In southwestern Tanzania, in the town of Makambako, the Orthodox faith is taking ever deeper root in the hearts of the people. The new parish of Saint George Karslidis, under the paternal care of His Eminence Metropolitan Agathonikos of Arusha, is experiencing remarkable growth.
This parish stands as a beacon of Orthodoxy in the region. The church was built a few years ago with the significant contribution of members of the Greek diaspora from Australia. These devout benefactors continue tirelessly to support the Orthodox community, providing for both the spiritual and material needs of our Tanzanian brethren, while also strengthening the multifaceted missionary work of the Holy Metropolis of Arusha.
A particularly important day for the local Church was Saturday, 2 May, when the memory of Saint Athanasios the Great is honoured. With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Agathonikos of Arusha, Fr Maximos, General Archieratical Commissioner, together with accompanying clergy and nuns of the Holy Metropolis, as well as priests from Greece, travelled to Makambako. There, in an atmosphere of spiritual joy, they performed group baptisms, through which new souls were incorporated into the Body of the Orthodox Church. The moments were deeply moving, as men, women, and children received Holy Baptism and began their new life in Christ.
Following the baptisms, an agape meal was offered to all, provided by the Church of Saint George in Litochoro. The parish priest, Archimandrite Ioannis, is currently in Tanzania to support the missionary effort; he also performed baptisms and distributed the food offered by his devoted parishioners.
The continuous growth of the faithful in the parish of Saint George Karslidis testifies to the vitality of the mission in the Makambako region and confirms that the seed of the Gospel finds fertile ground in the hearts of the people. With the blessing of His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria, and the moving support of members and benefactors of the Missionary Centre, the Orthodox presence in Makambako is developing dynamically.
Orthodoxy reveals the true life and the hope of salvation in every corner of the world. The work being accomplished in Makambako is a living proof of the missionary “miracle” wrought by God in the 21st century across the globe, and especially in suffering and often overlooked Africa, the continent of the future.
