The Synodal Encyclical on the Repose of Blessed Chrysostom Papasarantopoulos (1973)

HOLY SYNOD OF THE CHURCH OF GREECE
M.S.E. FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Office of Foreign Missions

On December 29, 1972, a missionary figure of the Orthodox Church reposed in the Lord: the ever-memorable Fr. Chrysostom Papasarantopoulos.

This humble servant worked from 1960 until his death in the innermost parts of Africa, among the indigenous inhabitants of East and Central Africa. Throughout this period, he was a permanent and continuous presence as an Orthodox clergyman and contributed greatly to the missionary work of the Church.

The ever-memorable Fr. Chrysostom was born in Vasilitsi, Messenia, in 1903. At the age of 15, he entered the Monastery of Panagoulaki in Kalamata as a novice monk. There he also became a monk. In 1925, he was ordained a priest in Gardiki, where he remained until 1936. In 1940-41, he was at the Monastery of Faneromeni in Salamina. From 1941, he served as Protosyncellus in the Holy Metropolis of Edessa until 1950. In 1958-59, he completed his theological studies at the University of Athens.

He then travels as a pilgrim to Jerusalem. He also visits Alexandria, Egypt, and receives permission to go to Africa.

From 1960, his missionary activity in Africa begins.

His first stop was distant UGANDA. He worked there until 1966, when he moved to KENYA. In 1970, he left Kenya for ZAMBIA, and in November 1970, he settled in ZAIRE (formerly CONGO), where he served until his death.

His work was both missionary and administrative. He served as the General Archiepiscopal Commissioner of the Metropolis of Irenopolis and, from 1968 until January 1969, directed the mission.

His missionary endeavor consisted of establishing Missionary Stations and Holy Temples, assisting in the basic Orthodox education of the indigenous people, and translating some Church services, especially the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom, into the local dialect (Swahili). .

Apart from his activities in the missionary countries, he helped, through his exhortations, in the creation of the Office of Foreign Missions of the Church of Greece and attracted funds from Greece and other countries, awakening the missionary interest of many people.

His last effort was the erection of a Holy Temple and a missionary center in Congo.

The fervent zeal of the ever-memorable Fr. Chrysostom and his continuous effort to spread Orthodoxy among the indigenous inhabitants of Africa were moving. His work must find successors. People with the fear of God, with zeal for the missionary endeavor, with great self-denial, and with a great spirit of sacrifice. The work of the Mission, to which Fr. Chrysostom dedicated his life, is the work of God. Let us pray to the Lord to repose the soul of the ever-memorable Fr. Chrysostom and to raise up successors to the great work of the Mission.