At the far end of the Indian Ocean, a few steps from Somalia, Our Orthodoxy…
We are in the 1960s, specifically the time when the British granted independence to the Kenyans. The pioneer and freedom fighter naturally assumed the Presidency of the now free Kenya. Kenyatta belonged to the Kikuyu tribe, who assisted him with the creation of the secret organization known as Mau Mau, analogous to our EOKA, and all fought for the freedom of their country.
Thus, Kenyatta, appreciating the actions of these freedom fighters, wished to honor them. In recognition of their struggles and sacrifices, Kenyatta, after independence (1963), in recognition of their labors and sacrifices, granted vast tracts of land in the most remote but fertile areas, especially here where we are currently, at the far end of the Indian Ocean, just a few steps from Muslim Somalia.
Among those to whom land was granted were two priests named Eleftherios. And so, in this way, they brought the Orthodox faith and tradition to these areas. . And so, for the first time, the seed of Orthodoxy was sown and blossomed. Kilimanjaro and Lamu… I vividly recall my visits when, as a layman, I was invited and guided through these places. How could I have imagined then that I would be the first Hierarch to consecrate the stone-built churches in these areas, replacing the makeshift churches made of mud or wood and rusty corrugated iron… My God. Such blessing, such long-suffering, such condescension…
So, here where we are today, one Father Eleftherios came with his Presbytera Aimilia and their family. A large family! Eight, ten children! Yesterday, upon our arrival, I wished to visit and perform a Trisagion service at their grave. Present were their children and grandchildren. I had made a vow for these two who brought the message of Orthodoxy to literally ‘nowhere’ and planted it so deeply that today the Matins of Orthodoxy can be heard here in the center of Beketoni town.
So I laid the cornerstone, and the church dedicated to Apostle Paul was built, but due to the deadly attacks and terrible massacres by the Muslim group from Somalia, I could not come to consecrate it. Thus, amidst this heavy atmosphere, risking our lives, we came exactly two years ago and performed the consecration.
Our visit here this time was directly related to the celebration of the Divine Liturgy in our beautiful church, located in the city center, and the ordination of Simeon, a graduate of our Patriarchal School, as a deacon and presbyter. The new priest will assist in the second parish here, that of Saint Panteleimon. The most moving thing is that the grandson of Fr. Eleftherios will come to study at our Patriarchal School, and thus later he will be able to continue the immense missionary work that his grandfather began in this remote area.
And all this is happening today. I will not describe this tiring journey in detail. From our Patriarchal School to where we are now is exactly fifteen hours. We could not do it all in one day as night fell in the interim. Many hours, however, and dangerous areas, villages, cities, tropical forests, wild animals.
At this moment, I am precisely there, at the vast, endless, and beautiful Indian Ocean.I sit and gaze into the distance as far as possible, contemplating how much God ultimately loves and cares for humanity. We are here, where we celebrated two Divine Liturgies on Sunday and Monday, to, after deep reflection and examination, grant another graduate of our Patriarchal School, Simeon, who originates from and lives in these parts, to serve our Lord and our Orthodoxy in this secluded and remote part of God’s Creation. The Divine Grace he received has the qualifications to enlighten and strengthen him to fulfill this great and sacred mission.
So, we travel. Many people, Muslims of course, with mosques everywhere and minarets. Women in burqas and men in white jalabiyas, similar color and cap, etc. They literally drove us crazy with their booming voices. Everywhere it is clear that they govern the place; here, of course, where we are, is their domain, and let us not forget, all the deadly attacks and murders took place here!
The heat, of course, did not prevent us from celebrating the Divine Liturgy in the only consecrated church in the city center with our Kikuyu Christian faithful. The landscape, of course, is paradisiacal. Animals, trees, plants, and people. Each adorns it in their own way.
The next day we began our journey again to reach the famous Mount Kilimanjaro. Nature everywhere was dead. Not a single green leaf. Animals roam and search. But there is nothing for them to taste. The situation is desperate. Clouds in the sky began to thicken. Now we had to visit at least one primary school in the Maasai tribe. And the first word that came out of the children’s teacher’s mouth was “we are hungry”! If only it were possible! A completely different landscape. Terrible drought, and the teacher explains to me, for eight consecutive months not a single drop of rain! Not a single green leaf! Dry branches and ravines… a desperate situation. And what do these poor children eat? The answer came from our priest: these few things you send us every month! Only?
We went outside as it was now mealtime. I distributed the food prepared by the sole cook, and it’s good that she managed under the conditions they live in. A cup for each child, and I put corn and beans inside! That was their entire meal! My God, where do we live! I sat there on a rock to keep them company. I had no appetite. And that day I remained fasting! The things I witnessed and experienced gave me no desire or appetite for food. I looked around at stones, soil, dry trees, dust, heat, and the eyes of the small children fixed on me, waiting and hoping for something better to come…
It is this love that the extreme humility of our God-Man brought us, and it will strengthen and empower us, no matter how many difficulties, disappointments, problems, failures, sorrows, and the like. Through love, we gain this certainty that we all become children of the same God, our Father and Creator.
† The Kenyan Macarius
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