Saint Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos, the “Mouze” of Africa

“My strength is made perfect in weakness”

How paradoxical it seems in the life and journey of Saint Chrysostomos the Missionary that the power of God is revealed through human weakness! And yet, how true this paradox was. A man with many physical weaknesses became a vessel of grace, an example and proof that “where God wills, the order of nature is overcome.”

How delighted I was when I picked up the phone and heard His Beatitude the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria announcing to me from the other end of the line: “Charalambe, the time has come to enroll Elder Chrysostomos in the catalog of Saints! From now on, we will not call him Elder, but Saint Elder Chrysostomos, Missionary of Africa.”

For the members of the Fraternity, Papa-Chrysostomos always existed in everyone’s consciousness as a Saint. For the indigenous people, he was the lamp of hope that never extinguished; he was their “Mouze,” their elder, their father, and their protector! Despite his physical weaknesses, he shared with them the pain, the sorrows, and the hardships of their daily struggle for survival.

The Journey to Alexandria

With these thoughts, 18 members of the Fraternity set off, at the invitation of the Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, to attend the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy for the canonization of Elder Chrysostomos. We set off for the great city of Alexander.

Deep roots connect us with its history and culture, with the long-standing presence of the Greek Macedonians who founded it. We are united by the missionary Church of the Holy and Glorious Evangelist Mark. We are united by the common path, the common struggle of evangelizing the indigenous peoples. We are united by the great spiritual wealth of the Fathers of the Alexandrian Church and the common missionary struggle towards all nations.

Joyfully rang the bells of Saint Savvas, calling us to the joy of the Divine Mystagogy, to the joy of the Resurrection, to the dance of the Saints!

With how much love Father Germanos, Metropolitan of Tamiatheos, received us in the courtyard of the Patriarchal Holy Monastery of Saint Savvas the Sanctified of Alexandria! What a significant role it played as a refuge of prayer and worship for Hellenism in the East! How many captives it freed during the years of slavery, paying for their redemption from the slave markets of Egypt.

“Who is a great God like our God?” is heard from the mouths of all the faithful, clergy and laity! You are captivated when you hear Divine Paul in his first epistle to the Corinthians say: “we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.”

The Missionary Struggle

To the missionary who embarks on the Mission with the Grace of God and the blessing of his spiritual father, this mission appears multifaceted and complex, like a journey: to transmit, to teach, and to preach the Word, to give hope through the Resurrection of Christ to the souls of the faithful.

Suddenly, he finds himself in other countries, with other people, other trees and plants, other customs, other traditions, another culture. With the two wings of love and faith, he tries to fly, to help every person in need of assistance, every person awaiting help from the Mother Church!

And how much joy he feels when he acquires his first priest, his first collaborators. When the first Church is built with dry branches and mud, when he performs the first baptisms in lakes and rivers, when he celebrates the first weddings. And how much he rejoices for the blessing God gives him to increase and expand the work of offering and sacrifice to the suffering People of God.

However, along with the joys come sorrows and temptations, difficulties that must be overcome. Yet, with the problems, God also provides the Grace, courage, and patience to overcome the difficulties.

The missionary rejoices when he sees his priest interrupting the Divine Liturgy with sobs and, with tears, crossing the sick woman who suffers, and through prayer and blessing, casting out demons and performing miracles! Then, with one voice, all the faithful exclaim: “Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore”…

The Patriarch’s Message

The Patriarch’s voice was heard again saying: “Elder Chrysostomos suffered, was persecuted, endured much… You, the members of the Orthodox Foreign Mission Fraternity, gave him love, gave him shelter, gave him food for his children! Behold how many African Bishops are here with us. From now on, we will say: Saint Chrysostomos, the Missionary of Africa! The work continues, and I will soon be back in my beloved Africa. A big thank you to the Fraternity, to all of you, for not forgetting us. The Patriarchate may be poor, but our heart is rich! Therefore, I offer you and honor you with the Patriarchate’s distinction as “myrrh-bearers of Christ’s love” for your ministry in the field of Mission! In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Then all the Hierarchs and priests, clergy and laity, chanted “We have seen the true Light”!

From the abundance of the heart and the richness of emotions, all members of the Fraternity support this work! It is a work that for many years has supported people who must remain in their homeland, to be educated, to share and offer what they received from the Orthodox Greek Mission: love, faith, and hope in God and in humanity.

Charalambos Metallidis
Chairman of the Board.