orthodox mission
Founded in 1963 Honored by the Patriarchate of Alexandria #18 October-December 2016 Editor: Nostis Psarras Ss. Missionaries Cyril and Methodius
In this Issue 04 07 10 13 15 16 18 21 26 29 31 33 37 40 42 44 45
Echoes of Christmas Patriarch in Mwanza Tonga Indonesia India Mexico Madagascar Ghana Nairobi Kinshasa Uganda Sierra Leone Two Worlds South Sudan Ode to Fr. Nicodemos A fountain of love Columns of Gratitude
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Orthodox Missionary Fraternity
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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
Holy Nativity 2016 We pray that our newly-born Christ's grace will shine on you and the nations in the new year 2017 3
Echoes of Christmas «It is not possible for men to behold God on Whom the angelic orders dare not cast a glance; but through thee, O all-pure one, was seen of men the Incarnate Word; Him magnifying, with heavenly hosts we call thee blessed» This hymn, which is the eight heirmos of the canon of the Octoechos in the 6th tone, is a brief and comprehensive homily on the Nativity of our Savior Jesus Christ by the Virgin Mary. In few words, the holy poet gives us the spirit and the meaning of the great feast of Christmas. We, Orthodox Christians, cannot speak of Jesus Christ without also referring to His Most Holy Mother. This is faith that has been granted doen to us by the Fathers, the Apostles and the Prophets. The Holy Tradition is equiponderant to the Holy Scripture.
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In every hymnological ensemble in the liturgical books of the Church, after the doxological troparion to the Holy Trinity introduced with the words «Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit», follows the Theotokian starting with the words «now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen»; this shows that for the Orthodox, after the Holy God we honor Mary, the Mother of God. She is also called the Panagia, Most Holy, which means that she is not a single saint, but she transcends every degree of holiness. Entering an Orthodox church, one can see on the
right part of the iconostasis the icon of the Savior Christ and on the left the icon of our Lady Theotokos. In the twelfth chapter of the book of the Revelation, Mary the Theotokos is described as «a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars» (Revelation 12:1). All the above and many more, which we could say, show the accuracy in which our Holy Orthodox Church defines the mystery of the Divine Economy regarding the salvation of man. Hence the Orthodox missionaries, who are scattered in various places on Earth “for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 1:9), start preaching the Gospel of the salvation of human
beings, referring, not only to the incarnation of the Savior Christ, but also to the great role that Virgin Mary played in it with Her holiness and her obedience to God’s will. “You have borne the Savior, O Virgin Theotokos. You have overthrown Eve’s ancient curse. You became the mother of the Son of God. The Father is well-pleased in Him. You carry at your bosom God, the Word, made flesh.“ Blessed Christmas and a peaceful and happy New Year 2017 to all the Orthodox missionaries, who strive for preaching the gospel and spreading Orthodoxy, and to all those who variously support their work. With the love of the Christ and the Theotokos † Amphilochios of New Zealand 5
Pastoral Visit of the Patriarch of Alexandria to Mwanza By the grace and providence of the Holy God, we had the joy and the special blessing to receive once again, 8 years after his last visit to the Holy Diocese of Mwanza, the spiritual father of the Orthodox Christians of the African continent, who stayed here from 8 to 15 October 2016. This visit has been absolutely seasonable and his offer priceless and polysemous. The schedule of his tour started with the inauguration of Saint Nicholas Cathedral in the city of Mwanza, which coincided with and marked his 12th anniversary of Patriarchal service. On Sunday, October 9, we performed the inauguration of the church and
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the Divine Liturgy. In the same day evening, a simple celebratory event was held in honor of His Eminence. During the following 5 days of his abidance, we had the opportunity to take him to visit some pivotal places of Orthodox presence in our diocese, such as: 1) the Annunciation of the Theotokos church in Geita, 2) the 12 Apostles church in Bukoba, 3) the Aristotle middle school of our diocese in Kayanga, 4) the Saint Sosthenes middle school in Rubale, 5) the Ufufuo hospital in Bukoba. In these visits he blessed and praised the endeavors of our Diocese to substantially stand by the inhabitants of the
aforementioned regions in their social and educational problems. Most notably, he blessed the water drilling program implemented by our diocese’s crew, which empowers every place near an Orthodox Church to benefit from the availability of clear and potable water. Meanwhile, His Beatitude held meetings with local governors, to whom he underlined the interest and struggle of the Orthodox Church for the Tanzanian people, regardless of tribe or faith. Finally, in the city of Bukoba, he headed a priestly assembly, in which he met and talked with every single priest of our Diocese,
whom he admonished in fatherly manner and words, offered solace and inspiration, so that they keep on and intensify their adorational, homiletic and pastoral work, having their faith and vision solidified on a steady faith in the person of Jesus Christ, despite the adverse and unfavorable circumstances, which are true both for themselves and their families and for their flock. He emphasized that everybody needs to give and become an irreproachable «testimony for Christ» towards all directions, not only by being charitable and giving, but also by providing the example of a cleric who is faithful, prudent and devoted to God’s work, which they should
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His Beatitude at a soup kitchen
embody and show to the world. His Beatitude’s visit coincided with two grim events in our region. The strong earthquake that shook Bukoba in September, inducing many sufferngs to the city, and the famine caused by the drought. His words for the anguishing people was caring and compassionate. It gave comfort to the faithful, affirming that our Creator and Father never abandons his creatures helpless, especially when they turn to Him with confidence and hope in His irrefutable promise that those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. He reminded them that their
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Orthodox Christian brothers from around the world have not forgotten them, but instead they suffer along with them and, manytimes, they try to give them support while being deprived themselves. At the same time, he underlined the responsibility and diligence they should also show from now on, in order to keep the work of their local Church up and running, both in a spiritual and in a material level. Patriarch Theodore manifested the significance of the work that has already been implemented and warmly thanked everyone who has variously contributed and continues to contribute (of whom
he also referred to the Orthodox Missionary Fraternity), so that this little flame of the Orthodox Faith continues to shed light on the sundry darknesses in this part of Earth. His speech and presence reminded us that «we are the offspring of the Lord Jesus Christ» and that «He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being»; that there are no privileged and unprivileged people, but we are all His children invited to the Kingdom of His Love, so long as we respond to His call in the affirmative.
His Beatitude lit up a candle for us with the Light of Christ, who illumines, brightens, sanctifies and liberates those sighing under the oppression of the devil and his illusions. Only in this Light, near Christ and His holy Church, will the African continent gain the goods of true peace and justice. The children of Africa are in need of hope. This is the hope that the Patriarch manged to renew and replenish through his presence. Therefore our doxology is ceaseless to the Most Holy and Benevolent God, Whose name may be praised to the ages of ages. Amen. † Ieronymos of Mwanza
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PACIFIC ISLANDS
Tongan citizens of Heaven
Four are the cardinal directions and four are the sacred mysteries conducted today (16/10/2016) at this simple little church of the Holy glorious leading Apostles on the island of Tongatapu, in Fangaloto, a region of Tonga Islands. It is in the same area that the capital Nuku’alofa is located. The colors white and blue that are dominant in the church and in the sacred baptistery, which is situated behind the altar, create a sense of joy and hope in every soul gazing expectantly upon heaven and praying for the whole world, particularly for doleful Greece. The church of the Holy Apostles and the Sacred Baptistery
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are the toil of faith and piety of the devout monks Arsenios and Savvas from Mount Athos, partners of the Mission, and of pilgrim Nicholas, who built them with their own hands. The home of hospitality, which has already been completed, and the handsome large S. Church of the Holy Glorious and Triumphant George, which is under construction, are the result of the philanthropy of devout Christians from Greece, more particularly from Thessaloniki and Aspropyrgos, Australia and America. There should have been someone here on Sunday October 16th to watch with how much reverence and simplicity
our first Tongan catechumens received the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation, and then the first Holy Communion. After that, we had the first Orthodox wedding between Constantine and Helen and the feast of love, which was attended “with gladness and singleness of heart”, (Acts 2:46) by all those who participated in this great joy. In externalizing his impressions and feelings, Constantine, who is of Jewish origin, said that with the Holy Baptism he felt reborn, which is exactly what the Lord said to Nicodemus: « Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” «(John 3:5). Peter, an indigenous Tongan, said that with baptism he
left behind his secular name Ofisi, and from that day on he would have the name of Heaven, Peter. Through his simplicity he formulated the theological truth that the person baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity no longer belongs to the earth. From then on, this person is a citizen of Heaven according to St. Paul, who says «For our citizenship is in heaven” (Phil.3:20). Orthodoxy is once again present in distant Oceania. The cross of the Lord adorns and sanctifies the place, the chests and the homes of our newly illumined brothers. The church bell of the Holy Apostles may be small but its sound is luscious, joyful, simple and touching, and spreads as the voice of the Church to the lengths and
Baptism by His Eminence Amphilochios
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widths of the vast Pacific, inviting every unprejudiced person to come to the source of truth and life: “Come together, all ye people, and know the power of the dreadful secret; for Christ our Saviour, the eternal Word, hath been crucified for our sake, and was buried willingly, and hath risen from the dead to save all. To him, let us bow down in worship.” (Parakletike-Octoechos: Sunday third tone) “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered” (Ps. 32:1) through the sacred mysteries of Holy Orthodoxy. «How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (Rom 10:15) Worthy of their wages are the donors and
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founders of the holy churches of God. After Tonga, comes the other island of the southeastern Pacific, Samoa, which is also under the jurisdiction of the Holy Metropolis of New Zealand. God willing, a new church will be built there: that of St. Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, whose voice «has gone out into all the earth «, like the voices of the leading Apostles Peter and Paul and of all the other Apostles. “Glory to Thee, O Christ our God, Your Apostles’ proudest boast and treasure of Your Martyrs’ joy, Who to all proclaimed the Consubstantial Trinity.” † Amphilochios of New Zealand
The first newly-illumined Orthodox in Tonga islands
INDONESIA
The fruit of the Theological School
Dear Friends of the Mission, With God’s help we are doing well. I would like to update you on recent news and activities regarding the Orthodox Mission here in Indonesia. 1. On August 25, we had the ordination of Father Chariton into a presbyter at St. Demetrius S. Church in Medan. It is a great blessing for us that our Orthodox Church in Indonesia has acquired another laborer of Christ. Fr. Chariton is native to this island and is a graduate of our School of Theology. Also, his presbytera is a graduate of our School and holds a teaching degree. They have got a daughter named Eugenia. Fr. Chariton will serve his ministry in Nias, because there we have three
parish communities. We also run St. Nicholas’ Orthodox School there with 135 students. The priest and his family will reside in a small room of the school since there is no other place available. It would be a great blessing for us if you could help us make a permanent house for them. 2. This year, 87 students graduated from our St. Paul School of Theology. The graduation ceremony took place on August 27 and was attended by His Eminence our spiritual Shepherd Metropolitan Constantine. 3. In our Theological School we have five post-graduate students who are being prepared to enter priesthood as soon as they have finished their studies. We have a small house, where they are being 13
hosted during their studies, but unfortunately, this is all we can provide for them. We could not possibly afford any further support, which is why we appeal to your kind feelings for help. 4. With the money we received from your Fraternity, we bought a motorbike for Eleftherios, our post-graduate student who teaches in many catechetical schools and travels long distances. He is married, and in order to meet his family expenses, he has to work in the fields. Please, remember him and his family in your prayers and ask God to give them strength. 5. Our home is full of blessings! We have 16 children living with us as if they were our own. We have a large enough kitchen to serve their needs. In the mornings our house is
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empty, because they all go to school or to their university. As I once read, if you want to have a short-term profit, you should plant corn; if you want to have a profit for 10 years, you should plant trees; but if you want to have a profit for 50 years, you should invest in education and send the children to school. That’s why we never stop having a lot of children with us, and we always help them study at our own expense in order to ensure the future of the Orthodox Church. At this point, we would like to express our sincere gratitude for the amount of 4,000 euro that you sent us to cover their tuition. That was all our news, dear brethren. May our Lord Jesus Christ bless you with His abundant goods. Fr. Chrysostomos Manalu
Metropolitan Constantine ordains Fr. Chariton
INDIA
The Pain of Separation Dear Friends of the Mission, Rejoice in the Lord always! I am writing -admittedly, with a certain delay- to inform you that we received your â‚Ź 5,000 donation, and to thank you wholeheartedly for that. I would also like to express our sincere gratitude for your overall support. Lately I was in hospital day and night next to a 6-year-old girl, who, while being healthy and cheerful, all of a sudden suffered an intracranial hemorrhage, which was manifested with a severe headache. I immediately took her to the doctor, but there she lost consciousness and would not recover. Then I took her to hospital, where I spent all my savings. She got intubated and fell into a deep coma. The doctors were not at all optimistic, but I was hoping for a miracle. She
was in the intensive care unit and I was allowed to visit her three times a day. I would speak to her aloud hoping she might be able to hear and wake from the coma. I was praying to God, to our Lady and to all the Saints. Three days ago she passed away. That was God’s will for this poor creature. This week in West Bengal everything is closed due to Hindu festivals. Nobody is working except me. The orphanage staff is on leave because of the feast, so I do the cooking as well. Actually, I am mostly coordinating things because the older girls help me a lot. All things should be done unto the Glory of God! May all of you enjoy good health. Please, remember us in your prayers. With love and gratitude Sister Nektaria 15
LATIN AMERICA
Mission in Central America For the last twenty years the Holy Metropolis of Mexico headed by His Eminence Archbishop Athenagoras of Mexico has been struggling in the region of Central America for the dissemination of true Orthodox Christian faith. The beginning of this course was characterized by a slow pace, but then there was a big response on the part of the local population. As a result, during these two decades, over forty new churches were founded in Central American countries such as Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba and others with young, qualified in spiritual matters priests with studies in Higher Education in Theology in Greece. One of the 16
largest and most recent missionary efforts of our H. Metropolis is the one taking place in Guatemala to the indigenous populations of Mayan descent. Despite the fact that these people are deprived of essential goods, they have shown tremendous faith and love towards Orthodoxy. They reside in Peten, the northeastern region of the country, and number about 350,000. It is moving to see them walk through the woods to attend the Divine Liturgy at the nearest church. It is noteworthy that despite the economic and other difficulties we face in our work, with the help of Christ and of the Virgin Mary and the daily support and sympathy
on the part of the people, the Holy Metropolis of Mexico is developing into an Orthodox Metropolis of the future. A recent welcome development is that after our actions, our Holy Metropolis has now acquired another very old church, which belonged to the Roman Catholics, in the center of the Mexican capital. We have transformed it into an Orthodox Sacred Church and daily a large number of people visit it and ask to learn about Orthodoxy. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the Orthodox Missionary Fraternity for all the help that it has offered to our Metropolis over the years, and to all the partners
who stand by the missionary work in Central America, since we are talking about the only Orthodox Mission in the West. We would also like to thank our clergy, our priests, who, although they give their struggle for Orthodoxy under adverse conditions daily, they take strength from their great faith in God. We can see very clearly that our Church is a recipient of a multitude of miracles that happen every day as more and more young people are gradually approaching our Metropolis, which is the greatness of the Orthodox Church. Archimandrite Damian Chancellor of the Holy Diocese of Mexico
Baptism at a Mayan Orthodox church
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MADAGASCAR
Orphanage of Love
By the Grace of God our Missionary work here in Madagascar is being continued despite the innumerable difficulties and hardships that we have to face daily. It is true that the situation due to the economic crisis has now become really tough and our struggle here is given under very difficult conditions. Nevertheless, we never lose hope. The orphanage in the capital city of Antananarivo has now been completed. It is going to house more than two hundred orphans. However, the costs for feeding, health care and education are expected to be very high. If we do not support the project, the suspension of the operation of the 18
orphanage will inevitably continue. Nevertheless, it is still one of the largest orphanages in the country, and even state bodies are anxiously awaiting the implementation of the promises of our Orthodox Church toward our poor people knowing that our disposition towards the people we minister to is honest and selfless, unlike other denominations and confessions. The sensitivity that we show to the children of the country and particularly to the orphaned ones is by no means a result of uncritical thinking or blurred judgment. The children here and especially in the province die every day of diseases that are usually directly related to undernourishment or malnutrition, that is, lack of food
or poor diet as well as lack of proper clothing and medical care. In Tulear province we have recently baptized children mutilated in a car accident who do not have any support whatsoever. These children are too small to be aware of traffic dangers, so during a game they can carelessly go onto the road. Sometimes a passing car after hitting them leaves them either disabled or mutilated and sometimes even dead. In this article we present photographs of some of these children who were recently begging us to do anything to just relieve their misery. In one of the photos you will see a child literally crawling using his hands as feet and wearing slippers on them instead of the feet. As I was leaving for Greece,
he was begging me to bring him a wheelchair as soon as possible. In the Missionary Center of Tulear we have three brothers blinded by a hereditary disease. We help them as much as we can. All three are students at a school for blind children. On my return from Greece, they are expecting me to help them with their fees and bring them schoolbags and notebooks from Greece. Daily we are approached by parents and children who are seeking help. Weary and embittered fathers or mothers with one of their children in their arms burning from malaria or typhoid fever, or because the virus has penetrated into their organism through a minor injury and has created a fistula due to lack of antiseptic or antibiotic.
Disabled child in Madagascar
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Many times at the clinic in Tulear I have seen children being saved from certain death. Their parents, destitute in their vast majority (about 90%), come and implore us to help them... Seeing these images daily, I can’t help thinking of the anguish, pain and endurance of these parents; these people who walk kilometers carrying the sick child in their arms; who get drained out in the sun and the heat trying to save their little sprout from the jaws of death. So these hands and the prayers of these people when they leave us are the precious jewel we have closely guarded in our heart here in the Mission. They tell us when leaving and
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embracing us:»Nowhere else have we been given any help. Everybody demanded our money and would not say a word about treatment. You not only did not ask for money, but you also shared our pain and grief and cried with us. Above all, you saved our child.” “Tahin’ Zanahary”. “May you always be a seed of God’s blessing.» Could anyone ever expect to hear such beautiful wishes oftentimes coming out of mouths of non-believers? These people may not be faithful, but they are filled with love, hope and sometimes not too late with the spirit of God too. † Ignatios of Madagascar
GHANA
Shedding light
With God’s grace, this week we experienced two joyful events in our local Church of Ghana: first, the ordination of deacon Isaac as a presbyter and second, our visit to the our most remote parish in the region Ashanti in the northern part of the country, for the celebration of Saint Cosmas of Aetolia. There we baptized a new group of converts into our Church and we inaugurated the new aqueduct of the village, which was sponsored by our Church for the supply of clear water to this underdeveloped area. Early Sunday morning, on August 21, we embarked for the
central region of Ghana, most particularly the Saint John the Theologian church in Abo Dom village, where we ordained deacon Isaac a presbyter. Father Isaac is married and has two little girls. He and his wife are teachers. During the Divine Liturgy and before the commencement of the ordination, I addressed the wanna-be priest, emphasizing the burden of the responsibility, which he was to undertake in front of God and men, and stressed that the priestly life is a constant offering and sacrifice. ÂŤKeep humble in your service and God will bless you. Humility is a jewel and adornment for the cler21
ic, which will adorn you, will make you lovable by all people and especially by your parishioners. The priest that is loved by all his parishioners is loved by God himself. The most basic characteristic of a priest ought to be the spirit of sacrifice and not the spirit of inactivity. This means that the priest must give himself for the Christ, rather than sacrificing the Church for himself. Keep your ears open to every advice, whencesover it comes, because you can always be taught something by everybodyÂť. In the end of the Divine Liturgy, we congratulated the villagers for their new priest, for this parish had lacked its own permanent priest for a long time and for an additional reason: because father
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Isaac is a child and fruit of this village. Afterwards, we travelled for two more hours, in order to visit the family of Samuel, the late catechist of our Church, who had migrated to the Lord some days earlier, in order to comfort his spouse, who had accompanied him in all his catechetical tours from village to village, where he preached the Orthodox faith in all Ghana. Let his memory and the following of his example be eternal. On Wednesday, August 24, we set forth at 3 a.m., so that five hours later we could reach the celebrating Saint Cosmas of Aetolia church, where we baptized a new group of catechumens in the river at place. May Saint Cosmas, this
Bishop Narkissos baptizing in the river
great missionary of our Church, be the patron of this Orthodox parish lying on the border. Later on, along with the local chiefs of Konsimwa county of Ashante region, we inaugurated the third well in a row in this place, which is an offer of our Church to the local society, in order for people to have access to clear potable water, whose scarcity is one of the biggest problems of the nation. We should note the appreciation, the respect and the gratitude that everyone there feels for the Orthodox Church, for its spiritual cultivation and for it humanitarian contribution in the fields of education, since our Church has also built a primary school and a library for this region. At night, we arrived back at
our base in Accra, worn out by the journey but redeemed in our heart and our soul for the missionary work that is done. In this work, dear friends of the Orthodox Missionary Fraternity, you were and are always a succorer and companion in the journey of this holy mission. From its very beginning until this hard times, you have generously supported us with everything you have and can give, so that the light of the Mission will not go off. May our good God bless you and strengthen us to keep on this long journey to the far ends of the Earth, so that that day, when worn out we will arrive at our heavenly base, the Lord will give us the redemption of our souls. Amen. †Narkissos of Accra 23
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Madagascar: Walking to the Holy Baptism
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KENYA
A Wedding in Kenya I am sitting at the refectory of the Patriarchal School tonight, here, on the same chair for thirty five years. How many memories cross my mind! How many images of all those years occur to me! How many labors! I counted how many of the seminarians present were children of old students of mine. I remembered their fathers at the same age sitting on the same chairs. The case of one of them was particularly important to me. I remembered his birth, baptism and then his studies in the primary and secondary school. His father had a dream: to see his first son come and attend the Patriarchal School. He wanted to fulfill his mission completely. I had no doubt about that as I had known him since he was an infant. When it was time for
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the School to open for the academic year, he wanted to bring him himself. When he said that to me, I told him that such a thing was not customary, because usually young people are mature and serious enough to travel by themselves. He insisted though, so I did not object to his wish. Indeed, he came with his son. First, he took him to the School chapel and advised him not to miss any of the church services. He promised him that if he really loved attending and participating in them without fail, then he would be greatly benefited spiritually since sacred services constitute the authentic food of School life. He did the same while showing him around the School refectory, the classrooms, the wards, even the bathrooms. Generally, he
took him everywhere. You see, he remembered the time he was a seminarian himself. Undoubtedly, the School environment was nice, as he experienced it himself, but far more important was the life through the liturgical tradition of our Church, the obedience and respect for the teachers taught to them. Principles which helped him develop spiritually, and now enable him to exercise the duties of the priest and spiritual father. People usually come to visit me for several reasons. Among them are also those who wish to have a church wedding. One of them, a young man from one parish near Nairobi, visited me and asked me to perform his wedding. As usual, I noted it down in my diary and I said that if I was here, I would definitely arrange to go. He did not ask for anything else, he just wanted the
blessing of the Church. After a few weeks, the wedding day had finally come. So I went to the church, where, I saw again this young man shedding rivers of tears, and wiping his eyes with a handkerchief. I approached him and asked him why he was crying so much instead of being happy, as marriage is a pleasant event in one’s life. He then explained that he was very touched and could hardly believe it was really happening. It should be noted here that according to the tribal tradition, men should never cry, even at funerals. When the priest came, he gave me some further explanations. This young man had always wanted to have a church wedding, but he was poor and did not have the money required to pay to the bride’s parents in order to marry her, that is, something like our dowry. The priest explained to
Graduation of seminarians of the Patriarchal school
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me that the groom had been offering his services in the sanctuary since he was little and had been feeling ashamed and accountable before God to be living with his wife like a traditionally married couple without God’s blessing. He only had two euro in his pocket, but the bride’s parents wanted a thousand, which was a large amount indeed. When the parishioners were informed of that, they all ran to help. They contributed their mites in order to raise the amount required and enable the young man to have a church wedding. Apparently, it was his simpleheartedness and love for God that made him worthy of experiencing the greatness of the mystery of marriage the ecclesiastical way, despite existing difficulties. His wife, a young girl modestly dressed,
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was carefully watching the whole marriage service performed in the tribal dialect and in Swahili. As soon as the mystery ended, it was time for me to preach. Because most of the people who had come to attend the mystery belonged to other denominations, I spoke about the importance of the Holy Mysteries within the Orthodox Church and laid particular emphasis on the value of the Mystery of Marriage and that of the Eucharist. As for the newly wedded couple, I advised them to start their new life in the Lord by participating in the holy Mysteries of the Church frequently, and I offered them as a gift an icon of the Virgin Mary, urging them to pray together before the icon, morning and evening. It seemed as if everybody rejoiced. †Makarios of Nairobi
CONGO (DRC)
In weariness and toil
Dear brothers in Christ, I am writing to you with feelings of deep gratitude in order to make you once again partakers of the joy as well as of the difficulties that the Most Merciful God gives us. Within the last three months He made us worthy through baptism to welcome several new brothers into the embrace of the Orthodox Church and give seminars for Catechists and the youth on the interior of the Congo (Muzimai, Luputa, Kaminda, Kananga). He also made us worthy to have the ordination of three new deacons and two elders. Apart from that, the prayer book has finally been prepared in French, and it is
expected to be published soon. The academic year for our primary and secondary schools started with much hope and with many children. Mid-October is the starting time for the Orthodox University too, our School of Theology and the School of Informatics. This year our School of Theology has given us new graduates coming from our Diocese and the neighboring Diocese of Katanga. Nine new members of the Orthodox Church, nine young Theology graduates, nine lads ready for action. In the past academic year we were confronted with a lot of difficulties, especially as regards the students’ feeding program,
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but fortunately, with the help of God, we managed to overcome them. The kids bore the whole situation patiently and did not complain for not having anything else to eat every evening except the spaghetti that had been sent to us. But these are over now and soon we are about to get started. Our warehouses are empty. What will more than 50 students have to eat in the morning, at noon and in the evening? And how will we be able to deal with the other operating expenses, such as electricity, water, fuel, salaries, sicknesses, stationery, taxes, building and machinery maintenance, and not only ? Not to mention addressing the costs of the sicknesses of the priests and their families as well as of all those poor people who
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knock on our door; or the priests’ and catechists’ transportation for their missionary and liturgical work. Neither should we forget the disabled Orthodox of a central neighborhood in Kinshasa, who use the road for conducting their sacred services and expect us to build them a church. All this adds to our anguish and makes us pray fervently. I earnestly appeal to your kind heart for help. It would be a big relief if you could send us a container with food and other necessities as well as money, so that we can address the operating costs of the Theological School and meet the needs which I mentioned earlier. May the Theotokos give her protection and blessing to all of you. †Nikiforos of Kinshasa
UGANDA
Our Warmest Thanks Lately, despite the financial difficulties that we have been facing, there has been an extraordinary effort by members of the Orthodox Missionary Fraternity to get two building projects completed in the Degeya parish community of Transfiguration of the Holy Metropolis of Uganda. These projects are the Sacred Church of Sts. Constantine and Helen, and the ÂŤPapadimitrakopoulos Health ClinicÂť, which is located beside the church. We praise the Most Merciful God, for His Grace has promoted such projects to their current stage despite numerous difficulties. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Fraternity and also
to all those who have contributed their mite to the realization of these projects. Their support has been invaluable. As you may recall, the place where these projects are taking place, that is, the Transfiguration center, has a prominent position and serves a sufficient number of fellow humans in the region, not only those of the Orthodox faith but also the heterodox, mainly as regards the need for education and health care. However, with the development of the region and of the people living here, the basic needs are increasing. Therefore, whatever is added to the center, such as an extension wing, or the widening of the range of its 31
services, arouses great expectations for this people’s further course in Christ. As young people’s education within the precincts of the parish community of Transfiguration is considered very important in the region, the S. Church of Sts. Constantine and Helen has been erected outside the wall surrounding the school in order to be established for the community life of the believers and, in this way, to separate programs and activities. As for the Clinic, although located inside the area that is surrounded by the school wall, it will serve not only the students, but also all the patients coming through a special entrance beside the church. The church needs painting as well as furnishings and equipment (there is 1000 euro available in the fund for this purpose). However,
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the carpenters’ bids for the seats required were flimsy. Maybe we should have them made gradually. It seems that the carpenters are trying to exploit us regarding the size of the seating space. As for the clinic equipment, the project work is proceeding according to schedule, that is, without any problem. Doctor George Sunday, Orthodox grandson of the late Fr. Elias Buzinde, is the person making arrangements for buying the right medical equipment and having it installed. (There is 2500 euro left in the fund for this project). The salvation of the people in Uganda and Africa is a work of our Lord Jesus Christ. Despite the delays and the unexpected situations that usually arise, it is going on. May the God of Love bless all those working for the salvation of mankind. From the Holy Metropolis
Equipment for the Papadimitrakopoulos Health Center
SIERRA LEONE
After the storm Recently the President of Sierra Leone, Dr. Ernest Koroma, declared this West African nation to be Ebola Free. For those of us who live in Sierra Leone and went through the nightmare of the recent deadly epidemic which between 2014 - 2015 claimed thousands of deaths, this is wonderful news and a much needed relief. We no longer have to wash our hands daily in chlorine! We no longer have to take daily temperature readings! We no longer have to worry about shaking someone’s hands! We are no longer routinely stopped by the police at road blocks to have our temperatures checked! We are
no longer bound by curfews! We no longer have the daily worry of a potential deadly contamination! We are truly enjoying are Ebola Free freedom. We are now free to move without road blocks, free to assemble in churches and public places, free to travel from one part of the country to the other without curfews and quarantined zones. We thank our Lord Jesus Christ for this freedom and peace of mind. However the tragic consequences of the Ebola Epidemic linger on and are everywhere around us here in Sierra Leone: • The deadly epidemic has left thousands of children as or33
phans in many cases rendering them homeless. • The Ebola epidemic has economically damaged Sierra Leone making it the second poorest nation on earth with around an 80% unemployment rate. Food prices have risen. Petrol, transport and electricity prices have sharply increased and the people are facing very serious economic challenges. • The epidemic has also impacted upon the nation’s medical facilities and capabilities. Many doctors and nurses have died. Many have left. The medical infrastructure and services are presently at a depleted and weakened state.
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• It is only fairly recently that pupils and students have returned to school, colleges and universities after a prolonged shut down of educational institutions. How is our Mission here in Sierra Leone meeting these serious national and regional challenges? To begin with we have taken up the challenge of the Ebola orphans. In his epistle St. James writes: «True and pure religion before God the Father is to take care of orphans... in their suffering...» (1:27). Presently we are about to begin the construction of two modern orphanages which will cater for about 100 children. In addition to providing shelter and food, we will also provide free medical and educational
services from nursery to high school and even College level. Indeed we are presently providing a hot meal six days a week to about 40 Ebola orphans (in addition to another 400 children and teachers in our school at Waterloo). We also provide all the children with imported shoes and where relevant wheelchairs. In terms of the national unemployment problem, our Mission provides employment with good salaries and other benefits to scores sixty Sierra Leoneans. We employ school teachers, lecturers for our College, local priests to shepherd the Orthodox flock. We employ administrators, drivers, security guards, cleaners etc. In addition
through our Teachers’ College and our scholarship system we train young people to become qualified teachers. In the face of a weakened medical system where basic medical services are not available we meet this challenge in different ways. Where a member of our Mission cannot be treated here we send them abroad with all expenses paid. For example recently one of our local priests’ wife (Presbytera Elizabeth) developed cancer in her arm. Here we have no availability of chemo-therapy treatment. So our Mission send her and her husband (Rev. Alexander Kamara) to Ghana for treatment. She is now receiving chemo-therapy 35
treatment which will be completed by December. The Mission is taking care of all the medical, transport and living expense. We are also grateful to the Archdiocese of Accra for housing and sheltering Rev. Alexander and Presbytera Elizabeth. Furthermore for less serious cases we provide free medical services in our clinic in Waterloo for our teachers and school children. Our Mission in Sierra Leone is very grateful to the Orthodox Missionary Fraternity of Thessalonica for all its assistance throughout many years. We are able through its financial gifts to help local peo-
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ple in need with medical expenses, school fees, funeral expenses and so many other needs. Over the last few years the Fraternity has also organized containers for the assistance of our people here. With the food supplies that they send us (rice, oil, flour, sugar, salt, powdered milk etc) we are able to observe our Lord Jesus Christ’s commandment to feed the poor. Our Mission in Sierra Leone offers thanks and gratitude in Christ to this noble Fraternity of Thessalonica. Archimandrite Themistocles Adamopoulos
Students of the Mission
Two different worlds, two witnesses Down the foot of Mount Athos, in the morning silence, you can listen to the first prayer: «Glory to God in the Highest». The twitter of songbirds accompany the tremulous voice of the Elder and they’re gradually getting louder and louder along with the first sunrays that are gently and shyly fondling the northern ridge of Athos, as if they wanted to wake him up as lightly as possible, as noiselessly as they can, this «elder» and his children; because they want that even in their sleep this more heavenly than earthly companionship earns the eternal profit of the heavenly remunerations from the ceaseless and perpetual prayer «Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me». In the Elder’s hands, in the hands of the fathers or, actually, of the angels, through the timeworn prayer rope full of tears and sighs. ...Down in the waves of the Indian Ocean, in the coral blue sea of Soalary, in Ankilibe, in Beravy, Madio Rano and even farther in Androka, Mahatsandry, and wherever
your eye can reach, in this secluded but never forgotten by my heart South, the first Vezo fishermen have already dived their pirogue in the blue Indian waters and they are sending the first prayer with their hands and faces turned high to the sky. Their eyes tear up, seeing the scarlet sun rising through the horizon, and their lips reiterate: «Lord, for our children». Then immediately blows that morning breeze, the whiff of Peace, the breath of God, one would say, Who as a fonding Father, willing neither to spoil His children’s favor, nor to scare them, sends this first morning blessing. «Lord, help me this day». He prays with the wooden paddle at hand. The father prays with his face burnt of the sun and the saltness. His hands clench the paddle, the «agandi» shut, the axe. Our fathers’ hands, their fazzled and soiled hands, full of pain and labor, sweat and moans. ...The eyes can now not enjoy enough the wonderful landscape.
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Saint Anna’s Skete is a natural amphitheater. Our Skete. Fully green with the marvelous historical huts of the most well renowned Brotherhoods, who have marked out the asceticism of the four latest centuries, and have presented a multitude of known and unknown, previous and contemporary saints. Each hut sitting in this natural amphitheater, with the Kyriakon of Saint Anna at a prominent, leading and outstanding place, now tries to hear the sounds of the sea and of the mountain, as well as the sound of the daily prayes of the fathers. Huts that are spectators, witnesses of an endless performance, a performance that serves as a testimony and as a martyrdom. Witnesses of the only Truth that cannot be denied by the modern errant deceivers, who ramble in the streets and in television, trying in vain to throw mud to the truth and hide the gold that is carefully kept here. ...After an all day long course, sermons, a vespers service under the umbrageous kili tree of the village, I am now sitting with some of our faithful of this new parish. Some of them are already baptized. Some others wait for their catechism 38
and, if God wills, they will be the ones who will enter the bath of regeneration the next time. Now I am seeing and listening to them, even though the dusk does not permit to discern their faces. But this is truly the most beautiful time. Only the silhouettes of people can be discerned, but their voices, voices of the souls, can be heard so clearly. Sincerely, there is no time more beautiful than this moment in the late evening, when after the tiredness of the day you listen to your brothers, their voices coming as if from eternity, as if you have known them for years, as if something supernal connects you with them. ÂŤThank you, father. You are really our brother and father. You are no more a foreigner for us. You are what we are. Come back again the soonest possibleÂť. Here there is no more room for dispute. Here it is the hearts that testify. The trees, the squares, the children, the elderly, the mothers. Everything is lightened in miracle and in the faith of the Holy Spirit. The African land, the land of Madagascar is a spectator and witness.
...I am now climbing up the slope of Athos. My legs are trembling. For I know that I step on these same stones, where our holy fathers has walked, cried, sweat for their souls’ salvation. And I want to kneel and kiss these inanimate souls, each of which is a relic and a heirloom ...My feet are now sinking into mud and the water of the river will soon have reached my waist. We are heading for Antsarogaza. I need to see over the church being built there, to talk with our people in this parish, to support their faith, to comfort them in their pain and diseases. But the wayfaring fatigue, the water permeating and soaking my cassock and the waist ache make our walk difficult. But my heart is fluttering. For in a while I will see my brethren. You can now hear this water saying «every step of yours here is a testimony, every pain of yours I write down and I will tote it in every village I go through. I will cool every drop of sweat for my people and I will heal the wounds of thorns and rocks on your legs». ...I am now venerating the icon of our Saint Anna reverently and
tearfully. Kneeling down before the Mother of the Mother of Life, our Grandmother, I pray. ...«These gifts from Your own gifts». In a liturgy at a makeshift church, I kneel down and the wooden hut is showered with life. «We praise You, we bless You, we give thanks to You, and we pray to You, Lord our God.» From the mouths of our newly illumined brothers in their first liturgy. And you pray. Before the altar table of the Kyriakon, now in the liturgy, «we offer to You this spiritual worship without the shedding of blood» On the makeshift altar table under the tree, on the land of Madagascar, «once again we offer to You this spiritual worship without the shedding of blood»... And we ask, pray, and entreat You: send down Your Holy Spirit upon us... This is the miracle of our Faith. Two different worlds. Two worlds so far from each other, but united under the protection of God’s love. They daily witness and confess the miracle of our living Faith. Here in Athos. Here in the Mission. Fr. Polycarpos of Saint Anna Tuléar - Madagascar
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Stepping on the bloodstained land There is a newly-founded state in Africa, which after a 15-year-long war it was cut away from the mainland of Sudan. Its name is now South Sudan and it was recognized by the United Nations as an independent state with Juba as its capital in the year 2011. Here live the nilotic tribes Dinka, Nuer and Shillouk, inhabiting the riparian region, as well as the non-nilotic Azande people, who dwell between the border region of Congo (DRC) and the Nile. There are also smallest ethnic groups, who speak more than 30 languages. From the very first day of independence, the peace was already wounded. Soon, the horror of the civil war started to send roots again into the nation’s soil. Currently, there are hostilities and a general bloodshed chasing reason away. The United Nations has periodically tried to offer humanitarian aid. Airplanes threw parachutes with necessary goods and medications in distant regions, where 40
people are starving... Finally, these planes moved away to flee the overly high risk. The bellicose death counts thousands of victims every day, among pools of human blood... There is no overstatement here, only the vastness of tragedy. Those entrapped try to escape the cage of despair... The walk and walk, if they endure the long distances, to seek refuge in a neighbor country. Whoever finally survives only hopes to see the sunrise of the next day. In Uganda, the incoming refugees amount to hundreds of thousands, whereas countless malnourished children are threatened by malaria, typhus, cholera and other deadly diseases. Maybe the discovery of oil reserves is hiding behind this calamity. South Sudan falls under the jurisdiction of the Holy Diocese of Nubia. The Orthodox Missionary Fraternity, socially responsive, has sent financial help for the distribution of food supplies.
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Ode to Holy Missionary Fr. Nicodemus Sarikas (1876-1941) Introduction If the sun engraved your name with striated beams Of golden light on the east coast of Africa, He would do it to honor your presence there. Ι I dig through my memory with tears still wet To trace your family roots. A child born in Kato Panagia In the consecrated land of Asia Minor, Where lilacs used to bloom, On the martyred earth of Christianity. In the city of Jerusalem you practiced Spiritual ministry with humble reverence. Later, as a priest in a Christ-driven dream Adorned with bravery, You traveled further away, in Africa. ΙΙ You were welcomed to the mysterious continent. Countries opened Their hospitable portals to you: South Africa, Mozambique, Rhodesia, Madagascar, Kenya, Uganda. Eventually your establishment in Tanganyika Made the sprout of Orthodox Mission bloom Among the natives. You covered countless kilometers in jungles and savannas, Following paths that might have been yours... Indeed! With how many wild and tame animals did you become friends? A secret locked in silence. At the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, at wonderful Moshe And the nearby Mashoka; It’s there that you made your hut from bamboo And your church too, the «Wisdom of God». 42
III -When you catechized the Africans, Your mellifluous word was as simple As the grass of the field. It erased the darkness of the idols At the anticipated Christian dawn. -When you baptized the Africans, Rivers, lakes were bathed in light, In a vision of holy presence. The dance of the blessed angels Clothed souls fittingly for entering Paradise. -When you conducted the Divine Liturgy for the Africans Under trees or simple straw huts, it was a blessing of God. The drums would beat joyfully Inviting our barefoot brothers To receive Christ’s body and blood in the Holy Communion. ΙV Holy Missionary of caring love, Spiritual farmer of the sweaty toil, You sowed for 35 years the Holy Word of the Triune God In the uncultivated African field. Later, the harvest of the fruits spread Your name to more remote areas, As the wind scatters the fragrance of flowers. When you received the divine call to eternity, You were in the Uganda Mission After a laborious journey, you were embraced by The beloved city of Tanga, daughter of the Indian Ocean ... Here in this land of Tangkanika will your body rest. That day, December 29th, the sun began to turn pale Bidding farewell to the dusk And to your earthly life, dressed in holiness. The angels coming down with an all-white carriage Received your soul on the path toward celestial exaltation! V -Now that I think of you as a labourer On the long hard road of Mission, The heart overflows with deep emotion. -Now that I picture you on the sea waves, A special touch of blessing stirs the senses. Nostis Psarras 43
Maria Cazamia - Tsernou A fountain of love
Maria!... Let me announce your departure from the earthly life, in few words, as you wanted. I do not come in plaudits, because your humility would imprison my consience. You didn’t like to be praised... Your heart was comforted in simplicity. You had been of a family who prayerfully loved the Holy Triune God. In your childhood you were accompanied by your brother, whereas in the course of the time you walked along your husband, who gave you two outstanding sons. You studied at the School of Archaeology and Art, but your interest was captured by Theology. You were a professor of Byzantine Archaeology and Art at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. The Orthodox Missionary Fraternity joyfully welcomed you with honor in its Board of Directors, but you also were a daughter of the memorable John Cazamias, a venerable member. Your social sensitivity was painted in your heart with touches of affection, especially for the orphans of Africa. In the Theological School of Kinshasa, the capital of Congo (DRC), the students competed with each other for excellency in your lessons. But finally, deadly roots grew in your agonizing body and caused thorny pain... Finally, hope was chased away and we were caught in grief. On September 10, 2016, at the funeral service at Saint Photios church, you bid us farewell and gave as a fruit of eternal love as a memory. Now, your small raft is travelling in Christian sails towards eternity. Bon Voyage! Christ is Risen! Nostis Psarras 44
Columns of Gratitude Donations from 1.8.2016 to 31.10.2016
Donors’ names are only available in the printed edition
For God loves a cheerful giver
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Donors’ names are only available in the printed edition
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Donors’ names are only available in the printed edition
License
This work is distributed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical 4.0 International license (goo.gl/Q9uqXL). Similarly licensed works of the following authors were used in the respective pages:
4 Anthony Quintano 13 Robertus B. Herdiyanto 21 Bernard Dupont 26 Allan Hopkins 31 Allan Hopkins 37 Dave Proffer 45 Stuart Richards 46 Chirag Jog
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