Due to the Covid-19 pandemic that has been affecting millions of human beings, the Orthodox Missionary Fraternity was forced to suspend its in-person events for a second year in a row.
Coronavirus has been spreading death, and we really felt this sorrow, losing close affiliates, such as the late Nikiphoros, Metropolitan of Kinshasa of blessed memory.
Consequently, the Fraternity was not able to hold its regular gatherings, which have always been a constant source of awareness for missionary work.
We tried to make up for this loss with virtual events, which we held with the following missionary speakers:
- Bishop Prodromos of Toliara and South Madagascar
- Bishop Makarios of Nairobi
- Sister Nectaria of the Kolkata Mission, India
- Bishop Myron of New Zealand and Oceania
- Bishop Peter of Accra
On 13 June, 2021, we managed to hold one in-person event at Saint John catacombs, with the Chancellor of Toliara diocese, Fr. Polycarpos, and Bishop Silvester of Jinja as speakers.
Still, the Board of Directors had the opportunity to receive many missionaries and get up-to-date information about the problems they face in their missionary regions. Among them were:
- Bishop Gregory of Cameroon
- Bishop Theodosios of Kinshasa
- Bishop Agathonikos of Arusha
- Bishop Chrysostomos of Bukoba
- Bishop Prodromos of Toliara
- Bishop Timotheos of Assos, assistant bishop for Colombia and Venezuela
- Bishop Athenagoras of Myrina, assistant bishop for Cuba
- Bishop Silvester of Jinja
- Fr. Polycarpos Diamantopoulos, chancellor of Toliara diocese,
- Fr. Aristotle Asimwe from Western Uganda
Despite the unprecedented situation, the hearts of our Mission friends kept breathing for solidarity and giving.
Your dignity and love were visibly professed, since the Fraternity’s revenues saw a 59% increase in 2021. We are so grateful for this support, because with your contribution, thousands of hungry children around the world, most often from Africa, found food and clean water.
Our Fraternity variously supported the Orthodox missionaries and responded to their requests with responsibility. Our programs are summarized below.
A. Constructions
| Project title | Region | Progress | |
| 1 | Theotokos Church construction | Arusha | Framing |
| 2 | Saint Parthenius Church construction | Arusha | Completed |
| 3 | Saint Panteleimon Church construction | Arusha | Preparation |
| 4 | Saint Nectarios Church construction | Goma | Preparation |
| 5 | Saint Lawrence Church construction | Gulu | Framing |
| 6 | Saint Paisios Church construction | Kananga | Completed |
| 7 | Holy Trinity Church construction | Kananga | Completed |
| 8 | Saint Athanasios Church construction | Toliara | Fixings |
| 9 | Saint Catherine Church construction | Toliara | Fixings |
| 10 | Dispensary construction in Karabatu | Toliara | Completed |
| 11 | Dispensary construction in Beravi | Toliara | Framing |
| 12 | Dispensary construction at Holy Trinity Church | Toliara | Preparation |
| 13 | Primary school construction in Kakerere, Kyerwa | Bukoba | Preparation |
| 14 | Saint Nectarios Church completion | Accra | Completed |
| 15 | Saints Cyril and Methodius Church completion | Kisumu | Fixings |
B. Humanitarian aid
Sent:
- One chapel weighing 50 tonnes was sent to the Holy Diocese of Malawi
- 25 tonnes of humanitarian aid were sent to Malawi
- 25 tonnes of food were sent to Katanga, southern Congo (DRC)
- 25 tonnes of food were sent to Kinshasa, central Congo (DRC)
- 75 tonnes of food were sent to orphanages in Romania
C. Water projects
23 water projects Arusha, Gulu, Kananga, Kisumu, Malawi, Toliara
D. Soup kitchens
29,200 food rations Arusha, Colombia, Gulu, India, Kisumu, Madagascar, Malawi, Nairobi, Toliara
E. Baptisms
167 baptism subscriptions Arusha, Bukoba, Kananga, Katanga, Toliara
F. Educational sponsoring
54 student sponsorships Arusha, Katanga
G. Priestly support
6 priests supported Gulu
H. Other needs
- Saint Athanasius Patriarchal School of Alexandria operational support €20,000
- Kidamali clinic operational support in Iringa, Arusha €22,000
- Purchase of bikes and motorbikes for the priests of Bukoba € 3,000
- General missionary needs € 300,320
The Board managed the estate endowments efficiently to cover the Fraternity’s fixed and operational expenses.
The “Orthodox Mission” magazine was printed in 7,000 copies and distributed for free to raise awareness for the Lord’s missionary field.
The Orthodox Missionary Fraternity continues its operations on this 60-year-old course, where the friends of the Mission selflessly contribute and fulfill the words of Christ: “I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink.”
Charalampos Metallidis Board President
