“ ...Vakavhara miromo yeshumba. Vakadzima simba remoto, vakatiza minhondo inopinza, vakasimbiswa pahutere,vakava nesimba pakurwa, vakadzinga hondo dzemamwe marudzi”...

SVONDO YEORTHODHOKISI
MHARIDZO YEMUSI WA 4 KURUME KUBVA MUVHANGERI RAMUSANDE JOHANE 1:44-52
KUBVA KUNA ACHIBHISHOPI SERAFIMU KIKOTISI

 

Greek Orthodox Archbishopric of Zimbabwe

Mifananidzo yacho inobva kuKenya, Uganda neRwanda.

 

Bira resvondo yeOrthodhokisi rakaumbwa mugore ra842 nechinangwa chekuti tikurire pachitendero chechokwadi ( kunamata kwechokwadi> pfungwa dzakanaka> Orthodhokisi) pachimiro uye nehunhu hwaJesu Kristu uye kuti tiremekedze maSande edu kubirikidza nekushandisa mifananidzo inoera.
Zvisinei, zvishoma nezvishoma bira iri rakapararira, ndokuwana chiremerera chikuru nekuti rakatanga kutigadzirira nekutirangaridza kukunda kweOrthodhokisi kubva kune chitendero chisingatendi muna Kristu, kubva kudzidziso dzenhema uye kunyanya kukunda kwekereke kubva kuvavengi vayo. Ndosaka mune dzimwe kereke dzedu dzeOrthodhokisi, seyedu yemuno muAfrica, kuti tiratidze kukunda kwakaita kereke yedu , tinoverenga Rudaviro rwekutenda kwedu semunamato wakakosha uye rwunoisa mazwi mashoma akakosha ayo kereke yedu kuburikidza nemadzibaba edu anoremekedzwa vakapinda mumisangano miviri yekutanga yevakuru vekereke yedu ( Nikeya 325 uye Muguta raKonstandino 381) kuti tiratidzwe midzi yedzidziso dzechitendero dzechikristu.
Bira reOrthodhokisi rakakosha maererano nedzidziso dzezveHumwari kuhupenyu hwemukristu nekuti rinofambirana neruponeso rwake. Mukuedza kukanganisa uye nekureva nhema pamusoro pedzidziso dzemakristu emukereke yedu , varevi venhema vanokanganisa nzira yeruponeso kumunhu, voita kuti agare kure naMwari, uye kure neruponeso rwaKristu, sekuratidzwa kwazvakaitwa neHutatu Hunoera pamwe nedzidziso dzaKristu, naVapostora vanoera nevatevedzeri vavo. Nyaya yeOrthodhokisi yaive yekuburitsa chokwadi pachena. Hunhu hweavo vasingatendi muna Kristu hwaiva hwekuunza manyepo. Nemanyepo munhu haakwanise kusimudzirwa kana kuponeswa. Rima rinomuparadza rinotonyanya maari. Kuwora kunopinda. Tinozozivikanwa nezvimiro zvakaipa zvekurarama nazvo, kudarika mhuka kunge vekuSodhomi neGomora. Kuparadzwa kunovepo, marwadzo zvakare nekurasikirwa neizvo zvatinenge tinazvo.

Munyika yanhasi yebudiriro zvakare yekutambudzika, danho rechitendero chedu nderekuendera mberi kuisa tariro yekurarama kuti tive nenyika iri nani uye yakasunguka. Basa negoho remutendi maererano nezvisimbiswa zvinoiswa nevhangeri , zvinoita kuti ive mharidzo yakanaka yekereke yedu munyika matiri kurarama. Tinokokwa kuti tive Vatumwa vaKristu, tatanga tava vadzidzi vake tiri pedyo naye, tasiya hunhu hwedu hwekare hwezvivi, totanga kuvandudza hupenyu hwedu nekurwisana kuchengetedza mirairo yake inoera. Tinofanirwa kuva nekutenda sekwemaSande edu, sekutaura kwaita musande Pauro muchiverengwa cheVapositori chanhasi, “Avo vakakunda hushe nokutenda kwavo vakaita zvakarurama, vakapihwa zvipikirwa, vakavhara miromo yeshumba. Vakadzima simba remoto, vakatiza minhondo inopinza, vakasimbiswa pahutere,vakava nesimba pakurwa, vakadzinga hondo dzemamwe marudzi. Vakadzi vakapihwa zve vakafa vavo, vamutswa,vamwe vakapurwa, vakaramba kusunungurwa, kuti vawane kumuka kwakapfuura nekunaka. Vamwe vakaedzwa, vachisekwa, vachirohwa zvikuru, uye zve vachisungwa, vachiiswa mutirongo, vakatakwa nemabwe, vakatemwa temwa nejeko, vakaedzwa, vakauraiwa nemunhondo, vakafamba vakafuga matehwe emakwai, nenguvo dzembudzi; vasina chinhu, vachitambudzika, vachiitirwa zvakaipa; (nyika haina kufanirwa navo), vachidzungaira mumarenje, nemumakomo,nemumapako nemumakomba enyika. (VaHebheru 11:33-38).
Kana tikararama muhupenyu hwaKristu tinorarama hupenyu hwechikristu. Chokwadi chinoratidza izvi matambudziko ataurwa namusande Pauro pamusoro kuti anofanirwa kutiwira sekuwira kwaakaita maSande edu muhupenyu hwavo. Kunyangwe tiri mafundisi kana vabatsiri mukereke tinofanirwa kufunga kutaurira vavakidzani vedu zvakanaka, sezvatanzwa mumutsara wevhangeri ranhasi apo Firipi akatsvaga Natanaeri ( Johane 1:46) kuti amukurudzire kuti vave vadzidzi vaKristu: “Huya Uone”.
Dambudziko rinoita avo vasingatendi munaMwari neavo vasina hanya neshoko dzvene nderekuti vanoramba shoko raMwari vasati vazvipa mukana wekuteerera shoko reruponeso rwaJesu Kristu. Vanotirangaridza varwere vasingadi kurapwa nenyaya yekuti havadi kugamuchira kuwanikwa kunoita mishonga nevadzidzi. Nenzira iyi varikuzvidzvanyirira uye nenharaunda yavanogara, nekuti nekumwe kutaura zvinokonzeresa matambudziko akanyanya nekuti rudo rwakanaka harwuonekwi muhupenyu hwavo kana kuti kune vamwe vanhu vavanorarama navo. Sekuti zvakaoma kuti tive madhokotera kana vagadziri vemotokari kana tisina kudzidza kwemakore mazhinji saka nenzira imwe zvakaoma kuti tinzwisise hupenyu hwechikristu kana tikasazvivandudza pakuchengeta mirairo inoera yaJesu Kristu, kudzidza hupenyu hunoera hwekereke yedu uye nedzidziso dzayo. Zvisinei hutsvene hwehupenyu hwedu, kunyanya hweavo vanotitungamirira hunoita kuti tisimbe nekutendeka pakupa mubairo wemharidzo yechikristu kuvanhu kuti vatende vagove masande.

Maererano nezvehuMwari, bira reOrthodhokisi rinotsanangudzwa zvizere mumusangano wevakuru vekereke wechinomwe kutsigira chitendero chedu kuti: “ Sekuona kwakaita Vaporofita, Sekudzidzisa kwakaita Vatumwa, Sekuraira kwakaita vadzidzisi, Sekubvumira kwakaita pasi rose, Sekuratidzwa kwakaitwa nyasha, Sekuburitswa kwakaitwa chokwadi, Sekurambwa kwakaitwa manyepo, Sekupihwa kwakaitwa huchenjeri, Sekupa kwakaita Kristu: ndozvatinotenda, ndozvatinozivisa, ndozvatinoparidza, Kristu ndiMwari wedu wechokwadi, tinoremekedza maSande ake mumazwi, mukufunga, mumipiro mukereke uye nemumifananidzo inoera. Tinorumbidza Kristu saMwari uye saMambo. Tinoremekedza maSande ake sevaranda vaMwari vechokwadi uye tinovapa rukudzo. Ndokutenda kweVatumwa! Ndokutenda kwemadzibaba edu! Ndokutenda kwekereke yedu! Ndokutenda kwakavandudzwa pasi rose. (Tiriodhioni).
Svondo yeOrthodhokisi, izuva reavo vakabva kare vachiramba vakatsungirira mukupupura chitendero chedu munyika yatirikurarama nhasi. Nyasha dzaMwari dzinovapo nekushanda matiri kana hupenyu hwedu hukava pedyo nehupenyu hwaKristu. Nekuva takakodzera kutora nzvimbo musakaramende reChidyo Chinoera, pasi rose rinova nhengo yemuviri wedu. Ndozvakavanzika, zvenyasha dzinoera zvekereke yedu: kunzwisisa, kunzwa nekurarama matambudziko epasi rose seedu. Nyasha dzaMwari dzinorarama matiri, kwete patinotaura zvakanaka nezvehuMwari chete asi neapo patinonzwa shanduko muhupenyu hwedu. Hupenyu hwedu inguva yekutendeuka. Kuti tizive pekugumira, patinokurirwa neapo patinokangisa tinofanirwa kuzvienzanisa nechimiro chaJesu Kristu. Chipi nechipi chinoitika pasina kutenda muna Jesu Kristu, chinogona kuva njodzi yekuita chinhu chakaipa.
Kurarama hunhu hwechikristu, zvinoreva kuti unofanirwa kuita hunhu hwakanaka pose pauri. Hupenyu hweuyo akatendeka hunovanzwa muhupenyu hwaKristu: patinorarama hupenyu hwake, patinotevedzera hupenyu hwake nemabasa ake nepatinoda vanhu vose tovaitira zvatinokwanisa.

Ona, kana uchida, zvinotevera 

 

Chechi Orthodox: Chechi yekare, rakatangwa naJesu Kristu - ivo Chechi egondo, ivo Chechi kwevatsvene

Zvinyorwa pamusoro peChechi yeOrthodox muZimbabwe

Kutenda kwekare kwechiKristu (Chechi yeOrthodox) muAfrica

Kubatana kwaMwari nemunhu

Krismasi yeOrthodox 2017 muAfrica!

Krisimasi muChechi yeOrthodox, Chechi yekare yaJesu Kristu  

Patriarch of Alexandria & all Africa Theodoros to Bishop Vasileios of Bootswana: "In Africa, the continent of the future... we often trad there where there is no road, because you make the way open as you walk..."

Orthodoxy Cognate Page

On Sunday 3o November 2014, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa conducted the ordination of His Grace Vasileios Bishop of Botswana at the Holy Patriarchal Cathedral of St Savvas the Sanctified. Participating in the Eucharistic Gathering and the ordination of His Grace were Their Eminences Metropolitans George of Guinea, Dimitrios of Irinopolis, Gabriel of Leontopolis and Narkissos of Nubia.
Present were the Honourable Consul General of Greece in Alexandria Mr. Christos Kapodistrias, Chairmen of Hellenic Societies and Associations of the Great City, the Nuns that live at the Dependency of the Patriarchate of Alexandria in Athens, as well as family members and friends of the ordained Bishop.

During his address, His Beatitude emotionally said the following:

“Wherefore it is fitting that you should run together in accordance with the will of your bishop, which thing also you do. For your justly renowned presbytery, worthy of God, is fitted as exactly to the bishop as the strings are to the harp. Therefore in your concord and harmonious love, Jesus Christ is sung”. (St Ignatios the God-bearer, to the Ephesians §4)
Your Grace elected Bishop of Botswana and our dear brother in the Lord, Vasileios,
Just before His voluntary and terrible and life-creating passion, our Lord Jesus Christ in his anguished prayer to God the Father, when perspiration was running like drops of blood (Luke 22:44), He centred on the request for unity in those emotional words: “I ask…that they may all be one, even as You Father are in me and I in You, that they may also be in us” (John 17:21). In the same way St Ignatios the God-bearer, while being led on foot, in chains from Antioch to Rome to become food for the lions, would write as he went, addressing the churches of Ephesus, Smyrna and Philadelphia, pleading and praying as a genuine model of Jesus, for one thing, unity. And he so praised and glorified and insisted on this issue, that he came to say:
“It is profitable, therefore, that you should live in a blameless unity, that so you may always enjoy communion with God” (To the Ephesians § 4).
In other words, a precondition for participation and communion with God, is ensuring unity.
And further along, this most gentle of Saints continues, saying that: “he who does not assemble with the Church, has manifested his pride and to avoid pride we must subject ourselves to the Bishop” (To the Ephesians § 5). Therefore, a visible sign of unity in the Church, is the Bishop, but he also builds the mystery of unity, not alone, but together with the priests, the deacons and the faithful, without whom, “a Church is not called”, according to the well-known expression by St Ignatios.
My dear Father Vasileios,
In the 16 long years that by the grace of God you have served the ancient Patriarchate of Alexandria, you have proved your dedication and obedience to the Church of Alexandria and its Primate, in the various executive positions wherever and whenever the providence of God appointed you Both in Johannesburg and in Cairo, where you served as Parish Priest, as well as at the dependency of our Patriarchate, the Holy Church of Ss Athanasios, Nicholas and Fotios, in Ano Kypseli, where you devoted yourself to serving as Parish Priest and spiritual father, you showed in practice your love for and faith in God, as well as man, His image, without distinction of nationality, language or colour. Also as Secretary of the Representative Office of the Primate of our ancient Patriarchate, you showed the responsibility of your character. But what particularly moved us, both me personally as well as the holy hierarchs who honoured you with their vote, is the virtue of the gratitude which you showed to your late elder, Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Carthage, whom you never abandoned, but served with genuine filial dedication.
And see, now, the grace of the Merciful God, watching over your loving heart, inspired the holy Synod of the Alexandrian Church following the proposal of its Primate to elect you as Bishop of Botswana, appointing you “as a light on a stand”, (Luke 11, 33) so that with the radiance of your virtuous deeds, you may become a point of attraction for human beings who hunger and thirst for the knowledge and justice of God, as well as a visible point of reference of the unity of the body of the Lord, the Church.

Gaborone, capital of Botswana

Be assured that my paternal love will always be with you, next to you, together with the love and prayers of the Hierarchs who voted for you, in every step of your hierarchal journey. Give to the people of the Diocese of Botswana to which you were elected, your sacrificial self, working towards your personal salvation, as well as the salvation of your flock; in this world that is becoming ever more inhumane, become a preacher of the value of human beings. As Christian humanists we have a duty to progress always further than the superficial, where human existences are formed into groups, so that we might discover the genuine human face, which is never predictable. In the discovery of the differences we need to rejoice in the surprise of the ability of finding a meeting point with another, who is different, on many levels, because in the spiritual world there is no monotony and boredom. And unity in Christ does not fear difference, but rather gives it meaning and enriches it. This inspiration is what contemporary man needs, and this is the best mission.
In Africa, the continent of the future, where the grace of the great God deemed us worthy to serve, a “vision” is needed, as well as faith. We often trad there where there is no road, because you make the way open as you walk. But I beg you my child, Father Vasileios, do not hesitate! As you look around on the path, you will see invisibly, following the Lord, just as the Disciples who walked to Emmaus. So now, that God gives you the grace of Hierarchy, today on your personal Pentecost, be sure that He will always be with you, strengthening and supporting you, in every request of your loving heart, because our God is a God of love; “I am a God near at hand, says the Lord and not a God far off”, according to the Prophet Jeremiah (Chapter 23).
Have courage, therefore, Your Grace and holy brother, because we serve the humble God of love, the God who from the eruption of His heart, left the blessing of His divinity and became man just like us, to lead us to His divine blessedness. This God awaits you now, in the Holy of Holies, to grant you the grace of Hierarchy.
So, enter into the grace of your Lord, my child, Vasileios!

 

Photo from here

His Grace Vasileios replied:
Your Beatitude Father and Master, Honoured Clergy, Deacons in Christ, Dear present friends,
I send up Glory to the Triune God who deemed my unworthiness worthy to find myself today before the dread altar to receive from the honoured hands of Your Beatitude, the third and greatest rank of Hierarchy.
If it were possible, Your Beatitude, I would seal my mouth and in total silence, I would experience the sacrament of my personal Pentecost. But it is not me who will stop the practice of the one being ordained making an address before his ordination.
I am not going to try to analyze the meaning of today. Many and more learned theologians, before me, have done so with excellent results. The only point I wish to make and which I wish to stand as a signpost in my hierarchal life and journey, is what was said by the Lord: “I did not come to be served but to serve”.
At this most holy moment my entire life and my journey in the Church, passes before my eyes. I do not wish to tire you with lengthy reports of it, I pray only that on judgment day, that I can announce “Father, those you entrusted to me, I have not lost even one of them”.
At this time I wish to thank my spiritual fathers who are in heaven, those who lifted the burden of my soul, on days of sadness and doubts, father Angelos Tolias and the late Kallinikos Metropolitan of Pilousion.
The late Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Carthage at whose feet I learned and became a man spiritually and who was the reason that I became part of the clergy of the Most Venerable Patriarchal Throne of Alexandria and All Africa. I remained with him, until the tragic end of his life and it is he who taught me not to seek praises in my life, but to prepare myself to cope with the hardships of life.
I am still looking for the words with which to thank His Eminence George Metropolitan of Guinea. I deem that God, in His immeasurable mercy, sent to me a dear brother, with every meaning of the word, in all things and for ever. He has a diamond character, kind in all ways and a strong supporter of the rights of the Throne. Your Eminence, I pray wholeheartedly that everything you did manifestly and invisibly for me, the Lord will grant you a hundredfold and that you will see the health of your beloved mother Andriane, fully restored.
I also wish to thank my beloved mother Kalliope who stood as sleepless guard beside me, always serving with a smile, but embittered by life which gave her nothing. She brought up me and my two siblings, Stella and Strato, with great effort and fatigue and today she is worthily gladdened seeing the Benjamin of her family rising up to the rank of Hierarch.
My brother and sister who all these years have silently supported me, my nephews and nieces who dearly love me and who, because of the financial crisis could not be with us today. All these together, I thank from the depths of my heart and I will always pray at the Altar for their health and their progress in Christ.
Mr brothers in Kypseli who took me on as almost a child and brought me up in the Holy Church of St Athanasios, our Dependency in Kypseli; I do not forget them. I am grateful to them for making me try to become better than I was and many times to overcome myself to serve them.
In conclusion, allow me to speak of you, Your Beatitude Father and Master. We have known each other since the time when I, as a young deacon still, kissed your hand as the Bishop of Cyrene. Your smiling character and the love of Elder Chrysostomos for you, made me love you even more. I still treasure the letter you sent me, as Metropolitan of Cameroon, relating your journey, your work and your love for missions. Standing before you today, I as elected Bishop of Botswana and you as Primate of the Church of Alexandria, knowing your fervent desire for the establishment and consolidation of the Orthodox Church in the hospitable country of Botswana, I promise that I will do everything possible and impossible, so that the lamp that you as the essential Missionary lit, in this corner of Africa. Many years Your Beatitude, my you live in peace and may my grateful heart always see in your person the Angel of forgiveness, the source of unceasing love, the pillar of the Alexandrian Church and the pure and loving father of Orthodox Missions.

See also

The Orthodox Church in Botswana
Madagascar : "My son! Please... dedicate yourself entirely to ministering to this poor people"

"The African culture is ripe and ready for Orthodoxy because her people already live in community..."

The heritage of the Orthodox Christian tradition in Africa today

Ancient Christian faith (Orthodox Church) in Africa

African Initiated Church in Search of Orthodoxy...  

How “White” is the Orthodox Church? 

Orthodox Mission in Tropical Africa (& the Decolonization of Africa)

Natives Africans bishops in the Orthodox Church  
The Kingdom of Heaven, where racial discrimination has no place

Article (in Greek) of the bishop Vasileios about his mother, who was a cleaning lady, and about offering of all poor cleaning ladies

Chechi Orthodox: Chechi yekare, rakatangwa naJesu Kristu - ivo Chechi egondo, ivo Chechi kwevatsvene

Chechi Orthodox ndiye Chechi yekare, rakatangwa naJesu Kristu makore 2000 akapfuura.

Kubva pakutanga kwayo kusvikira nhasi, Chechi yeOrthodox ane zviuru zvavaitenda, vapristi vatsvene uye Pakauya mabhishopi, mamongi, mamishinari uye vanhu vakanga vakapa zvose kubatsira vamwe vavo. Mizhinji yevatsvene izvi vari Africa. Nhasi, muAfrica, mamishinari Orthodox rambai basa iri. Vamwe vavo vari vatsvene. Africans vazhinji vasande vechiKristu Orthodox. Vanorarama pasi chiedza chaMwari, muchiedza Jesu Kristu.



Chechi Orthodox yakasiyana zvachose kubva Vatican Chechi, Mapurotesitenzi nePentecosti, nekuti ichi ndicho chiKristu rokutanga. Izvi vanobvuma zviuru vechechi yeRoma, Mapurotesitenzi nePentecosti munyika dzakawanda, izvo ikozvino zviri vaKristu Orthodox.

Ndinokurudzira hama dzangu pa Zimbabwe, pa Mozambique, pa Botswana, pa Zambia, Chamhembe Afrika nomunyika Afrika, kuziva yeOrthodox Chechi. Ziva vatsvene. Kuti vave nokubatana pamwe muviri neropa raJesu Kristu. Nhunzi samakondo kuti umambo hwokudenga.

Jesu Kristu, Mwanakomana waMwari, akava munhu, nokuti munhu ave mwanakomana waMwari.



Nyaya ino rakanyorwa muchiGiriki uye rakashandurwa otomatiki. Ungatofanira zvimwe zvikanganiso rokushandura.

Kana muchida, verenga magwaro anotevera:

The Orthodox Church in Zimbabwe
The Orthodox Church in the Republic of South Africa



The Orthodox Church in Zambia & Malawi
The Orthodox Church in Botswana
Orthodox Mozambique A Igreja Ortodoxa em Moçambique - A Santa Diocese de Moçambique

"THE WAY" - An Introduction to the Orthodox Faith
Theosis (deification): The True Purpose of Human Life
Basic Points of Difference between the Orthodox Church and Roman Catholic Church
Protestants ask: Why be Orthodox?

Orthodox Mission in Tropical Africa (& the Decolonization of Africa)
How “White” is the Orthodox Church?
Ancient Christian faith (Orthodox Church) in Africa
African Initiated Church in Search of Orthodoxy...
The Orthodox Church in Uganda, an outgrowth of indigenous self discovery
The Orthodox Church in Tanzania
Orthodox Mission (tag)
Hymn to the African saints
The heritage of the Orthodox Christian tradition in Africa today

The Orthodox Christian Church in Botswana

Map from here

Diocese of Botswana

Orthodoxwiki
 
The Holy Diocese of Botswana is a diocese under the jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa. Its territory includes the parishes and missions located in the nation of Botswana.
The Diocese of Botswana was established by Patriarchal and Synodal decree on October 7, 2010. Prior to the formation of the Diocese of Botswana, the territory of the diocese was part of the Archdiocese of Zimbabwe. His Grace, Gennadios, who had been elected earlier, was formally enthroned Bishop of Botswana on June 2, 2012 as the first ruling bishop of the diocese.
Communities of the diocese include: Church of St. Nicholas (including the chapels of St. Parthenios Bishop of Lampsakos and St. Peter Archbishop of Alexandria) in Gaborone. 

Bishop Gennadios of Botswana (left) with Patriarch Theodoros (from here)

Bishops:
Gennadios Stantzios (2012-2014)
Vasisleios Varvelis (2014-present) 

ORDINATION OF BISHOP VASILEIOS OF BOTSWANA

 

Patriarch Theodoros (left) with Vasileios of Botswana

On Sunday 3o November 2014, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa conducted the ordination of His Grace Vasileios Bishop of Botswana at the Holy Patriarchal Cathedral of St Savvas the Sanctified. Participating in the Eucharistic Gathering and the ordination of His Grace were Their Eminences Metropolitans George of Guinea, Dimitrios of Irinopolis, Gabriel of Leontopolis and Narkissos of Nubia.
Present were the Honourable Consul General of Greece in Alexandria Mr. Christos Kapodistrias, Chairmen of Hellenic Societies and Associations of the Great City, the Nuns that live at the Dependency of the Patriarchate of Alexandria in Athens, as well as family members and friends of the ordained Bishop.

During his address, His Beatitude emotionally said the following:
"(...) Give to the people of the Diocese of Botswana to which you were elected, your sacrificial self, working towards your personal salvation, as well as the salvation of your flock; in this world that is becoming ever more inhumane, become a preacher of the value of human beings.
As Christian humanists we have a duty to progress always further than the superficial, where human existences are formed into groups, so that we might discover the genuine human face, which is never predictable. In the discovery of the differences we need to rejoice in the surprise of the ability of finding a meeting point with another, who is different, on many levels, because in the spiritual world there is no monotony and boredom. And unity in Christ does not fear difference, but rather gives it meaning and enriches it. This inspiration is what contemporary man needs, and this is the best mission.
In Africa, the continent of the future, where the grace of the great God deemed us worthy to serve, a “vision” is needed, as well as faith. We often trad there where there is no road, because you make the way open as you walk. But I beg you my child, Father Vasileios, do not hesitate! As you look around on the path, you will see invisibly, following the Lord, just as the Disciples who walked to Emmaus. So now, that God gives you the grace of Hierarchy, today on your personal Pentecost, be sure that He will always be with you, strengthening and supporting you, in every request of your loving heart, because our God is a God of love; “I am a God near at hand, says the Lord and not a God far off”, according to the Prophet Jeremiah (Chapter 23).
Have courage, therefore, Your Grace and holy brother, because we serve the humble God of love, the God who from the eruption of His heart, left the blessing of His divinity and became man just like us, to lead us to His divine blessedness. This God awaits you now, in the Holy of Holies, to grant you the grace of Hierarchy.
So, enter into the grace of your Lord, my child, Vasileios!"
More here.

Curriculum Vitae of Bishop Vasileios of Botswana
 
spc.rs
Photo from here.

His Grace Vasileios, Provincial Bishop of Botswana (born Vasilieos Varvelis), was born in Peristeri Attica in 1969. He studied at the faculty of Health and Welfare and at the Theological Faculty of the University of Athens. He was ordained Deacon in July 1997 and Priest in March 1998 by His Eminence Chrysostomos Metropolitan of Zimbabwe. He served as parish Priest in Johannesburg and in Cairo. Thereafter by Venerable Order of the late Patriarch Petros VII, he was appointed as Parish Priest and Confessor of the patriarchal Church of St Athanasios, Nicholas and Fotios, in Ano Kypseli, the Dependency of the Patriarchate and as Secretary of the representative Office of His Beatitude in Athens, serving there for fifteen years.
On 26 November 2014, by proposal of His Beatitude, he was elected by the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa as Provincial Bishop of the vacant Holy Diocese of Botswana.
 

The first orthodox school opened in Botswana (March 22, 2012) 

 

world.greekreporter.com

Orthodox Mission

 

A Greek-British private school opened last month in Botswana, funded by the Orthodox Diocese of Botswana under the jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa.

Greek, Greek-Cypriot, Ukrainian, Russian, Serbian and indigenous pupils are already visiting the school’s courses, which among others include the learning of the Greek and Russian language and the local dialect Setswana, as well as Orthodox catechism.

Bishop Gennadios is in constant talks with the Ministry of Education of the country, aiming at upgrading the school to High School levels. The Embassies of France and Germany are also aiding the purpose of the private Orthodox school.

Through these efforts, the Orthodox Diocese aims at gaining a decent presence and activity at the country by organizing different activities and initiatives concerning the fields of education and health.

“It is of high importance for our Orthodox Church to be able to serve the people and the society of Botswana in key sectors such as health and education” pointed out Bishop Gennadios in his interview to major circulation local news magazine “Discover Botswana”. The Bishop added that the Orthodox Church’s future lies in education. “The best schools in South Africa and other neighboring countries belong traditionally and essentially to the Orthodox Church. People support our work by sending their children to school to become educated and learn about the Christian values. What our Church needs to do is come out of its shell and approach the people and their needs without too much preaching and philosophy” highlighted the Orthodox Bishop.

Bishop Gennadios gave interviews to well known “Animal Planet” and “National Geographic” channels and invited the journalists to participate at this year’s Orthodox Easter celebrations in order to experience the spiritual dimension of Christianity.

During Easter time, the first doctors from Crete are expected to arrive in Botswana in order to implement new pilot medical programmes against AIDS. These programmes will be conducted in cooperation with the Medical Clinic of the Anglican Church “Hospice-Holy Cross”, where children suffering from AIDS are being treated.

The Orthodox Diocese is celebrating this year its second anniversary from its establishment in October 2010. However, the Diocese does not have a Cathedral yet. Therefore, the Bishop will hold a new meeting with the authorities in charge to secure the right property where the first Orthodox Cathedral will be built.

June 2012: The first Orthodox church in Botswana

The Patriarch of Alexandreia and all Africa Theodoros founded the first Orthodox church in Canberra Botswana, with the help of Orthodox Christians from Greece and Cyprus, friends of the African people.
The church would be dedicated in the name of St. John Chrysostom, Saint Christopher and Michael Archangel.
More here (in Greek) / Photos from here.