About Kenya, Education, Children & Mission...

Wonderful talk by Bishop Athanasius of Kisumu and Western Kenya about Orthodox Africa and his missionary activities in Kenya



Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St John the Baptist in Washington, DC
Amadiva Athanasios
Chris Brown
In the Orthodox Vineyard of Africa

2017.05.07. Sunday of the Paralytic. Sermon by Bishop Athanasios of Kisumu and West Kenya
 

Appeal from Kenya: “Save the Children”

Orthodox Metropolitan Makarios of Nairobi

From “Ierapostolikos Tahydromos” magazine

 

Makarios of Nairobi, photo from here

Every day we are living  the big drama of young children. In our societies certain things are facts. The children of ours are growing in their environment and they are being offered the necessary food under any circumstances, from the morning until the time comes to sleep. Normal things! They cannot live unless they are given this food. But here in Africa, things are different. Children wake up in the morning and go to sleep at night fasting, no one can guarantee that they will have the required food. It is a common condition and so they are born and grow up in this environment, whether they want it or not.
The Metropolis of Kenya, among different programs, implemented a special program for feeding the children and not just that: it undertook a crusade to rescue young children, not only providing the everyday food, ie. breakfast and lunch, but offering educational chances too. This effort  found support and today this program has expanded throughout the country’s territory. The Greek people- despite the fact that they themselves are facing an economic crisis- made the strongest efforts and stood beside us, to save as many souls as possible and relieve our children, who are living under difficult and incomprehensible to us conditions.  There are no conditions suitable for children here. Therefore with this program, the Holy Metropolis of Kenya tried to give a message of hope and certainty that we have the right to live and be educated.

Every year, besides daily meals, non regular ones are also organized on several occasions. So, this year, on Christmas day, gathered in the courtyard of the Cathedral were not only the children of kindergarten and primary school, but the children of our slum too for a sumptuous Christmas meal and more. They were offered refreshments and each child got a small Christmas gift and stationery, notebooks, pencils etc.
A mother of two minor children approached the bishop and confessed that the food offered to them on Christmas day was the only one that had the opportunity to eat. Otherwise, on Christmas Day they would remain fasted.
The efforts and programs of the Holy Metropolis of Kenya will continue under the current difficult economic conditions. We must not let the children suffer and live in misery. We should by all means strive to make sure that children will not sleep fasted.
Those wishing to offer the minimum, can make it through P.CH.O.O.I. using the keyword “Kenya”. So in this way we can support, encourage and give hope to these unprotected children living under difficult conditions and waiting for a helping hand to continue their beautiful destination on our planet.

Inter-Orthodox Centre “Porefthendes” (= "go and make disciples of all nations", Matthew 28:19)

Please, see also

Orthodox Mission and Education
Orthodox Kenya  
The Orthodox Church in Kenya & the Orthodox Patriarchal Ecclesiastical School of Makarios III   
An interview with Fr. Phillip Gatari, an Orthodox priest from Kenya 
Eglise orthodoxe au Kenya: «Le message de l’orthodoxie est intemporel et dépasse les tribus et les langues»
 
Third Sunday of Pascha: Sunday of the Holy Myrrhbearers (&: Mothers conference in Orthodox Diocese of Kisumu, Kenya)
St. George Orthodox Community Hospital Kibera | Facebook Orthodox Africa - Orphanage, Charity, Charities For Children


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