 |
|
AFRICA Orthodox Youth Organisation of Ghana "Synaxis
of Orthodox Youth" Accra, Ghana - Many activities have been undertaken since the beginning of last year, including the inauguration of a new Executive Board. A three-day youth camp at the end of last year gave participants the opportunity to take part in workshops on AIDS awareness (led by Fr Jacob Sey) and on Bible and Church doctrinal studies (let by Fr Samuel Adjei Kumi). These workshops took place alongside a programme of sport and outdoor activities. At the end of the camp, 20 participants were converted to Christ, and an Orthodox church was established in the town. Currently, one of the youth members of the Synaxis of Orthodox Youth, Ghana, has been assigned the responsibility of looking after this new mission-post. Plans for the future include a summer camp this August 2001. Furthermore, the Youth from the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral organized an excursion on Bright Monday to the Botanical Garden in the east region of Ghana. It was a colourful occasion, the youth in their white tee-shirts with logos on the front and back (Synaxis of Orthodox Youth, Ghana / Diocese of Ghana), amongst the flowers and greenery of the garden. Future plans include a workshop during the first week of November
this year for all leaders and workers of the church in Ghana, organized
by the youth. The programme will focus on office administration, record-keeping,
accounting and planning, in order to equip youth with the tools for
contributing effectively to the life of their youth movement and society.
Kampala, Uganda - The Ugandan Orthodox Church Youth Association, now in existence for more than 40 years, organized a National Orthodox Women's Conference 10 - 14 January 2001, in Kampala, Uganda, on the themes of Youth Administration in the Orthodox Church, and Community work. Hosted by the St Nicholas Orthodox Mothers' Association, the opening speech of the meeting was presented by Cornelius Gulere Wambi, SYNDESMOS Africa Region Representative, and former General Secretary of the Uganda Orthodox Church Youth Association. Cornelius spoke of the significant role of motherhood in the realization of God's plan for human salvation. Community life, youth administration and the work of SYNDESMOS, were also part of the content of the address. To conclude, Cornelius called upon the participants to consider the life of the Martyr Tatiana of Rome (3rd century), whose memory was celebrated during the Conference (12 January), and to strive to emulate her qualities as a woman of great faith and works for the Church, for which she gave her life, remembering her reply to Alexander, the Roman Emperor, "I respect Rome and you, but my first loyalty is to God".
Johannesburg, South Africa - The Archdiocese of Johannesburg and Pretoria has a new Archbishop, Metropolitan Seraphim, who was enthroned on 18 March 2001. He was sent to replace Metropolitan Ioannis who reposed in the Lord last year after a painful illness. Metropolitan Seraphim, former board member of SYNDESMOS, previously served in Kenya and has brought a new enthusiasm for mission to the Archdiocese. Within a week of his arrival he was participating in a four-day conference on Orthodoxy in Africa, organised in conjunction with the University of Thessaloniki and the Rand Afrikaans University in Johannesburg. Some of the papers were historical, describing how Orthodoxy was established in Africa, while others looked forward to new opportunities. Speaking at the opening of the conference, Metropolitan Seraphim said that apart from Eastern Asia, Africa was the only other continent visited by the historical Jesus, a fact often overlooked by Eurocentric analysts. The combination of Hellenistic culture and monotheism, expressed, for example in the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament in Africa, made northern Africa fertile ground in the divine economy of salvation. The ascendancy of Islam in North Africa, however, has made Orthodoxy a minority religion, which has at times been persecuted. But now Orthodoxy is experiencing a revival in Africa, with the growth of missionary activity throughout the continent. Metropolitan Seraphim is not content just to speak about these things, however, but is planning to open five missions in different parts of the Archdiocese as soon as possible, so the Orthodox revival can be seen here too. His Eminence also attended the opening of the first Ethiopian Orthodox
Church in Johannesburg. It was blessed by Abuna Pavlo from Addis Ababa.
The Abuna and several other Ethiopian bishops were guests at Vespers
for the Feast of St Mark, the Apostle of Africa, held on 24 April
at the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian in Sophiatown, Johannesburg.
The Abuna spoke on the need for traditional Orthodox churches
|