orthodox mission
Founded in 1963 Honored by the Patriarchate of Alexandria #13 October-December 2015 (GR231) Editor: Nostis Psarras Ss. Missionaries Cyril and Methodius
In this issue 04 07 08 12 15 20 26 28 31 35 40 42 43 44 45
Indonesia India Kenya Congo (DRC) Guinea Cameroon Nigeria (Benin) Madagascar Congo Brazzaville Our little birds perish Malawi: The fertile field Michael Vrettos Andriana Vladimirou Love is not afraid, it dares Columns of Gratitude
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Authors are responsible for their own articles. Owner:
Orthodox Missionary Fraternity
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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
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
We pray that the grace of our new-born Christ covers you and the nations in the new year 2016 3
INDONESIA
The Orthodox Theological School The Saint Paul Theological School in Medan, North Sumatra, was founded in 2005. Our aim was, through this School, to spread the light of Orthodoxy, because without the necessary means, it is difficult for us to preach faith in Indonesia. This is why the School of Theology was the basis for the further dissemination of the Orthodox faith. The School has been accredited by the Government of Indonesia as a Higher Education School. Students have to attend classes for four years. Since the establishment of the School, 1002 students have graduated. These graduates are currently working in various sectors, such as teachers, civil servants, 4
university professors. Not all of the students are Orthodox; some are Roman Catholic, but most of them are Protestants. It is not uncommon for some students to decide to become Orthodox at some point during their studies. Our current students are about 250. In the beginning, the only members of the teaching staff were Father Chrysostomos Manalu and Presbytera Elizabeth. Now the Orthodox professors are 5. The contribution of this School is immense. Firstly, it educates young people who prepare to become teachers committed to cultivating a better world. So, prospective teachers have already been in contact with the Orthodox faith and have come to
appreciate its beauty and richness, which is something they will pass to the young children as well. Secondly, to us, the Orthodox Christians of Indonesia, it has already offered three fine young men who recently entered the priesthood: Fr. Theodosius, Fr. Luke and Fr. Chariton. The fact that the Theological School continues its operation uninterrupted is only due to God’s blessing. The professors here do not get salaries. Of course, we receive a small amount of money as tuition fees from the students, but this is used for covering the salaries of the School staff, which consists of 6 people. As for us, that is, the professors, we offer our services free
of charge because the School has no revenues to cover these costs. So far, we have had no support either from our Metropolis or from our parishes. Therefore, it is difficult for me to describe how the School is still in operation. It is a continuous miracle. With God’s help ten years have already been completed since its establishment. Over a thousand students have graduated. Our School has begun to offer postgraduate programs, and recently even doctoral degrees. Glory be to God! This is why we ask for your prayers so that we can continue this work with enthusiasm and eagerness in the name of Jesus Christ. Fr. Chrysostomos Manalu
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Cultivating the earth and spreading the Word
In Sumatra, Indonesia, the Orthodox Mission began in 1998. Over the years we have established churches, schools, a Theological Seminary and a small hospital. Year after year, the work done here grows. With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Constantine of Singapore, in 2014 we ordained two presbyters and a deacon to serve the Orthodox parish communities in our region. Specifically, Fr. Chariton will minister on the island of Nias, Fr. Luke in Sumbul and Fr. Theodosius in Medan. These clerics do not get a priest salary. Their teaching and preaching engagements usually last until noon, but they have their afternoon free so as to be able to work in other jobs too. Therefore, in order to help them meet the cost of their daily necessities, I am planning to buy
each clergyman a small field so that they can plant some vegetables. Such fields, about 2 acres each, are large enough to bear harvestable fruit four times a year, so I hope that if they spend their afternoons there, they will be able to meet their expenses. Each field costs 6,000 euro, plus 1,500 euro for the first sowing. I am fully aware of the fact that this amount of money is a considerable one, but I would like to assure you that it will solve the problem of survival for our clerics. Therefore, they will be able to devote more time to missionary work. This is why we appeal to anyone who can help us by offering their contribution, which will conduce to the survival of the Orthodox clergy of Sumatra. Please pray for the above issue, and may our Lord bestow His blessings upon you in abundance. Fr. Chrysostomos Manalu
Expression of gratitude I would like to express my heartfelt thanks for your kindness to invite me to Greece as well as for my spiritual visit to your country, which was, indeed, a great blessing for me personally. I am grateful for the hospitality you showed me throughout my stay there. It felt as if I were a member of your large family. Through your prayers, we will continue our missionary work here in Indonesia for the glory of our Triune God. Fr. Chrysostomos Manalu 6
INDIA
Love knows no barriers Dear Mr. President, beloved brother in Christ, The Holy Cross of our Lord is our strength and our protection Last night, we had a vigil at the Sacred Church of the orphanage for the great feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, as the children have school today and also our parishioners are working. The church was filled with faithful, but there was perfect silence throughout the service. The atmosphere was beautiful, solemn and full of reverence. I feel deeply touched by your love that overcomes obstacles and always finds ways of expression and support. Your recent donation of 4.100 US $, which you sent to us via PayPal, is the first unexpected
donation from Greece after the bank closure. I remember that the Orthodox Missionary Fraternity was a pioneer in providing financial help to late missionary Fr. Athanasios Anthides in his struggle to lay the foundation of Orthodoxy in India. Thanks to your help and the support of relevant organizations abroad, we manage to survive. The grace of God has never abandoned us because we are struggling here, in the slums of Calcutta, ministering to the poorest of the poor and giving love of Christ to our forgotten brothers. May God’s blessing shield your Fraternity as well as your merciful donors. Sister Nectaria Paradisis 7
KENYA
The Gift of Compassion Dear brothers in Christ, co-workers s in the mission of the evangelization of the African tribes, Now that I am writing to give you a brief account of the experiences I have had in recent months while travelling all around Kenya, I think to myself and I thank God that after thirty-five years of ministry, I can still work and feel I have untiring strength, both spiritual and physical, despite not resting adequately. The presence of God is something given and apparent. First, I would like to thank the Orthodox Missionary Fraternity, which, all these years has been supporting us and giving us material as well as moral assistance, thus en8
abling us in the end to fulfill, as far as possible, our missionary work, despite the fact that the needs here are countless and we cannot always respond or help our brothers in Kenya, who earnestly and deeply love Christ and Orthodoxy. Indeed, your recent donation of € 13.100 came just at the right moment, when we were in immediate need for support and assistance in all fields. Kenya is the largest missionary Diocese of the Patriarchate of Alexandria in the vast African continent. It is really hard to decide what to do first. The good news is that our major projects, such as our Patriarchal Ecclesiastical School «Archbishop Makarios III», our
Teachers’ College, our clinics, our primary and secondary schools, our orphanages, are all functioning properly. Naturally, due to the ongoing global financial crisis, the donations covering the feeding program costs in our primary schools with 20 euro per month have dwindled. We could never even imagine that these programs would have to be discontinued someday, which, unfortunately, is a fearful possibility. Those children, especially in remote areas, were so much benefited that, despite all the other difficulties, they performed better in the exam results when compared with other famous large city schools.
When one is not present to see with one’s own eyes, one cannot imagine the extent of the people’s misery, hunger, deprivation. Only God, through His continuous, vigilant, invisible and loving care, can comfort, strengthen and support the painful man, one who “has no place to lay his head”. I have been traveling for days, nights, months, years, and I can make out in the life of these people the beauty of their soul and their faith and hope in the Lord. Yes, indeed, there is suffering, there is contempt and pain. The further in hinterland one is, the more one discovers the purity of the people’s souls. One would expect to meet withered, dismal, sad-looking
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people. Instead, one sees something completely unexpected and becomes a partaker of another experience, so much different from ours, when we are confronted with similar situations. A pleasant, genuine and unfeigned smile! Those little faces shine, the expression on their faces gives the feeling of eternal bliss and peace. Where you would expect to give a smile and hope, instead, you take all this yourself and fill your soul with unspeakable bliss and serenity. One lady who is completely illiterate sent me the following note along with her mite. I am conveying her message unchanged: Bles for the HolyEaster. Pleaze, Your Eminence, give this mony to get food for the Cherch orfans. Thenk you!� 10
How is it possible not to get touched and not thank God, since there are still people on our planet who have these gifts of sympathy and compassion for our unfortunate, long-suffering brothers in Africa! It is a cry that really shakes the souls of all. They reach out their bony hands, pleading, and knocking on the door of our soul to feel that we are beside them, close to them, beloved and united brothers, not divided or estranged, but with them, companions in their uphill road. My beloved brothers, You have already completed more than fifty years of service and ministry to the four corners of the earth. We have been traveling on the same road along with you, since, from the beginning, the flame to
serve this blessed land lit in us under the inspired guidance of the pioneer missionary Fr. Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos, with whom, although we had not met in person, we developed, a strong and fruitful correspondence, which, in turn, was a milestone in our lives and the main reason for our taking important and new decisions. The blessed land of Africa ultimately received us despite all our weaknesses and finally won us. Thank you for your valuable contribution and support all these years. May the Lord give you more inner strength and faith to complete the objectives of your mission. Thus we turn our attention to
our fellow man in order to be able to meet the standards of love offered by Christ Himself to all people. Our thoughts are with Christ first but also with our neighbor. So we become partakers and partners in the way and presence of God within people’s lives. Through this love, one discovers the genuine and real truth of the Gospel, which Christ ultimately reveals to us by means of selfless giving and ministry. This is why we owe Him eternal gratitude because He became human in order to familiarize us all with the divine and timeless unique exaltation of man. With most ardent prayers, Makarios of Kenya
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CONGO (DRC)
“The Voice of Orthodoxy” The Voice of Orthodoxy is broadcast every morning reaching houses, huts, villages and the surrounding cities of the natives. It is the daily catechesis conducted here in the heart of Africa, in the Orthodox diocese of Central Africa by “Saint Athanasios the Athonite” Orthodox University. Here, in Kinshasa, the capital of Congo (DRC). The Voice of Orthodoxy is the hymns, the lives of the saints, the catechesis, the interpretation of the daily gospel readings, it is the homilies of the Holy Fathers of the Church, it is the message of Orthodoxy. For four hours in the morning and four in the evening the “Voice of Orthodoxy” travels
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through radio waves and reaches, not only ten, twenty or a hundred people, but everybody tuning their radio to 94.1 MHz. Where the priest cannot go, where the catechist cannot enter, in houses of people of any religion, enters the Voice of Orthodoxy and there miracles can happen. Our phone often rings. —I can hear you through the radio, I have learnt about you through it. What should I do to become an Orthodox Christian? —We are 200 kilometers away from Kinshasa. We have not got any church here, neither a priest, nor a catechist. We listen to the Orthodox radio station every day. We get
to know how we can be saved, we chant along what we hear. What beautiful hymns! —I visited my friend in Kinshasa. He was listening to your broadcast, the “Voice of Orthodoxy”. “My soul found refuge”, he said, “I learnt things I didn’t know, I realized what the truth is; something spoke inside me. I got jealous of him. During my stay there, we would listen to the broadcast together. Soon I will be leaving for my village, which is 600 km away from here. How can we receive your signal there? Make such a radio station for us, too. —I am an Orthodox Christian. A priest comes here regularly and conducts the liturgy for us. Every
morning and evening the catechist gathers the faithful at our grass hutchurch to chant.I am in bed, I cannot go to church, but I listen to our Church’s radio station and rejoice, forget my loneliness and my disability and praise God. —I became an Orthodox Christian by listening to your station, and I now say to my friends: listen to the “Voice of Orthodoxy” and your life will change. The catechesis going everywhere, the Church entering every Orthodox or non-Orthodox home, the “Voice of Orthodoxy”. Butalas! This voice of Orthodoxy is running the risk of not sending its message anymore, of
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being silenced. Not because it has no other words of God to send to the people, nor because it hasn’t got vibrant and self-sacrificing people to operate the station. But because it has not got the money to buy oil and feed the electro generator, so that the radio station machinery can work. The financial crisis in Europe has also brought financial difficulties to the Mission. We understand. Who can help us from Europe, when they can hardly make a living? All of us here reach out our hands and wait for contributions from benevolent people in order to cope with the missionary expenses, continue operating our schools, help those who have nothing to
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eat, take them to the doctor, pay for their medications, make it possible for them to study and get married. We are doing our best to scrimp and save every little bit we can, counting every single penny, every single franc. But it hurts! Should we allow the “Voice of Orthodoxy” to get silenced, our diocesan radio station to shut down, just because we have no money to buy oil for the generator? We appeal to God every day for donors and sponsors to be sent forth, so that the “Voice of Orthodoxy” will keep entering into the homes of the natives and permeating their hearts. †Nikiforos of Central Africa
GUINEA
Missionary journey to West Africa (Part ΙΙ) Arrival in Guinea The departure procedures of the country were far simpler. So were those of arrival in Guinea. Testing for Ebola was simpler and without special precautions. The traffic though was chaotic. With so many people around, how was it possible to control the epidemic? Of course in every public space, hotel, restaurant, civil services, embassies, mobile telephone offices, there was temperature screening. The limit was up to 37.9. If your temperature was higher, no entry was allowed and the competent services could be informed. However, I did not happen to see any incident myself. Particularly in small towns I did not
notice any special concern. In the capital there were several Ebolarelated road posters, but in small towns people showed that they had overcome it. The truth is that after living with the epidemic for so many months, it had become a part of their life and ceased to worry them. Some argue that the Ebola has been eliminated, but the international organizations continue to talk about Ebola in order to raise funds. Others wonder why the US was involved in the fight against Ebola only in Liberia and not in the other countries. The bottom line is that Ebola is there. Whether it came from Congo or was created in a laboratory, the people are dying. 15
The strange thing about this epidemic is that the virus does not die along with the victim. It remains alive in the dead body and is waiting for the first living organism that will approach in order to infect it. That is why most victims were infected while attending funerals. Kindia Located in Shinto, the first major city after the capital Conakry, in the Greek block (6,500 sq m) in the beautiful tropical African landscape, further beautified by palms, mangoes and children’s smiles, the Sacred Church of Saints Parthenius and Charalambos is under construction along with the Orthodox Academy. The church will soon be ready. We performed the Little Blessing service and then chanted the Salutations to the Virgin Mary. We also made a supplication to God because despite the big economic crisis, with the help of a pious couple from Trimiklini (a village in the Limassol district of Cyprus) and the Orthodox Missionary Fraternity, the work progressed very fast. Then we visited the Academy. There more work is needed. We made some operational changes in the plans. In this project we have the support of the Pancyprian Missionary Association "Saint Cosmas the Aetolian� on the 'initiative of our beloved Protopresbyter Michael Christodoulides, recently awarded by 16
our Patriarch the Cross of St. Mark as a gift in return for his great love for ministry in Africa. Our Academy will initially have three classrooms, a library, a staff room and a computer room. Ebola With the assistance of the Administration of the National Bank of Greece and the initiative of the former Managing Director Alexander Tourkolias, who showed great sensibility to the risk of the epidemic and responded immediately, we visited local schools and handed out antiseptics, soaps and mobile water containers for washing children's hands upon arrival and departure from school. Humanitarian Aid Distribution The family-run Tzinieris enterprise From Nafplion, Greece, offered us parcels of clothing, which we distributed to schools and poor families. It is the second time that this pious family has offered clothes for our Mission, which is really very moving. As long as we have kind people who support us, we take strength and courage to continue our struggle for the glory of the Lord. Traditional Wedding I also had the opportunity to attend a traditional wedding. Preparations began early in the morning. All the women gathered in the courtyard of the groom's house and were preparing the food. Some 17
were peeling potatoes, others were frying them in a large pot, others were cleaning vegetables, others were preparing rice, others meat. All together as a family were helping to prepare everything properly. The men were helping the groom get adorned, some were preparing the music for the feast, while others were greeting and welcoming guests. Some women would stop the food preparation for a while to dance themselves. Generally, the atmosphere was very nice and cheerful. Water well drilling Since we have our own commitments as well, we left the fun of marriage and went to the place where the workers were struggling with the limited means they had at their disposal in order to open a 18
well, so that the local people could have access to clean drinking water. This well was another gift of love from the "Orthodox Missionary Fraternity." Safe drinking water is extremely valuable, particularly in Africa, where women and children are forced to walk 5 and 10 km, twice a day, to carry relatively clean water to their home for the family's needs. Divine Liturgy In the capital Conakry and on private property granted by Orthodox Ukrainians, I officiated the Divine Liturgy. Before the liturgy several people asked to confess. I was particularly touched when a 50- year- old Ukrainian came for confession, who said he had never confessed in his whole life and that he had not been to church or received Holy Communion for 18
years! “Who is so great a God as our the airport I would pass through the holy inquisition before boarding God?”! the plane, and in case I had low grade fever, I feared they might Searching for land in Conakry Along with the devout put me in quarantine. I followed Ukrainians who do business in the instructions of the physician Guinea, we visited districts of the from Athens health inspection capital Conakry to find suitable department that I visited before land for the construction of the my departure from Greece and got Church. Some were pretty good, some antipyretic tablets (depon). but the prices were unreachable. Fortunately everything went well. Nevertheless, we are confident that I passed through all 5 controls the good Lord will pave the way and successfully. After Morocco no one seemed to care about Ebola. It soon the right place will be found. was now past. I hope God grants elimination of the deadly epidemic Departure The time of return had finally in West Africa as soon as possible come. A little virus caused a slight so that Ebola becomes past for our increase in my temperature. I was fellow humans there. † George of Guinea worried because upon departure at
Disinfectant fluid against Ebola in Guinea
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CAMEROON
Flowers of altruism out of the field of Cameroon «When times are adverse, it is an honor to fly all alone, all alone» Chainides Dear brothers in Christ, rejoice in the Lord always, It is a fact that the difficulties which our homeland has been going through during the last years have had a serious impact on several areas of the apostolic work – as it has come to be expressed in the vineyard of Africa over the past 60 years. However, despite all the hardships, we can say that we continue walking by the grace of God, our living Lord, who walks by our side daily through our difficulties and “by many proofs” blesses and
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transforms our little efforts and our mumble into a fruitful and plentiful seed. With the “holy contributions” of our brothers from every corner of the world, we try to comfort the needs of our African brothers, especially those belonging to «vulnerable groups”, such as the disabled, who often, due to lack of care and a basic means of transport, they cannot participate in social life with the same rights as the able-bodied ones. Moreover, in Africa, apart from the marginalized position they have in the society,
surviving through begging in deplorable conditions, they also go through a lot of suffering due to social bias and unimaginable superstitions, all of which results in making even the simplest daily tasks far more difficult for them, as if their daily toil was not enough. In cooperation with the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), the official charitable agency of the Orthodox churches in the U.S.A., we received a number of wheelchairs and various other aids for the disabled, which we sent to the Ministry of Education of Cameroon for mobility-impaired
students, and which unfortunately due to the absence of budget provision for their distribution to the schools of the country, mostly remained in warehouses. Starting with people we met on the streets and relying on information which we gathered, we were able to distribute almost all of what we had received. May the excitement, gratitude and wishes of the recipients be an eternal testimony and prayer before God’s throne for those who variously contributed to this effort. Another donation for the repose of a departed brother was
Pedal chairs for the Cameroonian disabled
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used in part for the support of the disabled people’s families and for the purchase of food supplies for orphaned children’s homes. Many times, it is difficult to describe such situations… Nevertheless, we will describe an incident, so that you can better understand what we mentioned on the difficulties of the disabled, who ceaselessly cry before us “I have no man” (John 5:7). Once it became known that the Orthodox Church was giving out financial aid to disabled people, one day, when we had already finished with those gathered, we saw a handicapped
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running towards us in a wheelchair, pushed by a big sweaty man… We thought he would be a relative of his, but when he approached, we realized that the man pushing was blind! Together they had crossed a huge distance through the heavy traffic of the busy streets. The disabled man was guiding his blind brother, hoping in the mercy of God, which in that case was the small aid of our Church… With the contribution, sensibility and understanding of Saint Ecumenius Missionary Association, we bought five motorcycles for five priests, each of
whom ministers to more than two parishes, in order to reduce their travel expenses and enable our remote communities to be served regularly and not infrequently due to transport difficulties of the priest in charge. Acts of altruism and charity are secret according to the command “let not your left hand know what your right hand does” (Matthew 6:3) and they are not kind of ecclesiastical news, because they are inseparably woven into the life and nature of the Church. They are, however, occasionally published as a testimony of love, as flowers of
altruism, for the “subtle thought” of our weak brothers “that the ministry be not blamed” (II Cor. 6:3). Nevertheless, they are also testimonies of those, who in adverse times and in the face of those that out of poor ecclesiastical education and nonexistent faith, in covert deeds and words, consider the cause of the apostolic work “failed” or “unnecessary” and shamelessly vilify it, continue to “guard a Thermopylae never betraying what is right…” May the love of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, brethren. † Gregory of Cameroon
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An Orthodox school for the Pygmies of the Congo
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NIGERIA
Making our way to the Church of Benin In early September, by the grace of God, we paid a pastoral visit to the Republic of Benin. Arriving in Cotonou, the largest city of the country, we met with the local priests and discussed the various issues of the parishes and particularly the ever-surging challenges they encounter due to several Pentecostal- Charismatic movements that are rapidly growing in this country. The next day and after a 4-hour trip, we arrived in the town of Abomey, which was the capital of the historic kingdom of Dahomey for centuries. There the French colonialists faced stiff resistance until they arrested, exiled and killed the ruler of the region.. In this city there used to be an orthodox sacred church dedicated 26
to the Nativity of Christ and to St. Moses the Black. The priest Fr. Moses, married clergyman and professor of History in a local college, worked with great patience and prayer for the creation of small parish communities in neighboring villages. Noteworthy is the enthusiastic participation of a sufficient number of educated young people who thirst for deeper acquaintance with the Orthodox spirituality and for the incorporation of the Orthodox tradition into the local culture. That is to say, they long for the embodiment of the Gospel at the historic moment, in the here and now, which is the aim of genuine Church Mission. On Saturday, 5th September in this very church we conducted the funeral service of the Mother of Fr.
Timothy, Vicar of Benin, with the participation of all clergy and large groups of faithful, who filled both church and courtyard. Particularly important was the presence of many academics, as Fr. Timothy himself is a professor of Law at the University of Cotonou. The next day, which was a Sunday, we made our way to the small parish community of the Nativity of the Theotokos and of St Porphyrios of Gaza. We prayed along with the little flock of the region and discussed at length issues on faith. What we considered very important was the narration of their own experiences regarding the presence of God in their lives. Among the various accounts, we heard attentively and with a lot of admiration the testimonies concerning the miraculous presence of Saints Spyridon and Porphyrios
in many cases of infertility. One of them was the amazing testimony of a mother about the treatment of her daughter, who had been handicapped for 7 years, through the intercession of the Holy Saint! This incident led the powerful men of the region, most of whom are pagans, to the eviction of this small parish community from their village, as once Jesus was expelled from the country of the Gadarenes. Now our community has found hospitality in the neighboring village. The next day, we took our way back home filled with experiences and strength, glorifying the name of the Triune God and praying for the continuation of His blessings upon the efforts of His laborers, clergy and laity in the beautiful country of Benin. †Alexander of Nigeria
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MADAGASCAR
Fishing for souls Dear friends of the Mission, Rejoice in the Lord! I contact you with a lot of joy, firstly to thank you for your ceaseless support to our humble missionary ministry, and secondly to let you know of the progress of the two churches whose funding you have overtaken. The construction work for the first church in Diego, Saint Archangels, is nearing the end and the church may be rendered operational by Christmas. As I have mentioned many times, here in this country, all types of work are done by hand, with primitive means and many obstacles, which usually 28
delay their completion. Moreover, adverse weather conditions, such as heavy rains, oftentimes hinder continuous work. The second church of the Transfiguration of the Savior, smaller than the former, has already been completed and awaits its opening. Due to the long distance, it was impossible for me to send you photos of the churches. I hope that I will soon be able to respond to this request of yours. We praise God and thank our donors for this blessing that amidst the crisis, new churches are constructed for the glory of the Triune God and the salvation of mankind. Our struggle continues
in every aspect and, despite the great difficulties, many people come into Orthodoxy every day and after the due catechesis, they are led to the first sacrament of our Church, baptism. This year, we have conducted many group baptisms in a river. Furthermore, with the blessings of our venerable prelate, Pope and Patriarch Theodore, some graduates of our Seminary were ordained into the first rank of priesthood (i.e they became deacons) and some others into the second one (that of the presbyter), thus covering some of the many vacancies in our parishes.
The Seminary operates normally with new and old students. We keep on visiting villages for catechizing, conduction of holy services, reviewing projects and, most importantly, communicating with people, something they greatly need. People are thirsty for hearing the words of God as well as for learning more about God and our Orthodox faith in general. What impresses me the most is that they regularly attend the holy services sparing no labors, walking through long trails barefoot under the hot sun. The charity work also goes on,
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though not as intensively as in the past. Some activities have been halted due to the ongoing financial crisis. New institutions will start operating very soon, since they were inaugurated during our Patriarch’s visit. Such buildings are the orphanage, the new wing of the hospital, the University and some churches. We give glory to God and thank people for the blessings they gave us. If possible, I would also like to ask you to consider helping us in purchasing the interior equipment for two new sacred churches, the one of Saint Archangels–so that it can operate this Nativity period, as
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well as that of Transfiguration. Moreover, the equipment of the orphanage wing that was constructed with funds by an anonymous lady from Thessaloniki through your Fraternity, will cost ca. 15,000 euros. Last but not least, I would be grateful if you could schedule the shipment of a new container with useful goods we highly need, such as food supplies, secondhand household appliances and stationery for students. In this way, you will substantially help our work, as you have already done in the past. Thank you for everything. May God be with you. †Ignatios of Madagascar
Saint Archangels' church, a project of our Fraternity
REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
Look down from heaven and behold... On October 26, the Church of Christ celebrated the memory of the Holy and Glorious Great Martyr Demetrius the Myrrh-gusher, also feast of our Diocese Cathedral. What does this celebration mean for the local Church of the Congo? From the early years of Christianity, the Holy See of the Bishop was that place in which the sacred church where the spiritual shepherd officiated was located. Alongside this there has always been the holy baptistery, indicating an unbroken unity between the place where the Eucharist was celebrated by the Bishop and the celebration of the sacrament of Baptism. Then only he had the right to perform the baptism as a guarantor of good
faith, which is why the baptistery was always located in the See: the Bishop was witness to the Unity of the Church, in charge of this sacred and unshakeable duty. He walked, taught and lit the darkness of heresy, namely the removal, decomposition, fragmentation of the seamless tunic of Christ, a work of the devil himself. Once, a monk, using an expression of old times said that the Sakkos (dalmatic) carries bells to “scare the heretics away.Âť Look down from heaven, oh Lord: here, in Central Africa, CongoBrazzaville, we are experiencing the same truths that the Church has lived since the Redeemer spilled His blood. Indeed, this 31
place experiences early Christian times! We work in a land that was once scraping along– is it still? - in search of a god who works within the frames of a grim compatibility, a give and take relationship. The greatest difficulty in spreading the Gospel lies in the teaching of the Word that gives priority to the freedom and sacred uniqueness of the person. This is so because our African brothers, like the gentiles of the time, coexisted -and perhaps they partly coexist- with a religiosity blended with superstition and through it with slavery. Our brothers undergo an involuntary martyrdom every day in the places they serve, as well as thousands of other practices that seem to be incomprehensible to us; after all, we ourselves, despite having been Christianized centuries ago, have, indeed, compromised with our own
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attitudes, whether these are right or not. We come to this land in order to speak to our brothers about Jesus Christ, the One and Only Truth, which affects slavery. Unfortunately, a deep-rooted feeling of fear creeps into their collective unconscious. Fear dating back to older times, a fear of the leader, the magician, the exorcist, the strong warriors, the strictly graded racial hierarchy, the settler-oppressor. A fear which depended primarily on the provision of food and grew through the systematic concealment of education and knowledge. Before the arrival of the colonizers at the richest continent in the world, Africa, when traditional structures and values were being monopolized, it was these groups managing the land, water and food, there was collective education, racial
awareness and tribal knowledge, while religiosity, wherever it turned within the darkness of superstition, was part of their existence. Then came the westerners, who along with the other ills, stretched over a Christianity «enriched» with their ruthless pursuits, clergically developed, based on divine wrath which always lurks .. And then it was our turn. We came here, materially poor but spiritually rich by preserving the unfaked, genuine character of the holy Gospel, listening to the voice of the indigenous people. That is how Orthodoxy reached these places. We live experiences dating back to apostolic times in places where fear is the sole ruler. The hymns sung on St. Demetrius feast day, evoke precisely this absence of fear that the
Martyr of Christ had. His answers to the questions in the court of the compromised. The judges of the martyrs, lovers of absolute nothing. Those who condemned, persecuted, killed Christians are no longer remembered. . Oblivion has swallowed them, since their memory and heart refused to see the Truth. By contrast, on his feast day from the cloud of martyrs emerges the young Great Martyr Demetrius: «Martyr of Christ, come forth», sung in French, and the Martyr of Christ can hear our call. For us, the Orthodox Christians in Congo-Brazzaville, the altar of the Cathedral became the plate of his tomb -like the early Christian Holy Altars- which was shed with myrrh, fruit of the grace of his martyrdom. And it is over this tomb that the Bishop of the local Church 33
officiates, confessing the unity of Faith with heavenly Orthodoxy. In places where dissonance prevails, which in any way infringes on the intellectual freedom of our brothers living here, with profound religious, social and cultural roots, comes the holy candle of Orthodoxy in order to shine and take away the fear of death. Everyone’s ultimate fear is death and the defeat of fears is magnified in the Resurrection of Christ. A Resurrection experienced by the enlightened children of His Church, joined in its Body. Without this unity, the Church is not accounted for Church. A Church that was shed with the blood of Christ, of the martyrs, of Demetrius the myrrh-gusher, the Saint from Thessalonica that advocates for
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Peace and Unity in the distant from the place of his martyrdom Church of the African equator, which has recourse to him as its protector and intercessor to the Triune God. It is this Church, oh Lord, that we ask you to “look down from heaven and see”. «Visit the newlysprung vineyard. Protect your children, who now know Your Road to walk properly. Safeguard the Unity of the Church through the link of faith and peace. Enlighten people so that they can understand that love to Your Church primarily means love for its Unity. Grant spiritual strength to Your new children, our Church, and «take care of it, which Thy right hand hath planted.» †Panteleimon of Brazzaville and Gabon
Classroom in the jungle
Our little birds perish singing Many times you think that you’re alone at last and that it’s time for you to rest. So, you sit down to relax, but you realize that a new temptation comes up besides the previous ones. An incessant daily whirlwind, a secret war amidst an unabated struggle that comes to fill the story of life, which probably has to be repeated, lest we should forget that we are nothing without God’s strength and grace. I am at the house of a a very good friend, a bus driver, a Catholic till yesterday, now a very faithful catechumen. The best catechumen I have seen here. We are sitting together and discussing the progress of the new parish in his city, Sakaraha. Just like my good
brother envisages it. When you walk on the missionary path, you come across many unknown people. However, an invisible connection always brightens every encounter and, although you know nobody, in your heart starts a relationship more significant than that of brothers in the flesh, a spiritual bond, which leads you through a one-way road to sacrifice and makes you give your whole existence for the completion of the ultimate goal. Not because you want it, or you deserve to become an agent of the miracle of salvation, but simply because this is God’s will. The conversation has been going on for hours and once 35
more, the night finds me close to the people I love, hearing their grievance; a grievance that sounds like a monologue, like a monotonous wail heard daily in this land out of eveyone’s mouth, from the younger to the older. —Here we have bad news, father. With a lot of interest and curiosity I continue the conversation, although I already have a feeling of how the discussion will end up. —What do you mean? —My wife fell asleep in the Lord in August. I was looking for you, father, but your phone was switched off.
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—I was away in Greece. —Yes, I know. But I needed a little help for the woman. I had run out of money… Eventually she passed on. The problem is the baby, though. It hasn’t nursed since the third month and now it is eight. I knew that it is very tough for a baby not to be nursed for so many months. The next day the father brought it over and showed it to me with joy. —This is my son. But what I saw before my eyes was tragic: an eight-month-old infant with an aged skin looking like 70 years old: soft and wrinkled. I asked the father what the infant ate and he said, mostly rice, and at
times some milk, which a Catholic nun gave him. I told him that the child needed milk immediately. In the afternoon, I went to the pharmacy and bought him special milk for infants. He left the same day for his home. At 8 o’clock in the evening I called him and he thanked me for the milk. The boy had drunk his milk with large appetite. One hour later he called and said that the child had suffered a sudden relapse. I asked him to bring him to Tulear, but filled with immeasurable sadness he announced that nothing could be done any more, because the doctor had already declared his death. The father, a wonderful man, like whom I admit I have never
met before, is now my best friend. A very faithful catechumen, much more faithful than me, with a simple, childlike heart. He was incredibly grieved at the loss of his child and wife. Buthedidn’tgiveup. He continued his struggle. He stayed with me and, instead of me offering him consolation, it was he who consoled me in my sorrows and struggle. He was a bus driver. It is there that I met him. When his bus was waiting at the capital to be filled with passengers, which can take many days, he usually stayed inside with the doors shut in usually unbearable heat and prayed, he ceaselessly prayed. Only yesterday did he confess to me that he did not mind being 37
left alone, because now he can shut his room’s doors and pray without distractions… Tears, he says, drop in abundance… Now, I am sitting in my office and thinking, thinking about my faults and others’ faults, people’s pain and courage, and images are passing in front of my eyes one by one. One of these days I was informed of three children’s death in one of our parishes. Probably it was due to an epidemic. The father described in tears the last moments of his little son, when the dizzy child was hitting his hand and begging for help. Of course, I was trying to offer him some consolation. But which human word can heal human suffering in such moments as these? And yet, these people 38
don’t get indignant. Above all, they do not quarrel with God. They don’t even think about it, but they accept God’s plans, maybe with feelings of bitterness and pain, but never with anger or despair. Now, I am bending over the paper and thinking; Who after all, writes human history? Who changes the world? What does God want from us? Who builds and who destroys? Do we ultimately destroy, instead of building? Most importantly, who are the heroes in this world? Those bearing a hero’s name? Christian, faithful, missionary, father, brother, spiritual father… there are so many names, but is it the name that really matters? History is not written on paper;
history is written with many labors on the soil, in the mud, through the slums and huts, in diseases and sorrows, with struggle and usually with blood. Let us not deceive ourselves. Names are not enough. Simply because God does not care about names drafted on paper, but about the name hidden in the heart. Sooner or later, He reveals it and presents it before us according to His own will. Like a mirror reflecting us in the state we should be, but usually are not, so that we can pity ourselves and make a beginning for the new life and eventually learn how to build souls. History is written in this way, not on paper but
on the heart. Truly, our little birds, our little children here, perish singing and their chirping remains indelible in our memory. It is a chirping that like a moral injunction compels you to live and fight in this crummy world despite the difficulties, despite the toughness you see around you and the sadness confining your heart. Sometimes, this singing is our great consolation and some other times it is our big mortgage in this life. One really hopes they will leave this world like these little birds, chirping and rejoicing in the midst of the bitterness of this world. Hieromonk Polycarpos
Children waiting for their watertank to be replenished
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Malawi: The fertile field of Christ It is true that we often hear about the difficulties, obstacles, problems that concern the local missionary divisions. Many times, however, theory differs from reality. Going to Malawi, you experience this reality, from the way you are treated by the natives, from various third-world diseases and more generally from the adversities of everyday life. Amid this difficult situation though, abounds the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. How? Not through reasonable explanations, neither through mathematical operations, nor through inductive reasoning but through the miracle of faith and prayer. A basic principle for the person in charge of the Mission is 40
prayer. That is why every time he asks us for it. The Salutations, the Compline and every kind of service accompany us on our missionary trips. The cross, the prayer, the rosary are all irresistible weapons against hostile machinations. Admirable effort is made regarding the translation of the sacred texts. A painstaking, costly and deeply spiritual work, which, as it appears, will constitute a huge legacy for the people of Malawi one day. As regards the sacrament of baptism, it is performed with all due solemnity and only if preceded by at least one year of catechesis. But since man is not only spirit, the heads of the Mission have to cater for the body as well. About
400 children are fed on a daily basis, without including the families that have applied for assistance. In addition, there is monthly distribution of humanitarian aid, coming mainly from the containers which your love for your fellowmen collected and sent from the storehouse of the Orthodox Missionary Fraternity. Soap, powdered milk, pasta, flour, sugar are just some of these essential goods. Some of us might wonder about the motives of a person becoming an Orthodox in the much afflicted country of Malawi. I assure you that the majority of the people who
consciously convert into Orthodoxy, seek the Truth, and are tired of the lies of the sects. Indeed, some of the converts raise several questions, like: ÂŤWhy did Orthodoxy take so long to come to Malawi?Âť In conclusion, I want to point out that through our physical presence in the Mission, disinterested love and care for our fellowmen become action and conscious living. My wish and exhortation to each and every one of you is, circumstances permitting, that you become participants in the Orthodox testimony to the nations. Manolis Karakoussis Regular member of the Fraternity
One more water well funded by our Fraternity
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Michael Vrettos A christlike doctor
Far away in Africa, in the Congo, at the sound of your fatal accident in Mechaniona, Thessaloniki, on October 4, 2015, the natives chanted in tearing sorrow “Memory eternal, brother Michael�. Truly! while you were preparing to travel once more to your favorite Orthodox Mission of the Congo, unexpectedly the end of your earthly life came. Always fit in the society’s struggle with innumerable virtues of probity, you waved simplicity as flag of your personality. All the time, you were a brother of humility and kindness. The Congolese called you the 42
father of knowledge, in medicine, in theology and in all the necessary handwork that man undertakes daily. As a vascular surgeon, you served medicine in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, with an abundance of humanitarian and social feelings of love. Indefatigable you crossed the tropical forests of the Congo, in order to find and minister to our sick fellow man. The villages of the jungle with their straw huts will remember your silent ministry. They bid you farewell and pray that the holy Triune God will crown your soul. Christ is Risen! Nostis Psarras
Andriana Vladimirou A rare blossom of love
One October morning, deep sadness came over the people who knew you, venerable mother Andriana. You stood dignified in the seas of life. Love was your navigator in the high waves, which you had to confront within your sorely tried family. Our Holy Triune God invited early your late husband to the heavenly abode, leaving two children nestling up in your affectionate embrace. And yet, it was with magnanimous courage that you followed this painful path, raising two fine upstanding men by disseminating the virtues of your soul to them daily. Today, your firstborn son flies through the skies as a chief pilot. As for George, he is a mis-
sionary bishop, now ministering at the Holy Metropolis of Guinea. Late mother Andriana, before your illness, you humbly offered your ministry to the hungry of India and Zimbabwe with the food distribution programs and the soup kitchens. Still, you always had your arms wide open for the orphaned and miserable children. That was a social dream which was born from the beating of your heart, offering love unceasingly. The funeral service was conducted in Cyprus on 16 October by the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Theodore II. May your journey to eternity be good and unobstructed. Nostis Psarras 43
Love is not afraid
It dare send one more shipping container! The growing feeling of fear, uncertainty and insecurity caused by the new measures along with the imminent total impoverishment of our country, makes everyone’ thoughts run on our family, the youth and their future. It is true that the pursuit of protecting the interests of our kith and kin or even of our own children leads to one stage before our “dehumanization”. We do not look up into the heavens. We do not address God. On the contrary, we feel disdain for our fellow humans and show indifference and insensitivity towards other people’s children who are touching death due to hunger or simple diseases that are perfectly preventable and treatable. We seem to forget that love has no fear, but dare help the miserable
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image of God, man. By offering to other children, it does not risk the future of its own children, but entrusts it into the hands of God. Love is not self- seeking, it is totally disinterested and just retreats! It does not negotiate its profit; instead, it selflessly gives it away! Love means realizing God’s love for man and following His way. Thus, by the grace of God, our fraternity dared to send a shipping container of essential goods and relief items to the missionary division in Malawi, now that the new measures are multiplying, now that everything looks so bleak, now that the practice of love is needed more than ever. Constantinos Metallides Theologian
Columns of Gratitude Donations from 1.8.2015 to 31.10.2015
Donors’ names are only published in the printed version
For God loves a cheerful giver 45
Donors’ names are only published in the printed version
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Donors’ names are only published in the printed version
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