July 1, 2007

•  ~Orthodox Africa~

  These wonderful photos are from my friend, Anna. You can view all the photos here. To learn more about Orthodox Christian Missions and how you can help go to www.ocmc.org  If you would like to read more about Baptism in the Orthodox Christian Church go here.

  At our Church in the morning, we were invited to an Orthodox Mission Church, St. Seraphim Orthodox Church in Shoshanguve, Gauteng Province, South Africa.

   

  We went to the Church for the Baptism. As you can see from the pictures, it is a very modest building – they are hoping to build a new brick building soon. You can see the new foundation in some of the photos, but for now they are meeting in a building constructed of pressboard and corrugated steel with a part concrete, and part dirt floor. Many surrounding homes are built the same way, but there are also sturdy brick homes nearby, as well as homes which are not constructed as well as the Church.

   

  Just to get to Church, some worshippers must pay about 2 days wages (the price of public transportation is very high, and many don’t have cars) - so the people make quite a sacrifice to go to Church. The day we were there they had been at Church for about 6 hours (Orthros, Liturgy, and Baptism, with breaks in between), and had not taken a break for a meal.

   

  Before the service started, the Priest asked if we were willing to be Godparents to two of the older children being Baptized, and we said yes. About 10 to 15 people were Baptized that day, mostly babies, but also some older children and adults.

   

  Our Godchildren are Nicholas, who is about 8; and his sister, Rachel, who is about 11. Their Mom is Johanna, who you will also see in some of the pictures -and they have a baby brother, too.

   

  Orthodoxy is growing rapidly here in Africa, there is a Seminary for Orthodox Priests and Deacons who are African, and a new Monastery is also being opened. Some of the service we attended was conducted in the local African language, but also some was in Greek, English and French.  The Creed was sung by the worshippers in a local African language.

   

  The Priest you see in some of these pictures, Fr. Johannes, was widowed last November and has two little sons, age 7 and 8. He seemed like a wonderful and gentle man. Fr. Athanasius was also trained at the Seminary, and the Chanter, Chrysostomos of Kenya, is currently a seminarian, too.

   

  Hope you like the pictures!

   

  Love, -Tasos and Anna

  St. Seraphim Orthodox Church in Shoshanguve, Gauteng Province, South Africa.

  

    The first part of the Orthodox Baptism service, that would take place in the Narthex, if there was one.

  

    

  Fr. Athanasius adds Oil to the Baptismal Waters

  

  Babies about to be Baptized.

  

  

  

  Anna and Tassos with their Godchildren and their mother.

  

   

  • 10:37 pm
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