As Archbishop of Nairobi, I have the honor to record the sacred events of the visit of His Beatitude—a visit that was a celebration of faith, unity, and our unwavering love for Kenya and Africa. Saturday: A Joyful Arrival and Great Vespers In the early morning hours of Saturday, His Beatitude arrived with a spirit…
I am writing something I remember about the late missionary to Africa. Before Father Chrysostom set out for the brothers of the blessed black country in 1958, he went to Patmos to seek the opinion of the Holy Elder Amphilochius Macri. He laid out his plan and his programme with unstinting enthusiasm. He wanted to…
The dangers here in our mission are on the daily schedule, perhaps because we are so used to it that we no longer pay attention to it. Five murder attempts, robberies, assaults, fatal diseases, car accidents, etc. – not to mention more – because I deeply believed that the invisible hand of God never ceased…
For historical reasons and to be precise, it would be good to follow the preparation of Fr Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos for his long and unknown journey to the Black Continent. For this reason, we will let him open his heart to us to listen to its vibrations and speak to us through his own writings and…
Metropolitan Makarios of Kenya It is for many decades that I have been dealing with the life and work of late pioneer missionary Fr. Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos. I was not blessed to meet him in person, but, I believe that the Divine Providence brought him into the path of my life in another way when I…
By Geron Metropolitan Makarios of Nairobi • Part II In this regard, we quote the exact text from Fr. Chrysostomοs’ diary notes where he describes his arrival in Kampala and his first meeting with the then Metropolitan and our African brothers: – “It was almost 10 am when we arrived at the rented abode of…
These days we had the graduation of the young children of our primary school. A glorious ceremony with holy water for the graduating children. Present were the children’s “parents” or friends to celebrate this pleasant and unique event for their age. Joys and songs, speeches and poems. They thanked me for the fact that the…
Today, in a time of searching, a time of so many trials and calamities on a global scale, after more than four decades that I first set foot on this blessed land of the African continent, I reflect upon the extreme forbearance and condescension of our philanthropic Lord. I still remember vividly the first exploratory…
We are already in an age when people worldwide are suffering, enduring pain, pursuing a quest, seeking the truth and reality, the mystery that is called “life”. What is it that we all go through, which makes us move incessantly but people ignore and do not even want to talk about? So here’s the mystery…
Judging by our life style and what we take for granted, we could never imagine that a plate of hot food could save small children’s lives. Indeed, for us it is inconceivable and exaggerating if we claim that in the 21st century there are children who are thirsty and hungry and do not have direct…
