The Inauguration of Saint Athanasius in Cereté
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 bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:14-15)
Orthodoxy arrived in Colombia in 1997. A country rich in minerals and natural resources, with enchanting landscapes, humble, simple, and hardworking people, kind-hearted and hospitable, yet also marked by social injustices and a bad reputation, the result of actions by some of our compatriots who have deviated from the right path of life and who do not represent the vast majority of Colombians, these honorable people.
Before the 1990s, a group of Colombians, driven by a special calling, a kind of summons that the Lord had awakened in our hearts, were already seeking Orthodoxy. The Great Mother Church of Constantinople, our Ecumenical Patriarchate, through the establishment of the Holy Metropolis of Panama, later Mexico, responding to our search and request, opened the doors of the Orthodox Church to the indigenous peoples of various tribes and customs that make up the Colombian population. If we consider that until 2000 we had only one closed church and today we have an Orthodox presence with parishes and Orthodox missionary communities in the most important regions of Colombia, we will understand how blessed this journey has been, which, although we lack the necessary financial means, proceeds dynamically by the grace of God. Previously, Orthodoxy was limited to immigrants from Orthodox countries who had arrived in our lands.
The inhabitants of the Atlantic coast of Colombia do not belong to a single specific “tribe”; their population is the result of an intense process of racial mixing. From a sociological and demographic perspective, the population of the Colombian Caribbean coast consists primarily of mestizos, mulattoes, and mixed-race individuals, with significant contributions from indigenous population groups and people of African descent. In this Caribbean region, the Holy Metropolis of Mexico, through the priestly ministry of the Reverend Father Rafael Padilla, directed its efforts towards the establishment of the current Orthodox Parish of Saint Athanasius the Great and the Orthodox Missionary Center, dedicated to Panagia Pantanassa.
Every beginning is difficult, full of challenges and sacrifices; it requires renouncing comforts, just as Father Rafael did when he left the city of Medellín to settle in Cereté, Córdoba, in order to promote the missionary work that, by the grace of God, had begun. We must say that it is a missionary work under adverse conditions, in an area where the heat and humidity are excessive and where faith, patience, perseverance, simplicity, humility, and love are always needed, as demonstrated even today by the current presiding priest, Father Athanasius.
The lack of a church necessitated the celebration of the Divine Liturgy and every service in various locations, in homes, huts, and often outdoors, but always with the hope that this Orthodox community would one day acquire its own Church. God heard this prayer and granted its fulfillment, although efforts are still required for the full realization of the final project we have envisioned: a project that not only spiritually supports the community but also helps it progress and improve the educational life of the people through a technical school.
As with any endeavor, the ark of the Church has a helmsman: the Metropolitan of the region. Therefore, we thank our Father and Chief Shepherd, His Eminence Mr. Iakovos, for his tireless work; without him, the missionary work and various initiatives in this region would not be possible. Above all, we wish to express our gratitude for his commitment, patience, and dedication. Since his enthronement, the missionary work of our Metropolis has gained new strength, promoting evangelism and the implementation of significant projects that increase the number of faithful and expand the spaces dedicated to worship, spiritual and theological training, the learning of the Greek language, as well as the witness of the Orthodox faith in our wider region.
Last July 4, the Church and the Missionary Project were inaugurated, under the protection of Panagia Pantanassa and the intercession of Saint Athanasius the Great. This is a historic liturgical event, as it marks the first time the service of inauguration of an Orthodox church has been performed in Colombia; in this case, our Father and Chief Shepherd, His Eminence Iakovos, presided, accompanied by the Bishop of Sasima and the clergy of the Metropolitan District of Bogotá and Colombia. What stands out most in this historic liturgical event are the faces of the simple faithful and families of the region (radiating happiness, joy, and hope), as a project of such scope not only strengthens their spiritual life but also defends human dignity.
Nothing that has been achieved in this project, not only the church but also the priestly house, would have been possible without the support, contribution, assistance, and love of the Orthodox Foreign Mission Fraternity, which has walked alongside us since the beginning of our Mission. We recognize in the Fraternity the Greek filotimo and the love it always shows for all peoples of the world . We recognize that Greek culture does not conquer but enriches and enlightens everywhere on earth. I would like to express our gratitude to the two anonymous donors, who represented the Orthodox Foreign Mission Fraternity; with boundless love, they became one with our people, sharing love and joy, but above all demonstrating the Greek filotimo and humanity that distinguish Greeks and their contribution to humanity.
It is also worth mentioning the name of Mr. Athanasios Magganas, who has been a fellow traveler from the beginning in the missionary work and participates in it in every way, not only in Colombia but also in various parts of our metropolis. It is also worth mentioning the lawyer Mr. Athanasios Kechagioglou, who financially supports the unpaid cleric and presiding priest Father Athanasius with a contribution that allows him to cover his most basic needs.
May the Grace of God, manifested in every work of the Mission, bestow blessings upon those who support this work, for the fulfillment of the mission entrusted to us by the Lord, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.”
† Timothy of Assos, Auxiliary Bishop of Bogotá and Colombia
