Indonesia is almost balanced on the equatorial line of Asia. It is one of the most exotic countries in the world with diverse interests. It is located between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It consists of more than 17,000 islands, large and small. Its area reaches 1,900,000 square kilometres and its population 270 million. The Indonesians call their country “Tanah Air Kita”, meaning “our country and the sea”. Due to its warm climate with annual temperature fluctuations of 28 to 38°C and abundant rainfall, it has a rich biodiversity. 88% of the inhabitants are Islamists and only 6% belong to Christian denominations. A dream trip to Indonesia’s large island of Sumatra has become a reality.
The Orthodox Mission has grown over the last 13 years starting from scratch at a dizzying speed and based in the capital city of Medan, Sumatra.
This is an achievement of major projects, to which two key factors contribute:
- The first is the effective moral and material support on the part of the Greek friends of the Mission.
- and the second the methodicalness, reliability and outstanding skills of the Missionary Fr. Chrysostom Manalu, with his worthy ally Mrs. Elizabeth Kumesaki as his wife. Both did postgraduate studies in Orthodox Theology at the University of Thessaloniki.
Based on the rich social work and personal actions of Fr Chrysostomos, an important step was taken: the official recognition of the Orthodox Church by the Indonesian state. It is noteworthy that the present and the future of Orthodoxy in this country is being shaped in an environment of peaceful coexistence between religions. This laborious vineyard yields its final distillation, which are the following works:
- The Theological School of Medan,
- the School of Informatics,
- the school complex “Agia Sophia”, consisting of a kindergarten, primary school, secondary school and high school.
- A four-storey clinic, covering areas such as: pathology, surgery, paediatrics, microbiology and medical conference rooms.
- Furthermore, numerous newly established parishes are spreading throughout the region.
Of course, all this, in order to be achieved, requires a titanic struggle and constant vigilance for the maintenance, smooth operation and future prospects of the projects. But behind this creative result, it is evident that from the depths of the Missionary’s soul, the Vision was gradually emerging. A vision of the Inconceivable, the Great, the Ideal, which only with the condescension of Heaven to earth can become true and solid. Our group during its stay in the host country had different activities.
- Mrs.Angeliki Arnaouti, teacher, in her speech to the students of the Theological School “Apostolos Pavlos” interpreted and clarified issues of theological content.
- Mr. Dimitris Vrakas, a filmmaker and associate of the Brotherhood of Orthodox Foreign Mission, took interesting shots of snapshots of the activities of daily life, the unparalleled beauty of the landscapes and also covered interviews with local actors.
- Medical visits were made to treat eye cases on my behalf, both at the Faculty of Theology and in Sumbul, a jungle area located at an altitude of 1,500 metres.
We were hosted with great care in the family environment of Fr.Chrysostomos and his wife Mrs.Elizabeth with his two charming daughters and their thirteen other “children” – some children whose care was taken by the family until they completed their education and were professionally rehabilitated. To date, sixty children are listed who have grown up under their personal care, benefited from the educational program and succeeded in their careers.
Indonesians as a people with a characteristic wide smile, are benevolent, kind, humble, hospitable. Greece receives positive comments and recognition from Indonesian society thanks to its contribution to social work. Our Brotherhood has contributed greatly to the accomplishment of this work. Fr. Chrysostomos Manalu, in his capacity as the representative of the Orthodox Church in Indonesia, is equally appreciated and respected by the authorities of the country. He is a worthy clergyman who deserves our support. I keep as an epilogue a message we received from Indonesia:
“The Greeks, with the Greek language as their vehicle, transmit the light of Greek culture and Orthodoxy to the people of the four corners of the world. If we assume that there are no more Greeks and consequently the Greek language ceases to be spoken, this means deep darkness all over the planet! You must take care of the edifice of Hellenism.”
In the esteem of the peoples, Greece carries out its highest mission despite the challenges of history, because its own history has a depth and weight of millennia and will incessantly supply the world with light! Katerina Alexandrou
Ophthalmic Surgeon
Regular member of the Brotherhood
