Source: The National Herald
NAIROBI – In Africa, where Orthodoxy is taking deeper root, the missionary work of Metropolitan Makarios shines as a beacon of knowledge and spiritual guidance. His presence in Kenya is renewing the local community with the power of divine love, going beyond the traditional boundaries of church life. For over fifty years, his pastoral efforts have shaped the spiritual landscape of Africa, where the Orthodox tradition now flourishes and bears remarkable fruit.
At the headquarters of the Holy Metropolis in Nairobi, what was once a barren land filled with dry grass and dangerous reptiles has blossomed into a spiritual garden. The only Orthodox Theological School in all of Africa stands as a lighthouse of knowledge and spiritual leadership for the entire continent. There, young people from diverse tribes and nations of Africa gather in the light of the Orthodox tradition, preparing to become future leaders of their communities. The teachings of patristic theology blend with an understanding of local cultures, creating a unique spiritual mosaic.
Supplicatory hymns are now heard in over 350 churches across Kenya. Priests from the Maasai tribe, wearing Orthodox vestments over their traditional clothing, are living examples of how God’s grace transforms lives while honoring cultural identities.
The orphanages and schools founded by the Metropolis serve as havens for thousands of children. Here, the bread of knowledge is shared alongside the bread of life, and education goes hand in hand with faith. The flame of Orthodoxy burns brightly in the hearts of the youth, lighting their way toward a future where hope meets reality. Everywhere a school is established in Africa, a new garden of spiritual growth emerges, a source of light that dispels the darkness of ignorance and suffering.
In the faces of Africa’s poor, we see the face of the suffering Christ. Each piece of bread shared becomes a hidden candle in the darkness of poverty, illuminating the eternal presence of divine love in the world. “For I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat” (Matthew 25:35). The eyes of the children, filled with hardship, transform into doors of the soul, where hope rises like the first light breaking through the morning clouds. Even the smallest offering, no matter its size, becomes a stone in the mosaic of divine providence. Hands outstretched to receive help become secret altars, where the mystery of love is celebrated. The hunger of the body meets the hunger of the soul for the bread of life, revealing the true meaning of ecclesiastical ministry.
Sometimes, love is measured in simple, everyday acts of humility. From Kenya to the Democratic Republic of Congo, from the favelas of Brazil to the mountain villages of Nepal, from the islands of Indonesia to the remote communities of Papua New Guinea, a small contribution can transform into days of life for a child.
Our offering, no matter how small, becomes bread in the hands of the missionaries—bread that nourishes not only bodies but souls. Bread that shows love knows no boundaries, and that Orthodoxy is more than words—it’s an action. In the bank accounts of the Holy Metropolis of Nairobi, every deposit, every small monthly contribution, becomes light in the eyes of children who look toward the future with hope.
Holy Metropolis of Nairobi:
Account details in US Dollars:
Name: ORTHODOX ARCHBISHOPRIC OF KENYA
Account Number: 0227050969
Bank: ABSA BANK
Branch: MOI AVENUE
Swift Code: BARCKENX
Account details in Euros:
Name: ORTHODOX ARCHBISHOPRIC OF KENYA
Account Number: 22120029759700
Bank: CO-OPERATIVE BANK
Branch: KAWANGWARE
Swift Code: KCOOKENA