Metropolitan Sotirios (Trambas) (1929–2022): Labours for the Orthodox Church in the Republic of Korea

The paper is dedicated to the memory of Metropolitan Sotirios (Trambas) — an outstanding figure in the history of Orthodoxy in Korea and the Head of the Orthodoх Church in Korea till 2004. The main focus of the article is made on the activities of Metropolitan Sotirios in relation with Korean cultural specifics, which influenced them, rather than on historical data (which is available on the Internet). The Metropolitan’s personal features are also represented. The material is organized in the following blocks: life and main activities of Metropolitan Sotirios: the first decades in Korea; cultural and historical background for the Orthodox mission; created traditions and main trends in Korean Orthodox Church at the moment of becoming the Metropolitan diocese; personality of Metropolitan Sotirios. The paper bases on the author’s experience of meeting and communicating with Metropolitan Sotirios in the period of 1997–2008 and with members of the community up until present, as well as on the abundant photo material in the album «100 years of Orthodoxy in Korea». Materials from the homepage of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of the Orthodox Church in Korea as well as other media sources are also used.