In this article I will introduce you to the Orthodox community of San AtanasioelGrande in the city of Cereté, Cordoba, Colombia. Butfirst, let memention that we are praying that God will rest the souls of those who slept in the horrific train accident in Greece. We sendourlove in sympathy to those who are suffering the loss of their love dones in this tragic event. Your pain is our pain and your hope is our hope, crucifixion and resurrection. May God’s grace be upon those who, in face of the accident, were able to draw strength in the midst of the tragedy to help their brothers and sisters by demonstrating heroic Christian love for their fellow humans.
The city of Cereté islocated in the Atlantic and coastal part of Colombia. Itis a very happy and quiet municipality, known as the capital of white gold because its economy revolves mainly around the cultivation of cotton. Every year Ceretéen joys a wide variety of cultural festivals that delight locals and foreigners alike.
The municipality of Cereté belongs to the Cordoba prefecture, in the north of the country, is located 12 meters above sea level and has an average temperature of 27 degrees Celsius. It is located 18 kilometers from Montreal, the capital of the county, and has a municipal area of 266 square kilometers. It has been called “The White City”, “The Capital of White Gold” and “The Agro-Industrial City of the Department”, which makes the locals proud; despite their economic shortcomings, they do not lose the joy that has always distinguished them.
It is located in the Sinúriverbasin, in the area called Medio Sinú. Just 9 kilometres awayis the Los Garzone airport.
Orthodoxy arrived in this blessed region with the reverend Father Raphael, a former pastor of a Protestant denomination in Colombia, who followed the path of the true faith, reaching the priestly rank of presbyter in the city of Medellin, where he spent a short period of time. Soon, however, he began missionary activity in his native city of Cereté. For five years, with his own family, he and his family had been traveling continuously from Medellin to Cereté for more than ten hours for catechesis. Thus began the course of our Orthodox brothers in this distant region of the Atlantic. Most of the people from the rural area had heard or been taught almost nothing about Christianity. No denomination had taken an interest in these people. After a period of catechesis, the first Orthodox were baptized and thus began the Orthodox Church in this town.
The families that make up the Orthodox community of St. Athanasius are humble farmers who work hard to survive.The money they earn is only enough for food and their basic needs. Apart from this reality, the greatness of the faith of these people is heartbreaking, because they walk long distances to get to where the Divine Liturgy will be conducted, dueto the lack of a church.
Our Metropolis, with the initiative of His Eminence, Metropolitan Athenagoras of Mexico, was able to purchase a plot of land for the construction of a church and a spiritual center. I am addressing you, the readers of this blessed website , which God has set up as an instrument for the outreach of our Orthodox faith to the nations where our Church is not yet present, i.e. of the Orthodox Missionary Fraternity. Together we can make the dream of these humble families reality; after all, they only want a place where they can glorify God and live the liturgical and sacramental Orthodox life in a dignified way. The church construction project requires about 35,000dollars, which we do not have. I am sending this message asking for help to implement this work that will bring blessing for whoever helps them acquire a place to participate in the sacramental life of the Kingdom of God.
The first time we were visited by Rev. Fr. Irenaeus, Chancellor of the Metropolis of Alexandroupolis, he came to Cereté and other parts of our country with a medical team in the midst of the pandemic. We were blessed to experience the hospitality of the faithful who offered us the best they had to thank us for the visit. This experience left a mark in the hearts of the doctors who also behaved in a similar way with great love, humility and simplicity. The prayer “let us love one another, that with oneness of mind we may confess” was realized that day! The Greek brothers came not to conquerus but to enrich us. WhenFr. Irenaeus together with a cardiologist, a hematologist, an orthopedist and two students taught us Christ’s Greek love, simplicity and humility in the face of our own poverty in the midst of a pandemic, what can we say?” Thank you” is not enoughto express ou deep gratitude. I simply give praise to God, who in His love, wisdom and brotherhood, unites us and teaches us that there is greater joy in giving than in receiving. “Freely you have received, freely give.”
A thousand blessings and thanks from our grateful Orthodox brothers and sisters of Colombia and Venezuela.
✝Timothy of Assos
