The Mission in Southern Madagascar

His Grace Bishop Prodromos of Toliara attended an event organized by the Orthodox Foreign Mission Fraternity and gave a brief account of seven years of missionary activity in Southern Madagascar.

He noted that eighteen churches have been erected, while the first Holy Temple worldwide dedicated to the new Saint Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos, the pioneering missionary of Africa, is currently being completed.

Mr. Prodromos mentioned that, under the care of the Orthodox Mission, fourteen schools with 8,000 students attend completely free of charge in the diocese today, while the Orthodox Clinic continues its uninterrupted operation with 38 staff members and free provision of medicines and examinations. The clinic’s reputation is such that the U.S. Embassy in Madagascar officially recommends it to American citizens traveling to the area who require medical care.

His Grace also announced the opening of an orphanage for the rescue of twin children, who until recently were at risk of death due to a local custom, and noted that over 12,000 baptisms have taken place in the area within seven years.

His reference to the recent looting that erupted after the political unrest that hit the country was moving. Despite the widespread turmoil, the Mission’s warehouses remained untouched. A note was found affixed to its door stating, “Because you respect us, we respect you,” a spontaneous recognition by the Malagasy people of the ethos and ministry of the Orthodox Church.

The Bishop concluded with an appeal for the establishment of a boarding school, so that children from remote villages can continue their studies in the city, and thanked the Fraternity and Greeks everywhere who have embraced the missionary work with love.

The event was attended by Fr. Theodosios Argyropoulos, head of the foreign mission office of the Holy Metropolis of Thessaloniki, Professor Symeon Paschalidis of the School of Theology, EDIP Nikolaos Tsirevelos, and a large crowd.