Guatemala: The Land of Forests
Another missionary activity took place this August in Guatemala, the cradle of Mayan civilization. A memory resurfaced from an older talk about the Mayan people: that they are simple, humble people with the unique characteristic of building their churches voluntarily, all together as a community!
Furthermore, they are a long-suffering people, having endured a historical journey that includes 16th-century colonialism, their independence in 1840, and a series of social upheavals culminating in a civil war in 1960, finally achieving the long-awaited peace treaty in 1996. Today, half of the country’s population lives below the poverty line. All of this prompted us to get to know this people and their country through our visit to their Orthodox villages this summer.
This endeavor began with the blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos of Mexico. I would also like to point out that this trip could not have been realized without His Grace Bishop Timotheos of Assos (Colombia and Venezuela) taking on the burden of all the care and planning. He detached from his Diocese his excellent spiritual children and assistants, Father Ieronymos and Grigorios, to help both with the translation and the smooth operation of the ophthalmology clinic. We deeply thank them all for their significant contribution to the missionary work in Guatemala.
Our tour included the Orthodox villages of Guatemala located near the southern border of Mexico. The Orthodox Christians in these areas number 300,000. There are 125 parishes served by Bishop Osios of Sasima, five priests, and only two deacons!
Upon arriving in the capital of Guatemala with my colleague-instrumentalist Efthymia Repaki, and after being welcomed by Bishop Osios of Sasima (Guatemala) with his entourage and our brothers from Colombia, we headed north to the Orthodox village of Aguacate, with a population of 5,000. We formed a mission team, enveloped by the Bishop’s immense hospitality, who embraced us into his environment as a family. We all served a common purpose: the care, healing, and relief of our Mayan brothers and sisters. Efthymia, Father Ieronymos, Grigorios, and my own participation formed the core of this effort, with each person leaving their unique mark.
From the first contacts, the rumors of the humility, simplicity, love, and great embrace of the Mayans were confirmed! Through our acquaintance, they realized that they now have brothers and sisters in Greece, and through prayer, they will continue to connect with us from now on. It is comforting and encouraging, as they told us, that they no longer feel alone in their struggle. The fact of our visit particularly pleased Bishop Osios of Sasima, who noted that our mission was the first to arrive from Greece.
Our next stop was the village of Pebilpam. We were joyfully welcomed by Father Daniel, his family, and the parishioners, with the church courtyard decorated with flags, balloons, and fireworks. Observing the people closely, their daily toil and the anxiety of harsh survival were reflected in their eyes. We listened to them, delved into their problems, and embraced them fraternally!
Unfortunately, healthcare in this country is an expensive private matter. Therefore, most cases requiring surgery remained untreated. Among the elderly, illiteracy is prevalent, 30% among men and 60% among women.
The Mayans’ journey of seeking the Mother Orthodox Church is very interesting, as they were Roman Catholics in the past. A significant figure played a pivotal role: the former Catholic priest and senator Andres Giron. In 1995, at the invitation of a large group of Mayans, he arrived in Aguacate as a spiritual leader and a leader of the agrarian reform movement. In these capacities, he provided spiritual rebirth into Orthodoxy on the one hand, and legal assistance for the recovery of encroached Mayan properties on the other. The agrarian reform movement began with his defense for the repatriation of indigenous people to land that was violently taken from them. For this struggle, he was imprisoned, and there were three assassination attempts on his life, even though he had bodyguards.
In an interview, he states: “The Mayans are the most religious people I have ever met. They have a tremendous need for God’s love! Although we are unworthy, when we visit these villages, they are so happy to see a priest that they welcome us on their knees… with incense! I am so proud to serve them. As a priest, you must be a Saint, because they call you to be a Saint!” More than just a simple priest and social worker, he was a father to his people. He reposed on February 18, 2014. He was in their hearts, and they in his. He led by serving others and won their hearts by becoming one of them. He led his long-suffering flock into the embrace of the Orthodox Mother Church in 2010. It was then the blessed Archbishop Athenagoras of Mexico who wisely opened the door of Orthodoxy to thousands of Mayans!
It is admirable how God is revealed to this people through a martyric historical path, with arduous struggle and unwavering faith! The spiritual stature of Father Andreas is Bishop Osios of Sasima (Guatemala). Today, the struggle of the few missionaries with continuous tours to the 125 parishes of Guatemala is titanic! Bishop Osios of Sasima mentioned that in the past, as a priest, he served 80 parishes. He celebrated the Liturgy daily in a different parish until the cycle of 80 parishes was completed. Every two weeks, the priests visit the parishes for the faithful Mayans to receive communion. That is why they welcome them with great joy, fireworks, musical bands, and the decoration of churches with flags and balloons. An appeal is made to the priests of Greece to support the spiritual struggle of our Orthodox Mayan brothers and sisters.
However, time unfortunately warned us of the completion of our mission. We owe deep gratitude to the Bishop, his entourage, and his people! Our hearts were filled with love, admiration, and emotion for all that we experienced with them. They initiated us into their own spirituality and their steel-like fighting spirit, without counting the painful cost of their search for Truth!
Katerina Alexandrou
Ophthalmologist – Regular Member of the Fraternity
