#14 • APRIL 2016
orthodox mission QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE ORTHODOX MISSIONARY FRATERNITY
orthodox mission
Founded in 1963 Honored by the Patriarchate of Alexandria #14 January-April 2015 (GR232) Editor: Nostis Psarras Ss. Missionaries Cyril and Methodius
IN THIS ISSUE 04 08 12 14 16 20 23 26 29 30 33 36 37 39 43
The Patriarch in Uganda Fiji Islands Indonesia Congo (DRC) - Kinshasa Ghana Cameroon Congo (DRC) - Katanga Madagascar Tanzania - Mwanza Malawi Congo Rep. & Gabon India 1st Presbyteresses' Seminar 2015 Annual Report Columns of Gratitude
You can give your love for the Orthodox Missions abroad via Paypal at paypal@ierapostoles.gr, by check or by deposit in our bank account:
ALPHA BANK • ΙΒΑΝ: GR93 0140 4050 4050 0200 2000 170 • BIC: CRBAGRAA Other bank accounts: omf.gr/ways-give/ An ofiicial receipt for your donation will be issued and mailed to you.
Authors are responsible for their own articles. Owner:
Orthodox Missionary Fraternity
6, Mackenzie King st., Hagia Sophia sq. GR546 22 THESSALONIKI
2310 279910 fax. 2310 279902
http://orthodoxmission.org.gr communications @orthodoxmission.org.gr Registered Charitable Association Aim: Moral and material support for the worldwide Eastern Orthodox Missions Spiritual founder: Archimandrite Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos Founder
: Pantelis Bayas
Great Benefactor : P. Papademetracopoulos
Board of Directors Demetrios Sotirkos Chairman
Nostis Psarras Vice chairman Angeliki Arnaouti Secretary General Charalampos Metallides Τreasurer Constantinos Metallides Secretary Assistant Evangelia Traicoudes Treasurer Assistant Maria Cazamia Member Constantinos Caracolis Member Panagiotis Anastasiades Member
The hope of life blooms from your heart!
ORTHODOX MISSIONARY FRATERNITY
Advancing the Orthodox faith since 1960 3
Patriarchal journey to Uganda On Monday 2nd November 2015, His Beatitude Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Theodore, accompanied by His Eminence Metropolitan Narcissus of Nubia, arrived in Uganda in order to carry out a Pastoral Visit to the Holy Metropolis of Kampala and All Uganda. After the customary doxology at the Holy Metropolitan Church of St. Nicholas, the Patriarch thanked everyone for the enthusiastic reception, which demonstrates the love and devotion of the local Church to the Patriarchate and its Primate, as well as the recognition of the contribution and support of the Orthodox Church to the people of Uganda. Next, His Beatitude conducted 4
a short memorial service over the graves of the memorable late Bishops Christoforos, Theodoros and all the pioneer Missionaries in the country, and met in private with the Bishops in order to discuss various pastoral issues of the Mission not only in Uganda but also in the rest of the African continent. The next day, after a long journey the Patriarch went by road to Gulu District of Northern Uganda, near the border with South Sudan. First, His Beatitude visited the Sacred Church of St. Nektarios, where the local clergy and the faithful of the area welcomed him under tropical torrential rain and after the customary thanksgiving service, all together in the church yard heard attentively the address of the Alex-
andrian Primate, who expressed his infinite interest and great concern about the problems and difficulties of the people living in this impoverished area, which is plagued by famine and drought. As a part of this visit, the Alexandrian Primate was informed of the charitable activities of the parishes in Gulu District and inspected the nearby clinic, where he was impressed by the cleanliness and the standards of the facilities, as well as St. Basil’s Sacred Church and the St. Anthony School, where the pupils sang joyfully to His Beatitude. On Wednesday 4th November, continuing the missionary journey in the rough region of Gulu District in Northern Uganda, he visited the Sacred Churches of the Life-Giving
Spring and of Archangel Gabriel as well as the adjacent school, all literally built in the jungle. In his warm address His Beatitude, sending loving words to the pupils, pointed out that they must seize this opportunity to learn, and later when they grow up, it is with gratitude that they will remember the Orthodox school that gave them this great opportunity. Later that same afternoon, after visiting the Sacred Church of St. Lawrence, His Beatitude met with the local priests and expressed his personal satisfaction as well as that of the Church for their sacrificial ministry in this border region, which has been troubled from wars and poverty. On 5th November, the Patri-
Patriarchal reception in our primary schools
5
arch went through rough roads and dense tropical vegetation to the town of Lira, second largest and most populous city in the Northern Region, and visited the parishes of St. John in Otwal, St. Athanasius in Amuaca and the Lord’s Resurrection in Ojwina. It is worth mentioning that these pastoral visits beyond etiquette, are essential to the life of these people, who live isolated in the jungle, and is the chance for them to take courage, hope and optimism. The next day, being in Kampala, the Ugandan capital, he made pastoral visits to the mission centers and parishes of the city and the outskirts. He also visited schools, clinics and orphanages of the Or6
thodox Mission, distributing gifts and blessings. Finally, he visited the newly erected Convent of St Mary of Egypt, spoke about the contribution of monasticism to Church life and performed the tonsure of a novice nun, naming her “Maria� in honor of the Venerable Mary of Egypt. On 7th November, His Beatitude visited the Lake Victoria area and the surrounding parishes and schools. Among other things, he went to the Butembe region, whose Primary School is named after the late Fr. Obadiah, the first priest of Uganda and grandfather of the current Metropolitan Jonas of Kampala. In the Busana region he conducted the Sanctification of Water Service and the foundation of the
men’s Monastery of St Paraskevi, while in his homily before the laying of the foundation stone, he thanked the Hegumen of the homonymous Monastery of Mazio at Megara, who strongly supports the efforts for the erection of the new Monastery. Finally, His Beatitude held a gathering of all the clergymen of the Holy Metropolis of Kampala at the Metropolitan Church of St Nicholas, gave them the necessary guiding advice and admonitions and warmly thanked them for their sacrificial ministry in the Vineyard of the Lord. On November 8th, the final day of the Pastoral visit to the Holy Metropolis of Kampala, the Patriarch inaugurated the Sacred
Church of St Sophia in Kampala. In this Eucharistic Assembly, His Beatitude ordained to the Diaconate the graduate of the St Athanasius Patriarchal Academy of Alexandria Fr. Patrikios, wishing him a fruitful ministry in the spiritual field of the Lord to the Glory of His Holy Name. Finally, through cheirothesia (the laying on of hands) he consecrated to the rank of Protopresbyter the Parish Priest Fr. Emmanuel, praising his excellent priestly ministry, and thanked the local Metropolitan Jonas for the excellent organization of the Patriarchal visit to Uganda and also for his continued presence by His Beatitude, despite his ill health. From the Patriarchate of Alexandria
7
FIJI ISLANDS
Missionary journey to Vanua Levu The course of events, according to the popular saying, in fact, the divine providence, led our paces to beautiful Savu-Savu in Vanua Levu, the second largest island of Fiji. This visit was originally scheduled for next month. However, a sudden big trial of our Orthodox brother Pantelis Baravilala made us leave the urgent tasks we had on Viti Levu, the first of the largest islands, and go to Savu-Savu, the natural harbor of Vanua Levu. We were accommodated in a beautiful hotel owned by our Russian Orthodox brother Pavel Savenkov, who offered us warm hospitality. The next day we took the road to Pantelis’ village. Our car made it 8
to a certain point of the trip. From there on, it was not easy, at least for me, to walk on the treacherous trail of the jungle. Pantelis with his children and his other companions of the jungle took me in their arms, like my compatriot Diagoras was once taken by his children in the stadium of Olympia, and with their help, along with my fellow travelers Archimandrite Meletios and presbyter Georgios, I managed to arrive in the village without any problem. A charming village, virtually in the midst of the jungle, where today starts, initially with wood and iron plates, the building process of a church that will be named after the great Apostle to the nations Saint
Paul, as well as our Russian brother Pavel, who will have an active role in the spiritual life of our small parish that is now “swaddled” in this part of heaven on Earth, which will virtually be a Church of the children, since most of the 40 members that it starts with are children. How could one possibly describe the spontaneity and love of these children, as well as that of the adults, for whom we have been struggling for years “until Christ be formed in them”! Dear Christian brothers, across Greece and everywhere, it is very difficult, if at all possible, to describe what happens in a mission-
ary’s heart, when after a long time he meets with his spiritual children, whom he has taught and baptized or even married, like yesterday, when we were received into their humble house by one of our first children Sophronia, her husband Sotiris and their two cute children. She was eager to do anything to please us, offering the best she could prepare, in order to welcome and serve her spiritual father and his companions. It is they who spoke of Him and his true Church, the Orthodox Church. As truly obedient children, they immediately agreed to leave their poor hut and carry its wood
HE Metropolitan Amphilochios crossing the jungle
9
and iron plates in order to build another one in Pantelis’ village, next to Saint Paul’s sacred church, which by God’s grace will be constructed there. It should also be noted that Sophronia is the first and best chanter and being more educated than the others, will turn out as a key member in the spiritual life of the new parish. The first thing that needs to be done is to have a bulldozer open way, so that the transfer of the construction materials will be possible. Mr. Paul will also help to a certain extent with his hotel machinery, as
10
he has promised. God will provide for the rest. However, our journey to Vanua Levu is not yet completed. After the Saturday Divine Liturgy, which we, perforce, conducted in Mr. Paul’s hotel court for all our Christians of the jungle to partake of the Holy Communion, we went to Labasa, the island’s capital. There was another jubilation there, in the sacred church of Ss Athanasios and Nicholas. Our dear and zealous parish priest Fr. Barnabas, of Indian descent, is constantly working for the expansion
At Saint Tabitha orphanage, Viti Levu, Fjii
of his flock. At least twenty people are looking forward to receiving the washing of regeneration in the beautiful baptistery of their church. But while the number of the faithful increases, the size of the church is “waning”. Obviously something must be done; a bigger church must be built in the yard of the existing church of Ss Nicholas and Athanasius. The decision was made under the cool shade of a mango tree, where presbytera Maria lovingly served us a simple lunch. Being fully aware of the fact that there is no money, we took
this great decision to build Apostle Barnaba’s sacred church here, as well as Apostle Paul’s in Savu Savu; these two great Apostles who together started preaching the gospel in Antioch, Cyprus and southern Asia Minor. This is the so called Missionary “madness”. Faith on the one hand and need on the other make them defy all the difficulties and dangers involved in the Mission . “We are fools for Christ’s sake”. May the Lord’s name be glorified for all these. †Amphilochios of New Zealand 11
INDONESIA
Nias: The Island of Green Nias island lies off the west shore of Sumatra, Indonesia. Ten years ago, a big tsunami came and swept away all the coastal regions and their inhabitants. More than 350,000 died then, some of whom have never been found. For years now, their families have been looking for them everywhere to no effect. Under these circumstances, the paces of the Orthodox Mission led me there, ten years ago. A simple Orthodox priest from far Australia, Fr. Nikolaos Marketos, visited the island. I went along with him. When we arrived, Fr. Nikolaos saw the catastrophe, raised his hands to the sky and asked the Lord’s blessing to do something on the devas12
tated island. Finally, he made the decision to found a school and an adjacent clinic there. Initially, there were 25 students, but gradually they were increased to 170. Subsequently, a church in honor of Saint Nikolaos was built, which was followed by another one dedicated to Saint Catherine. Finally, in 2011, with an anonymous donation through the Orthodox Missionary Fraternity, we were able to build the third church of Saints Paul and Martha to meet the needs of our faithful. We cordially thank you for this great help. Last year, His Eminence Metropolitan Constantine of Singapore ordained a deacon for the island. Besides the three islands where he
ministers, he is also the principal of our “Saint Nicholas School�. This deacon is Fr. Chariton Zega, who is newly-wed and has a little daughter. I pray to the All-Benevelont God that he will become a priest in order to minister there and conduct all the needful services. Besides this good news, we are also concerned with the development of our missionary work. Fr. Chariton lives with his family in a room of the school. Of course, it’s not the appropriate place to live in, but what can we do? Everything here in our young Mission is limited. Thus, I thought that an appropriate house should be built so that they can later live there, when the family grows. Therefore, I pray that
God will send us a warm-hearted donor to offer 25,000 euros for this purpose. Moreover, the number of students increases. This is gladsome, but also pressing, because we have no room to accommodate all these children. Hence we are planning to build at least two more classrooms. If this happens, everyone on the island will rejoice, for the children will be able to attend classes in their region. These are our updates, dear brothers. I pray that the Almighty God will enrich you with His abundant grace. Wishing in the Lord, Fr. Chrysostomos Manalu
13
Fr. Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos (1903-1972) Memorial service in Kinshasa It has been 43 years since the second Orthodox missionary of Africa, late Fr. Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos passed away in the Lord. His missionary and spiritual work in the African countries where he lived and was active (Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Congo) sprouted out deep roots into the hearts of the Africans, and has borne abundant spiritual fruit. Thousands of Africans have been baptized into Orthodoxy, many Orthodox communities have been founded, a large number of locals have become priests. The saplings of Orthodox faith that were planted by this passionate, selfless and tireless missionary have now grown bigand gone out to many countries of the African continent. Nowadays, Fr. Chrysostomos’ spiritual children feel gratitude for him, keeping him in their heart and respectfully honoring his memory. The holy duty of paying respects to Fr. Chrysostomos’ memory was also performed by His Eminence bishop Nikiphoros of Kinshasa. On Saturday, December 27, he celebrated his official memorial service at the Holy Church 14
of St. Athanasios the Athonite, in devout concentration, along with many priests and deacons of the Holy Diocese and with the participation of all the Orthodox students and many other invitees. Afterwards, at the Orthodox University hall followed the civil ceremony in his memory, in which spoke many students and priests, presenting Fr. Chrysostomos’ holy life and missionary work. Among others spoke Fr. Gerasimos from Kananga, who knew Fr. Chrysostomos in person, and had brought with him a piece of his sanctified relics. At that time, Mr. Vaios Prantzos, former president of the Orthodox Missionary Fraternity, was in Kinshasa for missionary purposes and participated in the ceremony. He gave a short address and emphasized the spiritual link that Fr. Chrysostomos had with the Fraternity as its spiritual founder. The event was closed by Metropolitan Nikiphoros, who referred to the spiritual bonds that connected him and his family with the late missionary. May his memory be eternal. From the Holy Metropolis
15
GHANA
AKOOABA! It means «Welcome» By the grace of God and with the blessings of His Beatitude Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria, on January 13 I arrived at the capital of Ghana, the seat of my new Diocese, after a long journey starting from Athens to reach the Western African shores of the Atlantic. Leaving a frozen Athens and getting off the airplane, you are received by a 33°C heat and 90% humidity and forthwith you understand that you are somewhere else. With your first contact with the people, at once you see how dignified and naturally peaceful they are, which is reflected in their eyes. They 16
love foreigners and their first word is Akooaba! Welcome! Everywhere around people working. I didn’t notice any beggars at the traffic lights, on the road junctions, anywhere. This is something I confirmed the following days. Early in the morning they rush to work, which is the reason why it is regarded as one of the most rapidly developing countries in Africa. Arriving at our mission center, where lie the seat and the Transfiguration Cathedral, I immediately perceive that I was preceded by persons who have labored there a lot so that I can find this organized mis-
sionary unit. Afterwards followed prayer and veneration at the church, a short tour of the place and my settlement in the bishop’s residence, which seemed to have been built as a clinic, not as a house to live in. My first concern was to settle in my place and adjust it to my own needs and my daily life schedule. On the second day, we planned our first moves: a clerical assembly, where my direct associates and I could meet each other, a meeting with the Orthodox youth groups and the arrangement of the enthronement. Phone calls, briefings and a lot of procedures,
residence permit, telephone contracts and some matters that had to be settled. Finally, it was an important priority for us to be informed of and prepare the annual retreat for our Orthodox communities that takes place in late January. This retreat is a four-day program, when the Orthodox from all over Ghana join in Fomena village, where there is a big lot of our Church with the Annunciation chapel on it and the place is configured much like a summer camp in Greece. There gather the Orthodox faithful of all ages to attend a program of worship, sermons, evening prayers. Each group
17
Outdoors Divine Liturgy presents a musical or dance performance. The youth, the children, everyone participates. Of course, all the priests of our diocese are present. Generally, this retreat helps to strengthen relations between the Orthodox communities around the liturgical life and the spiritual nourishment which our Church offers and which they tremendously need. I cannot hide the satisfaction and joy I felt seeing their piety, devotion and great faith. Maybe this sign we meet everywhere in Ghana is no coincidence: Gye Nyame, “nothing except for God”, which is a symbol of God’s supremacy. This unique and beautiful symbol ap18
pears all around Ghana. It is the most popular decoration denoting the deep religious character of Ghanaians. Gye Nyame, “nothing except for God.” Then I gave praise to God for the missionary work, because it has been done systematically for many years by all my predecessors, and I realized that these efforts should be continued, for they bring forth such fruits for the glory of God’s holy name. However, it is necessary to stress that though it is important to create a situation by erecting a church, a school or a clinic, it is even more important for all these
buildings to be appreciated and recognized within their durable operation, which needs constant help and support for the proper functioning of these facilities. Unfortunately, in case this support is absent, we lose what we earned by investing in the construction and we cannot operate them in the long term. Here comes the most difficult aspect: functional expenses. It is a matter that few people pay attention to, namely only the people who can see more than their eyes, who have a vision and insight and are not confined within a picture, but this picture
becomes the pretext for reflection and action. Dear members and supporters of the Orthodox Missionary Fraternity, you are people characterized by reflection and action, which is why you came to be involved with the Orthodox Missions. May our good God bless and give grace to you! I am grateful, for many times you have delivered us in your own way from problems we face in our ministry, hence I thank you. Your brother in Christ’s love †Narkissos of Accra
19
CAMEROON
An everyday tragedy In early August, during the monsoon season, my phone rang after midnight. I woke up a bit anxious and heard the familiar voice of a woman that had been working as a cook for years. Among tears and cries of despair, I understood that her daughter was somewhat ill and she was taken to the “Emergency department” at a hospital on duty… I stood up, got into the car and after a while I found myself in a maze of two merged hospitals, trying to find the “Emergency dept”… Eventually, following directions of sleeping guards and nurses, I got into a circular room with camp beds separated by folding screens, where the fifty inpatients were waiting for 20
either the attention and care on the part of the two doctors, or, some of them, for the death certificate in order to be moved to the morgue… Somewhat shocked and somewhat touched, as this situation slightly reminded me of my homeland, I found the former cook and her bedridden daughter… —What’s up? What’s happened? —We don’t know, she said. She lost her consciousness… She came round, but she cannot walk. I went to the reception and asked the nurse for more information. —“Father, if she doesn’t have lab tests, nobody can tell what’s
wrong … Pay no attention to her mother’s words… Shortly, for tests to be done, they must be paid in advance. The mother said she had no money, therefore we cannot do anything….” We talked for a while, I paid the fee, and they immediately got blood from the patient and sent the sample for analysis… I stuck around for an hour and a half. The nurse came and apathetically announced: —The patient has AIDS! She is in urgent need of blood transfusion…. Another shock! She shortly moved to her post but she turned back again… —Her blood group is not available in the blood bank of our hospital. You should look for it at another hospital, or wait until tomorrow
morning, when we may find donors willing to give blood. Only If you pay them, of course… God helped and while I was looking for someone to tell me where I should go, I came across a trainee doctor, who greeted me with a “Bless Father”. I was surprised, but he explained that he had studied in Moscow and so he figured out that I was an Orthodox cleric. I explained my problem to him and he offered toc ome with me, so that we could find the blood unit we needed… We went from hospital to hospital, waking up the guards to let us in, finding the person in charge to learn if there was a unit of this blood group… In the fourth hospital in a row, the Lord allowed us to find one! An additional delay to find the cashier didn’t look like a hardship,
21
because we had the joy of achieving our goal… At daybreak, we returned to the hospital. The transfusion started and instantly the patient opened her eyes. When she saw me, she clutched my clothes and started crying: —Don’t let me die, don’t let me… Once I get well, I will be in church everyday… Pray for me… Don’t let me die… I tried to reassure her…. But what can you say to a 20 -year-old girl when you know she has little chance of survival? I left troubled by dark thoughts and in deep pain for the reality which had unwrapped in front of me the night before. I had certainly seen tougher situations, but this one hurt me in its own way… The girl’s agony lasted for 12
22
days with constant transfusions… Then she passed away in tears and grievance… —I wanna live. Why don’t I get better? Who could possibly answer these questions? Or who would dare turn these questions of a young human being into self-criticism? I think what matters more than anything else is to hold the hand of the perishing person till the end, so that they feel they are not alone… I have wondered time and again how many people must have left and how many leave daily, just because there was nobody to pay for their medication! How small is the value of human life in the Africa of poverty and deprivation…! †Gregory of Cameroon
Mission doctors in Northern Cameroon
CONGO (DRC) - KATANGA REGION
Educational Sponsorship: Sponsoring lives Dear friends of the Mission, With this letter we would like to express our heartfelt thanks for the amount of €4,000 that you granted us in the past year 2015 for the education of indigent students coming from the Holy Metropolis of Katanga , Congo (DRC). As you know, almost every family here is large, while several of them may even have 15 children. So we all understand how much money each family needs annually to meet the costs for their children’s education, which proportionally increase from Primary to Middle School, to High School and then to University, where the cost is huge. However, despite the objective difficulties
that arise, they are all inclined towards learning and they try in every possible way to save some money for this purpose. This is why they are grateful to you for giving them the opportunity to study, to become useful citizens and not feel disadvantaged. This program of «educational sponsorships” is a God-pleasing work that not only helps each student individually, but it also generally contributes to raising the education level of our African brothers. Hence, we thank all of you who diligently offer your donations for this cause. May the Lord repay you in multiple folds. †Meletios of Katanga
If you also want to “sponsor a life”, please, visit omf.gr/educational-sponsoring/
23
Message to our conscience
I. When silence is lost from the constant beat At the entrance of consciousness, It finds watchful thinking on guard Trying to interpret the sound With great impatience ... It is the sorrowful sound of the heartbeat Of a skinny child slave to hunger. This agonizing visit from his message Urges clear logic To embrace pure feeling, Stimulating the aura of the spirit In a mission of solidarity and kindness. ΙΙ. Yet, in today’s shadowy society, As we walk in the desert of loneliness, The flags of the materialistic world Raised with pride to Infinity Are stained by dirty passions In the endless hills of arrogance. The festive demonstrations of bliss Continue to tread on tomorrow’s banks, Like the constant flow of rivers, In a downward spiral of nihilistic ravages. Indeed! How can man be sleeping On the roof of indifference, While killing the dream of spring Of the child life that is rising?
ΙΙI. For some people, there is a sedated night without a moonlight trace. For others, there’s the care of dawn kneaded with affection. May we have God’s abundant blessing, A refreshing stream in the hot sand of our sins. Νostis Psarras 24
25
MADAGASCAR
Flooding of temptations and blessings Dear friends of the Mission, rejoice in the Lord. We give glory to God for all the blessings He gives us here in the Mission field, for what He allows and what He economizes. We also thank all of you who work behind the scenes so that we can evangelize those near and afar for the glory of God and His Church and the salvation of men. It is With great joy I announce to you that the two churches you funded, the Holy Archangels and the Transfiguration of the Savior, have been completed and now we are fitting out the interior equipment. They are already in operation but there are still many things missing. In this part of the year, a considerable obstacle is the torrential rain 26
flooding the roads, which results in the locomotion being very difficult, if possible at all. Last month, I visited a church in northern Madagascar to oversee the works; during the return journey an area of 400500 acres was flooded and became inaccessible. The roads were totally and completely covered by flood water, which, like a boundless sea, rolled down rushingly drifting downstream everything in its path. Transport was stopped and, since the road was severed at several points, hundreds of cars were immobilized and the bus passengers were watching the phenomenon astonished. At some point, I decided to move and cross the road in the jeep, but I risked being carried away by
the water stream when a sea of water fell upon the car and the cabin got flooded. Rapidly and fearfully I returned back praising God, who saved us from certain death. We stayed on the road for three days until the rain had stopped and the water level had dropped from 1.20 meters that it had reached in some places to 30-40 cm, so that we could pass through the dangerous crossings. In the Mission, one can meet unexpected situations. It’s a world both familiar and unknown that hides a lot of things. Adventures are something usual in the missionary course. God’s power and the love for the dissemination of His word make us defy several difficulties
interposed in our missionary way. Conditions and appearances can be more or less disappointing. But the gospel that we read gives us strength and drives out every thought of despair, since we contemplate what sufferings both our Lord and the Apostles and other saints endured for humanity and the fellow man. We are deeply moved by people’s thirst for Orthodoxy and their love for the Church. They walk for hours to reach their church and participate in the holy services. They attend the Liturgy very carefully and finally they partake of the Holy Communion in due order, with thoughtfulness and fear of God. Their life has nothing to do
27
with ours. The financial crisis is a permanent state of affairs in this country. But this does not impede our missionary work at all. New Parishes are opened constantly and people run like thirsty deer to learn the truth. Once we say “Glory to God� that we have built churches for some parishes, suddenly new parishes are created, which also need a church. More specifically, we presently have four small villages with no church in the Toliara region. I implore you. If among you there are donors to fund these churches, I will be grateful to you. The cost for each church will amount to 30,000 euros. Moreover, the orphanage in the capital city of Antananarivo has
28
been completed and it will soon start operating. However, there are still many particulars needed. For instance, behind the orphanage, we are constructing an outbuilding to be used partly as an outdoor kitchen to cook on a wood stove for economy and partly as a laundry. It is essential that we have your help because there are always needs to be covered in the beginning. The beds for the children, the closets for their clothes, the tables and chairs, everything was made in our own carpentry shop. We understand the financial hardships people are facing and we demand nothing. We only earnestly ask for whatever possible. †Ignatios of Madagascar
Transfiguration of the Savior church, Fort Dauphin
MWANZA
Seeking your affection
Dear friends of the Mission, The Holy Diocese of Mwanza, being the most populous Orthodox missionary bishopric in Tanzania, is presently confronted with great difficulty in the implementation of the missionary work. This is a consequence of the financial crisis affecting Greece. As you know, Greece has always supported our work actively. However, its current inability to provide further support in conjunction with the poverty of our neophyte members, has led us to a deadlock. Conditions in Africa in general and in Tanzania in particular have always been an obstacle to missionary activity. Under the current circumstances, however, this work is further constricted. Not only is the prospect of expanding the missionary activity rendered unattainable,
but even the ability to retain and maintain the existing structures is rendered doubtful. With the exclusion of drilling for potable water in several villages, the social support and relief provided by our Holy Metropolis is stagnant. Our two schools operate with many shortcomings; we are unable to give out scholarships to indigent students; our village clinics have shut down; the hospital functions poorly; there is no financial aid for the orphans and the elderly. Before the great needs of our fellow people, we remain embarrassingly inactive, unable to help. Shortly, I can say that the work is being shaken. However, with our small forces we strive to endure for as long as possible‌. We earnestly covet your prayers. †Ieronymos of Mwanza 29
MALAWI
Love will never cease to exist With the blessings of our new Metropolitan John, despite the fact that we are all going through this very difficult period, we live a miracle... Indeed, true is the word of our Gospel, which assures us that love will never cease to exist! What greater proof can our soul ask for in order to verify the truth, when in the midst of such a great economic crisis, people from Greece, simple, anonymous, and poor (many of them unemployed and low-paid!) join hands together and achieve the incredible? When they manage to load a container of 25 tons, with a bunch of goods and send it to our poor and much-afflicted brothers in Malawi to share them? 30
The current period we are going through is still characterized by hunger, anxiety and uncertainty as the economic situation in the country deteriorates with successive devaluations of the kwacha, the national currency of Malawi, while abnormal weather along with an abnormal delayed onset of the rainy season show that survival will develop into a permanent state of anxiety. It is exactly in the rain that the success of any new crop depends on. The maize, which is the main crop of the Malawians, from November onwards, is planted and is waiting for the rain to grow. The richer inhabitants have reasonable suspicion that they will become
poorer and the poor that they will die of hunger! Within this uncertainty, the container arrived in the country as a gift from God! All those who attended there in the opening of the ÂŤgreat giftÂť were filled with joy, as the spectacle in front of our eyes was tons of food, tons of clothes and so much more. Flour, sugar, rice, pulses, clothes and shoes for men women and children, school supplies, church supplies and more relief items. Among the different groups that will benefit from this container, priority will be given to those who have been imprisoned. The joy of getting a bar of soap is indescribable. They are so happy when we
give them a rice pouch, which they will soak in water overnight and will be able to eat it with sugar. They enjoy it as if it were the best dessert in the world ... Unfortunately, in the women’s prison, there are always a few 2-2.5 year-old- kids accompanying their imprisoned mothers ... they are usually shy and timid. But as soon as they realize that there are toys for them, then their facial expression changes... In the parish communities, distribution is more joyful and festive. Usually after a worshiping congregation, whether with or without notice, the joy is always equally great... There one cannot tell who feels the greatest joy: the one who gives or the one who takes?
Sunday school at a strawhut church
31
Dear brothers, the distribution has already begun, and with the help of God we hope that it will soon be completed. Our joy and emotion is great, but also great is the responsibility and the effort to make a fair, impartial and well-organized distribution. Only then will we have the satisfaction that your own effort and ours were not in vain but worked. It is also a great pleasure for us to let you know that the new projects for the drilling of water-wells in the Govati and Kalimbunga regions have been completed with the help and grace of God. The gratitude of our indigenous brothers towards the donors is immense. The excitement and joy of all the natives in
32
the surrounding area for water, this great good that they have acquired through our Church, feels like a Thanksgiving prayer to our Most Merciful God, who is truly the One who inspires His own people to do such great works and noble donations where such needs exist. We pray to God to strengthen all of you that work for His glory and for the relief of our Malawian brothers, who are going through a lot of hardship! Once again, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support to us. May God bless you and sanctify you all. With Love in Christ Fr. Ermolaos from Malawi
One of the 2 new waterpumps funded by our Fraternity
CONGO REPUBLIC & GABON
From Gabon to the Congolese jungle In early February, by God’s grace we paid one more visit to Libreville, the capital of Gabon, which is the second country under the spiritual jurisdiction of our Holy Diocese. This pastoral journey started on February 2nd, when we met with the Orthodox flock of the city in order to support it spiritually. The following day, we were visited by the Interior Minister of Gabon, responsible for religious affairs as well, who granted us the official recognition of our Diocese by the Gabonese state. This development greatly delighted us, since it opens the way for a broader mobilization and for the construction of new churches. This event made headlines on the public television, which featured our Church activities and
asked us for an interview. On the same evening, at the residence of the Serbian Consul, we conducted the Divine Liturgy and preached God’s Word. The service was prayerfully attended by Gabonese, Russian, Serbian and Syrian brothers. In this gathering, we laid for veneration a fragment of the holy relics of Saint Luke of Simferopol and Crimea, which we had brought along for the blessing of the faithful. In the end, we gave out to everyone a book containing the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom translated into French. The expenditure for this publication was covered by an anonymous donation through the Orthodox Missionary Fraternity. We wholeheartedly 33
thank the donor, because with this offer our flock is given the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. When the Ambassador of Russia learned about St. Luke’s relic, he invited us to the Russian embassy, where we laid it for veneration and led a brief prayer service for the Orthodox employees of the embassy. On the morning of February 5th, we left Gabon for Impfondo, a city in northern Congo, in order to visit the indigenous faithful. Immediately, we met with the parochial church council of Saints John the Baptist and Nicholas parish, as well as with the catechumens, whom we addressed with fatherly words in 34
view of their baptism. On the following day, February 6th, we had a long cooperation with the supervising contractor of the church being erected for the parish and we were pleased to know the progress of the works. Then followed the baptism of indigenous neophytes of all ages in the Oubangui river. Addressing the newly-illumined on the river bank, I made a theological interpretation of the meaning of the Sacrament of the Holy Baptism, expressed the delight of our local Church and exhorted them to become active preachers of the gospel and paragons of virtue for their fellow men, as Orthodox citizens of their noble country. On Sunday, February 7th, we
conducted the Divine Liturgy in the rented oratory, where the Orthodox faithful temporarily gather, and we offered them a copy of the Divine Liturgy. On the same afternoon, we went to the rainforest where lives the Pygmy tribe, which has embraced the Orthodox faith. After the courteous welcome and speech of the centenarian tribal chief, the Bishop spoke in simple words about the liturgical life of the Church and the importance of our participation in it. Also, he provided them with a sufficient amount of salt for the preservation of meat, soap and matches, materials that are necessary for the hunting lifestyle of the indigenous people. Furthermore, he made the venerable chief a suppliant request for
the construction of a distinct place in the settlement, respectful of the traditional way in which they make their lodgings, so that the new parish priest of Impfondo will visit the tropical forest every month to conduct the Divine Liturgy there and minister to the senior Pygmies, who suffer from motion disabilities. The request was enthusiastically accepted by the chief, who will take care of its implementation. This weekly tour constituted a great blessing not only for our Orthodox faithful, who came closer to our Church, but also for us. We praise God that nowadays, despite the adverse conditions, He draws so many souls to faith and transforms people’s lives. †Panteleimon of Brazzaville and Gabon
Divine Liturgy at the Pygmies' village
35
INDIA
In the whirlpool of adversity, in the dew of grace Dear brothers in Christ, Rejoice in the Lord always. Let me apologize for my usual delay in answering the multiple messages of your interest, which reveal the pureness of your feelings for our Mission. I would like to inform you that during last autumn, the anticipated monsoons brought torrential rain, which is of course vital for the growth of the goods of the earth, such as rice, the staple food of India, but it always leaves scars in its wake. We try to keep our two orphanages for boys and girls functioning, 36
but this, as a human being, makes me worry about tomorrow. We pray to our Triune God, which is indeed the only hope we are left with. I want to thank the Orthodox Missionary Fraternity for its new charitable donation of 5,000 euros made in December for the needs of the orphanages. This contribution of yours came at a period of financial difficulties and really helped us out. This is why our children pray for you and send you a pure kiss from their heart. With warm thanks, gratitude and love in Christ Sister Nectaria
1st Seminar for priests’ wives in Kinshasa At the invitation of His Eminence Metropolitan Nikiforos of Kinshasa this year I found myself in Kinshasa with a specific ministry: that of presenting the first seminar for priests’ wives (presbyteresses) and direct partners of the Holy Metropolis. This opportunity was created for the priests’ wives by His Eminence, who has repeatedly honored us with his presence and blessed each and every event, despite his countless concerns, which include metropolitan, pastoral and missionary duties in Kinshasa, the church services, his engagements as a Rector of the Orthodox University, the high schools, middle and elementary schools founded and directed by
him in person, the radio station and many others. First he prepared the venue for hosting the presbyteresses, most of whom had young children or babies. The university halls of Informatics were in a state of alertness. Beds, bed sheets, cleaning stuff... Then he had food prepared and staff to provide breakfast, lunch and dinner. He gave us an excellent priest to translate from Greek into French, Fr. Kallinikos, theologian and scholar and doctoral candidate at the School of Philosophy of Thessaloniki and my good friend now Ms. Urania, important member of the Church of Kinshasa and official translator from English into the local dialect .
37
By the grace of God every morning after the Matins, on the feast days after the Divine Liturgy and every afternoon, we tried to deal with the following issues: 1. Why it was time zero for the history of mankind to start with the Son of God? 2. Why Orthodoxy alone, is what our Lord Jesus Christ left on earth, with His first coming? 3. What is our role as presbyteresses next to our husband- priest? 4. Family-prayer. 5. Is “Presbytera” a title of honor to have our hand kissed, or is it a lifelong ministry in the service of our brothers in Christ? 6. Ministries of practical nature in our parish. 7. Household economics.
38
8. Cleanliness. 9. Hierarchy and behavioral attitude towards priests, spiritual fathers and our Metropolitan. 10. Problems of each presbyteress in particular. The seminar ended with a nice meal, blessed by His Eminence, in the open space in front of St. Mark’s H. Church, in which he hosted us. It is his blessings that we invoke for the fathoming and best use of all that was said and heard. I would especially like to thank His Eminence Metropolitan Nikiforos who entrusted us with this ministry and kindly ask him to pray for its fruition. Sincerely, Chrysanthi Nicolaidou-Perissoglou Full Fraternity member
At the settlement of the handicapped that was constructed by the Orthodox Church
2015 Activity Report Fraternity office operation The office is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 5 to 8 p.m., except for Saturdays, when it is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. All cases are dealt with, while donors and friends of the Mission are eagerly served.
in the vast distances of the African continent and not only. The prelates and the other clerics who spoke at our gatherings in the year 2015 were: Metropolitans Narkissos of Accra, Nikiforos of Kinshasa, Georgios of Guinea, Makarios of Nairobi, Ignatios of Madagascar, Bishop Innocentions of Burundi and Rwanda and Fr. Chrysostomos Manalu from Indonesia. Please, note that, whenever we invite a missionary, we cover all hospitality expenses, such as travel, accommodation, meals and transport.
Church services Every second Sunday, we kept on gathering to attend the Divine Liturgy at the S.C. of Saint John the Baptist, always with the blessings of His Holiness Metropolitan Anthimos of Thessaloniki. There we all become one soul that thanks and glorifies our All Benevolent God for His abundant gifts and blessings. Fundraising and There we partake of the Cup of Life. fund management There we are mystically reborn and Our main care is to raise funds strengthened in our faith. in a way that is compliant with legal requirements and respectful to Missionary visits & hospitality donor will. An official receipt is isThe Divine Liturgy was fol- sued on the same day, approved by lowed by our gatherings, where ev- the municipality of Thessaloniki, ery month we invited at least one mailed to the donor’s address and missionary, who gave updates on recorded in our digital ledger. Exthe Mission in their place of juris- penses are also thoroughly recorddiction. Thus we all heard about the ed. All expenditures are certified tremendous difficulties they face with legal documents, invoices or
39
receipts. Our missionaries are asked to put in writing and send us their requests, which are considered at the next regular meeting by the Board of Directors, which decides by conscience, always with a sense of responsibility and fear of God. On the very next day, the decisions agreed are promptly recorded in the Minutes Book, and through e-banking the funds for the respective projects are transferred to our missionaries’ accounts. Finally, our missionaries issue and send us receipts for the money transferred, which we record in our accounting books. Unfortunately, everything was overturned on July 1st, 2015, with the enforcement of capital control measures and the prohibition of fund transfers to bank accounts outside Greece. Initially, we utilized the balance in our PayPal account, which is not restricted by the measures. Moreover, we sent written requests to the special banking committee, asking them to allow the transfer of money 40
to our Orthodox Missions because we may have an economic crisis here in Greece but in the long-suffering African continent the people are dying of hunger, thirst and diseases, as was recently the case with Ebola virus in Sierra Leone. After a long delay, we were allowed by exception to send â‚Ź 26,000 to African countries. We have already filed new transfer requests, which usually take up to 30 days to be approved. Humanitarian aid shipments In Philyron, a suburb of Thessaloniki, our Fraternity keeps a large storehouse, where various goods are gathered, in order to be loaded into containers and sent where they are needed most. This storehouse is owned by a benevolent lady, regular member of our Fraternity, who has provided free hosting to us. We greatly thank her for that . Therefore, in 2015, we sent seven containers filled chiefly with long term food, such as legumes, pasta, oil, salt, flour and sugar, clothing, shoes, office equipment and eccle-
siastical utensils. Every container of this kind weighs around 25 metric tons. Thus, in the year 2015, these “porters of love” loaded one hundred and seventy five tons. Various activities Generally speaking, during the year 2015 we made transfers of € 388,000 to missionary divisions and shipped seven containers of humanitarian aid that cost €.160,000, that is, € 548,000 in total. Respectively, in the previous year 2015 we made transfers of € 438,000 and gave € 98,000 for humanitarian aid, which totals to €. 536,000. Therefore, these amounts are totally comparable and there has been no reduction, despite the deepening financial crisis and the increasing poverty in Greece. These funds and contributions in kind were utilized for the following actions: Construction of 9 churches, soup kitchens for the poor, drilling for water in 7 villages, baptisms, clinical equipment, publication of
the New Testament in Swahili, purchase and enclosure of land lots for the erection of churches, construction of a nursery and primary school in Nigeria, educational aids et.al. Moreover, we exploited the benefits of letting an apartment, which now brings rental yields of € 430 per month. The quarterly publication of our magazine is consistently continued in 7,000 copies that are distributed for free. Every issue is translated into the English language, while all the content is also posted on the web. For all these great things that happened in the past year, we would like to thank all of you, our benevolent supporters, who offered your contribution for the Orthodox Missions; however, we should all chant a hymn of thanksgiving to the Most Merciful God, Who keeps working wonders every day and attracts to His Church souls “of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” (Rev. 5:9). Dimitrios Sotirkos President of the Board 41
Financial Statement 2015 I. CREDITS Α.
CASH AT THE BEGINNING OF FISCAL YEAR 2015
257.410,89 €
Β.
FISCAL YEAR REVENUES SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DONATIONS RENTS INTEREST ON DEPOSITS EXTRAORDINARY AND NON-OPERATING INCOME
693.291,23 €
Γ.
PREVIOUS YEARS REVENUES
Δ.
FOLLOWING YEARS REVENUES (ADVANCE PAYMENTS)
TOTAL REVENUES IN 2015
TOTAL CREDITS
623.515,67 €
68.824,31 €
897,80 €
53,45 €
3.264,80 € 515,00 €
697.071,03 €
954.481,92 €
II. DEBITS Α.
FISCAL YEAR EXPENSES STAFF WAGES AND COSTS OTHER WAGES AND COSTS OTHER SERVICES TAXES AND FEES VARIOUS EXPENSES Employees' Subsistence Expenses PR-Marketing Honorary distinctions and hospitality expenses Organization of conferences, meetings and events Missionary Expenses
Cash transfers to missionary divisions Charitable allowances In kind aid to missionary divisions Stationery & Magazine Publication Immediate consumption materials Declaration expenses Miscellaneous expenses Utility expenses Other general expenses BANKING EXPENSES EXTRAORDINARY AND NON-OPERATING EXPENSES Β.
FISCAL YEAR PURCHASES
Γ.
PREVIOUS YEARS EXPENSES TOTAL EXPENSES IN 2015
42E.
CASH AT THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 2014
TOTAL DEBITS
701.057,03 €
55.486,27 €
2.815,40 €
19.534,77 € 29.684,29 €
588.390,61 €
817,67 €
3.092,12 € 6.901,99 € 2.325,17 €
560.276,93 € 388.676,26 €
10.800,59 €
160.800,08 €
9.737,90 €
675,19 €
44,28 €
4.519,36 € 3.950,24 €
569,12 €
2.917,60 € 2.228,09 €
172,20 €
1.625,33 € 702.854,56 € 251.627,36 €
954.481,92 €
Columns of Gratitude Donations from 1.11.2015 to 31.1.2016
Donors’ names are published only in the printed edition
For God loves a cheerful giver 43
Donors’ names are published only in the printed edition
44
Donors’ names are published only in the printed edition
45
Donors’ names are published only in the printed edition
46
Donors’ names are published only in the printed edition
License
This work is distributed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license (goo.gl/Q9uqXL). On the pages noted below, similarly licensed works of the respective authors were used:
8 RodBland 16 Nils Woxholt 21 Medici con l’Africa Cuamm 26 Christophe André 33 Ricardo Cabrera Letelier 42 RebeccaVC1 44 Muhammad Ahmed 46 Steve Corey
47