui.