Church at Japan’s First Orthodox Cemetery Nears Completion

MINAMI ALPS, JAPAN — A Romanian Orthodox community in Japan has installed the iconostasis and icons in a church being built at the country’s first Orthodox cemetery, bringing the nearly two-year construction project closer to completion.

Fr. Daniel Corîu, priest of the Romanian Orthodox Parish in Tokyo, announced that the iconostasis was completed and the icons, painted by Andrei Neguș in Romania, had been installed. Other furnishings and liturgical supplies have also been sourced from Romania, including a church carpet supplied by Covorexpert and liturgical objects purchased through the Colportage Service of the Archdiocese of Bucharest.

The parish has invited the faithful to gather at the new church on November 1 at 9:30 a.m. for its inaugural services, which will include the Small Blessing of Water and the Divine Liturgy.

Several finishing projects remain before the church can be formally consecrated. These include arranging the courtyard and covering the exterior foundation with stone. Fr. Daniel appealed for continued support, expressing gratitude to those who have contributed to the construction.

“We still have to arrange the courtyard and beautify the exterior of the church by cladding the foundation with stone,” he said, adding that preparations for the consecration would follow if the remaining work could be completed.

The cemetery and church were established by Romanians in Minami Alps, Yamanashi Prefecture. Those supporting the project are regarded as founders and are commemorated during the Divine Liturgy.

Previously, the UOJ reported that the wonderworking Hawaiian Iveron Icon made its historic first visit to Japan.