Church of St. Philip the Apostle

Church of St. Philip the Apostle

+971 55 685 0331/+971 50 132 97 29

United Arab Emirates, Sharjah, Al Yarmook Area, Russian Orthodox Church

In the United Arab Emirates our many orthodox compatriots live and work. Full-time residence in the country with other religion and culture has the features. Many have realized only here that such Christianity and that they are orthodox Christians.

In 2007 his Highness the sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad of Al Kasemi has allocated for the Russian orthodox parish the land plot under construction of church and cultural and educational center.

Laying of future temple of the Saint apostle Philip was made by the Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad Kirill (the current Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia) in a concelebration of the prior of the Russian orthodox parish to the UAE of the abbot Alexander (Zarkeshev). The crown prince of the emirate of Sharjah sheikh Isam bin Sagr Al Kasemi has participated in a foundation stone laying ceremony in foundation of future temple his Highness.

In August, 2011 construction of the first Russian Orthodox church on Arabian Peninsula has come to the end. Now in the United Arab Emirates we have an opportunity to gather, make orthodox church services and to create the general prayer "uniform lips and uniform heart". Thanks to the help of a ktitor of the temple of Sidorenko Yury Grigoryevich and efforts of many parishioners, the temple bearing a name of the Saint vsekhvalny apostle Philip who the first of apostles preached in these parts in the first century has uplifted in the Arabian heaven on the domes orthodox crosses. Contrary to all difficulties and obstacles, on the ancient Arab earth "the icon lamp" orthodox belief burns and the orthodox prayer to the Lord our Jesus Christ sounds.

At the temple the Russian cultural and educational center has opened. Work of sunday school for children in which skilled teachers give classes in the Scripture is organized. Classes are given for younger, average and senior children's groups, and also the adult group is created.

Works in the cultural center Russian courses for the children who don't have systematic Russian training and from the mixed families. Regular trainings are given in a church art embroidery and sewing.