Dear Mr. President and Members of the Board of the Orthodox Foreign Missionary Brotherhood,
I would like to inform you about the progress of the construction of St. Christopher’s Church, which your Brotherhood is sponsoring, that by the grace of God the plastering of the Church has been completed and all the windows have been installed.
At the moment the iconostasis, the 3 Holy Tables, the pulpit and the bishop’s throne are being built from early Christian basilica designs. These works were not included in the tender, but the iconostasis and the Holy Banks were provided by the contractor, and the pulpit and the throne by Nigerian Orthodox, who are from the area. All of the above will be clad in red brick and the expense will hopefully be covered by local believers. Several seats have also already been constructed, at the expense of the parishioners of the church.
The floor of the church will follow and finally the doors will be installed. All this will be ready by December 20. The painting of the church will be done after Epiphany to be ready for the Inauguration on February 17, God willing.
As, by the grace of God, the time of the consecration of the Church of St. Christopher by His Beatitude our Patriarch is approaching, it is necessary to make the necessary equipment of the Church. Specifically, we must ensure the acquisition of the following:
- 1 Crucified (body),
- 3 Gospels,
- 2 small bakeries for the Holy Tables of the chapels,
- 1 Grail,
- 1 Cross of Blessing,
- Icons for the iconostasis and the niche of the sanctuary,
- Candelions,
- Amber and hot,
- Covers of Holy Tables,
- three inauguration kits (materials, candle, water, water, deck, etc.).
I also express the most sincere thanks and gratitude of our local Church for granting a five-year scholarship of eight hundred and fifty euros per year to the Orthodox student James Nwaba.
From the bottom of my heart I wish the Lord to always strengthen your steps on the paths of missionary witness, giving to all of you longevity and health, fulfilling every personal, family and professional aspiration.
With grateful heart and best wishes,
† Metropolitan Alexander of Nigeria
