More on the unfolding Crisis in Japan:
In Japan the number of Orthodox is about 30 thousand, according to the Moscow Patriarchate. The Japanese autonomous Church was founded in 1870 by St. Nikolai (Kasatkin), who arrived in Japan in 1861 on the mandate of the Holy Synod. It was he who translated the Holy Scriptures and liturgy books into Japanese and built the Resurrection Cathedral in Tokyo. Nikolay was canonized in 1970. That same year, the Patriarchate of Moscow recognized the autonomy of the Japanese Orthodox Church, composed of three eparchies: Kyoto and western Japan, Sendai and Tokyo and eastern Japan, it encompasses 150 parishes, two bishops and 40 priests. The primate of the Church in Japan, which falls under the canonical jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Moscow, is the Metropolitan Tokyo and all Japan Danil.
If you'd like to keep up with what is happening day by day, Fr. George Matsushima has been providing updates on the Church of Japan's Western Diocese website at www.orthodox-jp.com/westjapan.
Report and Information on Eastern Japan Diocese
Bishop Seraphim of Sendai has updated information on the parishes affected in the Eastern Diocese which were affected by the March 13th earthquake and tsunami.
“ Thanks to God, . . . The Holy Annunciation Cathedral in Sendai and Diocese office buildings were not seriously damaged. The Holy Ascention Church in Ichinoseki and the Elevation of Cross Church in Morioka are also safe, although minor damage was found. We have made contact with Fr. Michail in Morioka and Fr.Mark in Ichinoseki.”
“However, the churches located on the Sanriku coast are supposed destroyed: the Annunciation Church in Yamada, Holy Resurrection Church in Kesennuma, Holy Protection Church in Joghe-dzutusmi and St. John the Theologian church in Ishinomaki. The Diocese has not yet made contact with the parishioners of those churches. 300 members are registered in the coastal area. In addition to them, there is no information from three churches and parishes located further from the coast: Holy Transfiguration Chapel in Sanuma, Transfiguration Church in Takashimizu and Prophet Isaiah Church in Wakuya.”
