In the context of the course “Contemporary trends in mission”, an event on “Christian Missionary Witness in Sub-Saharan Africa” was held on Wednesday 13 November 2024 at the Faculty of Theology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
The event was held under the responsibility of the teachers of the course, Dr. Peter Panagiotopoulos, Associate Professor, Dr. Kleanthis Nizamis, Associate Professor and Dr. Nikolaos Tsirevelos, Teaching Staff, and in cooperation with the Board of the “Brotherhood of Orthodox Foreign Mission”.
The guest speaker was the Most Reverend Bishop of Bunia, Kisangani and Eastern Congo κ. Polycarp, of the Patriarchate of Alexandria. The event began with a greeting by the Reverend Dean of the Faculty of Theology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Protopresbyter π. Athanasius Gikas . Then, the President of the Department of Theology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Mr. Nikolaos Maggioros, addressed the audience.
The following spoke Bishop Polycarp of Bunia. The Bishop described the joys and difficulties of Christian missionary witness today, emphasizing that with the grace of the Holy Spirit these actions are the work of many people. He commemorated the blessed missionaries Fr. Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos, Fr. Kosmas Gregoriatis, Metropolitan Ignatius Mandelidis of Pentapolis (formerly of Central Africa) and Metropolitan Nikephoros of Kinshasa, who had served in the Congo in previous regions. He then referred to the different cultural representations of the nationalities of Sub-Saharan Africa. At the same time, he described the ways of rebuilding a new diocese that are reminiscent – by analogy – of the early Christian era. He particularly emphasized the fact that the Christian missionary witness is a constant struggle for the transformation of the world. Social service is not a redemption but an expression of applied theology.
Afterwards, students took the floor and asked various questions to the Bishop regarding missionary activity, the needs of the missionary teams, as well as theological issues that arise during the evangelization of the nations. The event concluded with a brief description of the activities of the Brotherhood of Orthodox Missionary Work by the President of the Board, Mr. Charalambos Metallidis. The meeting was coordinated by Dr. Nikolaos Tsirevelos.
The event was attended by professors and students of the Department of Theology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, as well as friends of the mission.
Dr. Nikolaos Tsirevelos
