The Jewel of Saint Athanasius in Colombia
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who preach the gospel of good things!” (Romans 10:14-15).
How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without someone preaching? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the joyful message.
There is a great difference between a simple verbal confession of faith and Orthodoxy that becomes right practice (orthopraxia). The former is passive, while the latter is active and restless. It desires salvation and deification not only for itself but for every person, people, or nation, transcending all kinds of borders or distinctions. A faith that remains only in words or is limited to nationalistic communities is selfish and therefore heterodox. The clearest characteristic of Orthodoxy is precisely orthopraxia, which, like Greek Orthodox Christianity, has enriched the world by fulfilling the teaching of the Apostle Paul who reminds us: For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails anything nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love. (Galatians 5:5-6)
Centuries passed before the doors of the Orthodox Church opened to the citizens of Latin American nations. This began the day the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople embraced us with warm love and unique care. It allowed us to come into contact with the Orthodox Greek world that has nourished us from those days until today, enabling us to be shaped and enriched in a process of maturation in faith. This process allows us to say today that we have seen the True Light.
The Orthodox community of Cereté, in Córdoba, Colombia, consists mainly of families from the Colombian Caribbean coast, in the Atlantic region of our country. Not long ago, this spiritual journey began under the pastoral, spiritual, and liturgical guidance of Father Rafael Padilla. Without a church, with catechesis in homes, moving from one place to another, the community consisted mainly of children in a rural area of the city. Like the primitive Christian community, it was marginalized due to the lack of a suitable space for its liturgical life. The faithful always prayed to God to grant them a suitable place for their liturgical life, and God, who loves His children, through the Orthodox Foreign Mission Fraternity, gave His answer.
Under the guidance of His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos of Mexico, with the help of the Fraternity and the support of Mr. Athanasios Mangana, the construction of the church of Panagia Pantanassa and Saint Athanasius began. The Fraternity sought benefactors for this project and found them. The benefactors requested not to be named. The project was carried out on a plot of land previously acquired by the Holy Metropolis through its Region in Colombia. Thus, the project came into being, which today brings spiritual happiness to these people who, due to their own economic reality and because a large percentage of them are children, cannot build an infrastructure of this size on their own.
Initially, the project was planned for 50 square meters. However, given that the number of faithful is increasing, it was determined that it should have larger dimensions. Therefore, the church was built to approximately 250 square meters. Similarly, the first design had certain Latin characteristics, which could cause confusion. Also wanting to honor the Greek homeland, it was decided that the final design would be island-style.
The fact that the majority of the faithful are children gives this Parish and center of Orthodoxy a bright future. A future where faith is expressed with the hope of those who, knowing Christ, can make Him present in a Western society that thirsts for answers not only dogmatic, but above all for experience and spiritual life. Those who admired the architecture, colors, and iconography of the church have declared it a jewel of God in the Colombian Caribbean.
We thank God, His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos, and all the benefactors for this wonderful project, which particularly strengthens the Orthodox faith in our country, serving simultaneously as the present and future of Orthodoxy in our nation.
† Timothy of Assos
