† Archbishop Makarios of Kenya
For many years people had been waiting for Christ to come: the One
who would bring love and peace, the real smile and justice, equality
and serenity, things so precious to someone who wants to feel the true
meaning of life.
Since then two thousand years have gone by and still there are people
who not only live in poverty and deprivation, but also have not even
heard that message of love and justice. They are still waiting for him;
they have not yet met Him or seen Him.
The doleful land of Africa was deprived of this great gift of God,
did not see the light or the sun of justice when it was revealed to
humanity.
Suddenly, this light came and shone for this land too. And the
indigenous peoples, trying to comprehend this great mystery of the
Resurrection, started building and inaugurating sacred churches in the name of God
and realized that they should feel as His own children. Now they know
that God is the One who embraces and accompanies them in their lives. He
shows them the way and they walk along with Him. This is the mystery of
the Gospel. They live and move between divine intervention and love.
As for the Orthodox Mission of the Patriarchate of Alexandria throughout the African continent, one of its main concerns is to build schools for educating young people in order not only to combat illiteracy but also to help them become useful citizens.
Moreover, the Orthodox Church of Kenya is struggling to diminish pain
and fight disease by providing free medical care to all people.
Once again, the Orthodox Church, being sensitized to all this agony
and life of hardship, offers its contribution to alleviate those poor
people’s pain and fight injustice, which they are suffering from.
The church bell rings and calls the faithful for the eternal journey
to the Kingdom of Heaven; they dance and play, thanking and praising God
with their simple, pure, selfless heart. For many years the Holy
Metropolis of Kenya has been working with various charitable
organizations; as a result of this collaboration, there are annual
visits on a permanent basis, tours with doctors of all specialties and
other volunteers who heal physical as well as spiritual wounds.
Hospitals, clinics, schools, churches are tokens of the bond
of love coming from Orthodox believers all around the world. The local
authorities recognize their contribution, appreciate it and express
their gratitude for it.
As for the people’s pleasure, this is manifest and expressed in so
many different ways. It seems like doors and windows are opened to them…
they taste the joy and blessings that are now offered by the presence
of Orthodoxy; the love of God has entered into their homes making them
feel that they are children of God, noble creatures, all equal before
Him… These visits strengthen the people. This hope that we have not
forgotten them is offered even to those living in the most remote areas.
The Church is beside them, having undertaken the great mission of
providing spiritual care as well as social welfare and assistance.
Not long after the acquaintance with true faith, the living
conditions got better and the people started appreciating more things
such as nature, the beauty of creation, life itself as a gift from God
despite the adversities they were confronted with. Through the
missionary movement and activity of Orthodoxy these people, young and
old, are offered hope, joy as well as peacefulness and are able to
smile…
This is what the Orthodox spirit does. The tradition of
Orthodoxy along with local habits forms a wonderful mosaic, rich in
content. Now the people continue their traditions, their daily habits in
a new perspective, that of a new life. This is the true path of
Orthodoxy. Orthodoxy embraces all people, accepts their traditional
habits. This is, then, the superpower that can save humanity and spare
man from aimless searching and wandering. It can offer a lot of light,
the true light, which will transform and regenerate the human race.
Today Orthodoxy renews its strength and determines the real
dimensions of its mission, an ecumenical and universal message: to
embrace all people of all races, all backgrounds and all languages.
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