Three New Projects in Central Tanzania

The Orthodox External Mission Fraternity continues to financially support missionary work in Central Tanzania and the Holy Metropolis of Arusha. Three projects funded this year—a completed well and two churches under construction—were made possible thanks to your help.

The Well at Ibogo Primary School

In June 2026, the construction of a well for the children of Ibogo primary school was completed, with 5,000 euros in funding from the Fraternity. Its inauguration was honored with a special blessing service, where Metropolitan Agathonikos of Arusha blessed the project in the presence of students and local residents. A few minutes later, the children in their blue school uniforms happily crowded around the pump, washing their hands and filling buckets with clean water.

The Sacred Church of the Holy Trinity is Nearing Completion

Since January 2026, the construction of the Sacred Church of the Holy Trinity has been underway, with a budget of 40,000 euros. The church has already acquired its roof, featuring the distinctive blue corrugated iron, the perimeter portico with white columns, and its bell tower, which is still being completed. Inside, the plastering has largely progressed: the iconostasis and the Holy Altar have been constructed, and the church awaits its equipment to begin functioning. Simultaneously, a baptistery is being built in the surrounding area to welcome the new children of God.

This Sacred Church of the Holy Trinity should not be confused with the namesake church we funded in 2023.

The Cathedral of the Theotokos: A Long-Term Effort Continues

In the same Metropolis, the construction of the Sacred Church of the Theotokos, which will serve as the Cathedral of the Metropolis, has been ongoing since November 2020. This is a much larger complex, featuring a two-story building, rows of arched windows, a dome with a cross, and a separate entrance with a gate. The project has received 42,162.57 euros in funding from the Fraternity to date and is currently at the plastering stage, although its size and complexity clearly require more time. Inside, the area beneath the dome remains filled with wooden scaffolding, and the windows have been installed. This project demonstrates what it means to build a church that will become a landmark for an entire city.

Acknowledgements

The Fraternity thanks the donors from Greece and abroad who support these ambitious projects and, through their contributions, build the future of Orthodox Mission in the heart of Tanzania.