The Orthodox Missionary Fraternity is an organization dedicated to supporting the work of Orthodox missionaries worldwide. It is a charitable association recognized by the Court of First Instance of Thessaloniki, spiritually subject to the Church of Greece, administratively independent, registered in the Special CSO Registry of the Ministry of Interior, and its legal financial management is audited annually by the Municipality of Thessaloniki.
The Fraternity is the oldest missionary association in Greece and throughout the Orthodox world. It was established in 1963 under the name “Friends of Uganda” by the pioneering missionary of Africa, Saint Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos (1903-1972), who in 1960 paved the way for modern Orthodox Mission in Africa and settled in Uganda. The unprecedented experiences and imperative needs he faced compelled Fr. Chrysostomos to write to his spiritual children:
“Help me. People here thirst for Orthodoxy, for Christ, and at the same time they are hungry.”
A group of friends responded to this call and formed the first missionary association with the aim of supporting him morally and materially in fulfilling his missionary work. From the outset, our main activity has been the collection and dispatch of funds for the needs of the Orthodox Mission, as well as the dissemination of the Mission’s message in Greek society.
In 1978, our Association took its current name and with an expanded purpose continues to offer moral and material support to Orthodox missionaries in Africa, Asia, Oceania, and Latin America.
The first and foremost goal of the Orthodox Mission is to spread the Gospel, the joyful message “Christ is Risen,” and to lead every soul, regardless of race or language, to its final destination, the Heavenly Kingdom. This is precisely the same goal as that of the Church. And this is because, as it has been very rightly said:
“A Church without a mission is a Church without a mission”.
Alongside missionary activity, however, missionaries also provide charitable work in the countries where they serve, alleviating poverty and suffering for those in need, creating orphanages, schools, and medical centers, organizing soup kitchens, digging wells, and organizing other forms of assistance, as appropriate.
In all these efforts, we have been supporters from the beginning, which is why the Orthodox Missionary Fraternity and its prominent members have been honored by the Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa for their contributions. The most honored and distinguished person is the late Panagiotis Papadimitrakopoulos, for decades president and great benefactor of the Fraternity, who was honored with the award of Grand Chartoularios of the Ecumenical Throne by Patriarch Bartholomew and with the Cross of Saint Mark by Patriarchs Nicholas and Peter of Alexandria. Honorary distinctions have also been received by former Presidents Konstantinos Daoudakis, Vaios Prantzos, and Dimitrios Sotirkos, as well as members of the current Board of Directors, such as President Charalambos Metallidis and Vice President Nostis Psarras.
All members of the Board of Directors and the Fraternity offer their services voluntarily, without any remuneration. Moreover, the best reward for us is to know that, with your help, Orthodox missionaries are saving souls. Let us continue to support them.
Αυτή η σελίδα είναι διαθέσιμη και στα
