The contribution of the Orthodox Church, a milestone in the course of education in Kenya
The presence of so many significant educational institutions in Kenya for so many decades now is a fact that should not go unnoticed, as it has already entered the history of education at all levels and sectors. I have addressed and noted in my previous reports how this effort began and how much it benefited the local population of Kenya. The major physical education centers, such as the Patriarchal School and the Technological Institute, were inspired and their mission fulfilled by the late Archbishop Makarios III of Cyprus during the 1970s.
I am a witness to this great educational presence in our premises here at the center of our Mission. Is it ever possible that young men and women, children and students, exceeding five thousand, enter and exit daily throughout the extent of our Metropolis! Those who hear it do not believe it. They come here to our center to confirm it, as the Pedagogical School and our Primary School are located in the same area. I stand in awe, wondering how it is possible that only here, at the center of our Mission, we receive so many thousands of people daily who come to acquire academic knowledge, and at the same time religious knowledge, as our two churches, located in the same area, are continuously operating.
The God of love, extreme humility, and condescension knows better than us what His plan is and the outcome of this close and traditional mission within the permissible boundaries of our One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
We have, of course, established both primary and secondary schools throughout Kenya, which belong to our Orthodox Church.
These days, I had the opportunity to visit various educational institutions in remote areas of Kenya and saw firsthand the educational, charitable, and spiritual work being carried out there, as next to every school there is an Orthodox Holy Temple with a priest performing the sacred services. I rejoiced, because I saw and experienced this work firsthand after so many efforts and sacrifices during more than four decades of my humble ministry.
Today I had a unique experience here at our Primary School, where 550 children attend, extremely poor and still in an unusual situation by our standards. Parents and children came to celebrate their graduation from various classes together. At least more than a thousand people gathered. We prayed at the beginning and at the end, and we performed a blessing during which we blessed all the children. So much joy and so much enthusiasm! Everyone, children and parents, thanked the Orthodox Church for the work being done in our poor neighborhood. Everything is free, to help and bring a little joy to our most deprived and despised brethren. The presence and expressions of love from everyone were a living proof of the invaluable contribution of education by our Orthodox Church.
Nairobi Makarios
