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Archbishop
Makarios III of Cyprus
During
his lifetime, the most contradictory views have been expressed concerning
the personality and conduct of Archbishop Makarios. He was a classical
example of the time-serving prelate, a superb diplomat who had an exceptional
flair for appropriate conduct, a staunch defender of Orthodoxy and wise
leader who helped the church to maintain its organization. His behavior
often looked opportunist, but he was able to carry on his shoulders the
heavy weight of responsibility for the conduct of ecclesiastical and political
affairs during the most tragic and perplexing period of Cypriot history.
His interest in expanding Orthodoxy in Africa is well known, and can only
hope that the good work he started in this field will continue and bear
fruit. His soul will forever rejoice with the progress and the expansion
of the church all over Africa.
Archbishop Makarios, President of Cyprus, died on 3rd August 1977.
“It is with profound shock and great sadness that I have learned
of the tragic and untimely death of Archbishop Makarios. President Makarios’
life-long struggle for the true political independence of Cyprus, social
and religious justice for all people and his personal devotion to the
service of humankind were admired by the many friends who will remember
him for a long time. The noble ideals and universal principles for which
Archbishop Makarios lived should remain a guiding-light for the entire
world. In his passing away Kenya has indeed lost an irreplaceable friend.”
(Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, President of Kenya)
Building
a Nation - Building a Church
In
Cyprus as well as in Kenya — and perhaps universally too - the name
Makarios will always be associated with the end of the era of Colonialism.
Cyprus was a very important place in the history of colonial rule.
The leader of the struggle for the independence of the island was Archbishop
Makarios, who was at the same time the head of the Orthodox Church of
Cyprus and the “Ethnarch” — the leader of the Nation.
Kenya, at the same time, was also under colonial rule and the people
or fighters, known as MauMau, were also trying to liberate Kenya from
the British administration. Their leader was Jomo Kenyatta, a fervent
nationalist and sincere fighter.
It was during the time of his exile that Archbishop Makarios tasted
the need of establishing missionary work in Kenya. When he was freed from
the Seychelles Islands, he spent one week in Nairobi on his way to Athens.
It was then that he met the Kenyan people for the first time and made
public statements about freedom and justice to those under British administration.
On Sunday 14th April 1957, Archbishop Makarios celebrated the divine
liturgy in the Cathedral of Sts. Anargyroi, Nairobi, thus becoming the
first Orthodox bishop ever to officiate in that church. This day will
remain a memorable ecclesiastical event in Kenya.
Official
Visit to Kenya - January 1970
In
January 1970, Archbishop Makarios paid an official visit to Kenya as the
guest of President Kenyatta. He was given the warm welcome of a hero and
national leader. Upon his arrival at the airport, African Orthodox priests
were waiting to welcome him. As Archbishop Makarios came to know of the
existence of the African Orthodox Church, he felt the need to spread the
Orthodox faith and love; the spirit of peace and freedom, which was his
deepest wish and desire.
On his way back to Cyprus Archbishop Makarios made the following
statement:
“What especially moved me is the fact that in the eastern
region of Africa there are there are thousands of Africans who follow
the Orthodox faith. I sincerely believe that Greece can contribute to
the christianizing of hundreds of thousands of Africans and through Orthodoxy
the Greek spirit will shed light through the immense African continent.”
Archbishop Makarios was already showing his deepest desire, which
he would very soon communicate to the Patriarchate of Alexandria, as the
whole of the African continent was under its jurisdiction.
On July 1970, Patriarch Nicholas of Alexandria paid an official
visit to the Church of Cyprus. Archbishop Makarios speaking to the press
made the following remarks:
Answer 1: Through the visit in Cyprus of His Beatitude the Patriarch
of Alexandria Nicholas, the friendly ties existing since ancient times
between the Patriarchate of Alexandria and the Church of Cyprus became
stronger. In addition, wide areas of co-operation were delineated.
We have exchanged opinions with the Patriarch on the advancement
of the missionary work of the Patriarchate in Eastern Africa. I think
that the Church of Cyprus is in a position to contribute in the effort
of the Patriarchate to spread the Orthodox Christian Faith among the indigenous
population of the African continent and especially in the Eastern African
countries where already a few thousand Africans have accepted Orthodoxy.
For this purpose, the Archbishopric of Cyprus is ready to contribute in
the establishment of a Theological Seminary in the capital of Kenya, Nairobi.
In my recent visit in Eastern Africa I realized that there is a
vast field for the development of such missionary action. We are also
in a position to help, although in small measure, with the provision of
priests and teachers from Cyprus for the fulfillment of the spiritual
needs of the Greek Communities under the Patriarchate. Moreover, when
we have a School of Theology in Cyprus, the establishment of which has
already been decided, this will also serve as a spiritual source for the
Patriarchate of Alexandria as well, and it will significantly contribute
in providing for human resources and offering spiritual support to it.
Beyond the co-operation of the two sister Churches in the spiritual
and educational fields, we are willing to support the Patriarchate financially,
as well. We are aware of the difficult conditions and the financial problems
the Patriarchate of Alexandria is facing. We will help the Patriarch in
his plans for development of the space of the old buildings of the Monastery
of St. Savvas in a way that it will provide a sustainable income for the
Patriarchate.
Private
visit to Kenya - March 1971
“The
Cypriot leader, who arrived here on Friday on a three day private visit,
has every reason - as he said in Embakasi - to feel comparatively at home
in Kenya… the Archbishop said he was happy to be in Kenya briefly,
secure in the belief that the Orthodox community were winning because
Kenya’s Uhuru struggle was entering its most crucial phase. Most
of the local ‘Karinga’ (who were also known as Independent and
Orthodox) denominational leaders and educators, among them some of the
ordained priests now playing host to President Makarios, were in detention.
President Makarios’ visit should be able to disabuse those who in
their calculated ignorance misinterpret African-Christian-Orthodoxy as
‘paganism’.” (Henry Gathigira, “Makarios quite right
to feel at home” - Sunday Nation, 21st March, 1971).
An
Offering to the Youth of Africa - The Foundation Stone of the Theological
Seminary is Laid
Before
leaving Cyprus for Kenya, (March 1971), Archbishop Makarios made the following
statement:
“The purpose of my visit to Kenya is of purely religious nature
and importance. I am going to Nairobi where today I shall lay the foundation
stone of a Seminary to be built by the Cypriot Archbishopric. The Seminary
will greatly contribute, I believe, to the promotion of missionary work
in East Africa. The Seminary will cater for African youth, who, once educated
in the Orthodox Religion, will subsequently serve as priests and missionaries
on the African continent.
I realized the possibilities of developing missionary work in Africa
a year ago, during my state visit to East African countries. I have since
had the idea that the establishment of a well-organized Seminary would
be a significant contribution to this end. The idea has been readily adopted
by H.B. Patriarch Nicholas of Alexandria, under whose jurisdiction comes
the Orthodox Church all over Africa. The realization of this idea has
also been encouraged by the fact that the Kenyan government has made available
a suitable site for the construction of the Seminary and particularly
by the very favorable attitude of President Jomo Kenyatta towards the
project.
The existence of a very wide field for Christians in Africa is
also evidenced by the fact that Africans have been joining the Orthodox
Church in large numbers. During my three-day stay in Kenya, I shall conduct
mass christenings of some 5,000 natives in two towns. It can be said that
there has been no similar event since the christianisation of the Slavs.
And I am certain that many thousands of Africans may adopt Orthodoxy.
I am glad that the Church of Cyprus has been given the divine blessing
and privilege to be able to contribute to the development of missionary
work in African countries.”
An
Apostle of the African Nation
As
a modest and unassuming man, Archbishop Makarios, full of charm and kindness,
inspired many among the Africans and elsewhere, and linked his life with
the missionary work in Africa in such a strong way that the locals consider
him as an Apostle of the African Nation. He did indeed manifest all his
charisma and used it to increase the Orthodox faith in Africa as a duty
of his ecclesiastical mission to the world.
Mass
Baptism
On
two occasions, during his visit to Kenya in 1971, he performed mass baptisms
of more than 5,000 people, mostly of the Kikuyu tribe. The ceremonies
took place at Waithaka and Nyeri.
Archbishop Makarios communicated with the local Archbishop, Metropolitan
Nicodimos, through the following letter:
His
Eminence
The
Metropolitan of Irinoupolis Mgr. Nicodimos,
c/o
The Honorary Consul of Cyprus
Filios
Grammenopoulos,
Muthaiga
Road, P.O. Box 30515,
Nairobi
The
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kenya notified us that his Government accepted
with pleasure our petition for the provision of land for the establishment
of a Theological Seminary. We are in the process of finalizing the matter
and we intend to visit Nairobi soon. Dr. Mistidis informed us that in
the next few days thousands of indigenous people from Nyeri and Riruta
will join Orthodoxy. We will be pleased if Your dear Eminence postponed
the baptisms for a few days in order to give to us also the joy of participating
in the ceremony of baptism, to coincide with the laying of the foundation
stone of the Seminary.
Nicosia,
I February 1971
MAKARIOS
OF CYPRUS
At the same time, Archbishop Makarios also sent the following letter
to Patriarch Nicholas:
Your
Beatitude the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, beloved
to me and most erudite brother and co-celebrant, Mgr. Nicholas,
During
the recent visit in Cyprus of Your beloved to us Beatitude, we gave You
the promise to contribute within our capabilities in the development of
the missionary work of the ancient Patriarchate of Alexandria in Africa.
As a first step toward realization of this promise, we decided to build
in the capital of Kenya, Nairobi, an Orthodox Theological Seminary for
the Orthodox indigenous people of Eastern Africa.
We already contacted the Government of Kenya which has given a
large piece of land suitable for building this Seminary. His Eminence
the Metropolitan of Irinoupolis Mgr. Nicodimos has been informed of the
steps taken. Following the successful outcome of our actions, we have
instructed an Architectural firm in Cyprus to prepare plans for the above-mentioned
Seminary, which we will present to the Holy Metropolitan of Irinoupolis
before their final approval.
Because the above-mentioned, our dear brother-in-Christ requested
for us to visit his province as soon as possible and strengthen his God-pleasing
work morally and materially, we recently decided to travel to Nairobi
on the 19th of March for a four-day visit, during which we will lay the
foundation stone of the above-described Seminary. We have arranged this
visit together with the Government of Kenya and His Eminence the Metropolitan
of Irinoupolis.
Having orderly communicated the above to Your dear Beatitude, we
are convinced that You will also rejoice at this news.
Asking for Your prayers and blessings for the success of the goals
of our trip, we embrace you and remain your's, Your Beatitude and brother
in Christ,
Holy
Archbishopric of Cyprus, 8 March 1971
MAKARIOS
OF CYPRUS
After the performance of those baptisms it was reported in the
African press that:
“….there had been requests by members of the Orthodox
Church all over the country for Archbishop Makarios to baptize them….
This will not be possible because of his departure for Nicosia tonight…
His Beatitude, the President of the Republic Archbishop Makarios, yesterday
conducted mass christenings of 1,000 Africans, men and women of all ages,
in an atmosphere of devout concentration at a suburb of Nairobi…
All members of His Beatitude’s entourage acted as godfathers to one
or more children, most of them chose to be named Makarios. His Beatitude
gave a silver cross to each and every one baptized.”
A
Theological Seminary and a Technical School
On 22nd March 1971, Archbishop Makarios laid the foundation stone
of the Orthodox Seminary in
Riruta, outside Nairobi. At the end of the ceremony, he gave the
following address:
“Your Excellencies, dear brothers, ladies and gentlemen —
When, a year ago, I visited this country, at the kind invitation of my
friend President Jomo Kenyatta, I had the opportunity to meet many African
Orthodox Christians and also Orthodox Christians in other countries of
East Africa, with whom I discussed their religious problems. These meetings
and discussions led me to the idea of establishing a Theological Seminary
in Nairobi, which would serve the religious needs of the Orthodox Church
in East Africa. And today, with the blessing of God, I place the foundation
stone of the Seminary of this beautiful site, which was so generously
made available for this purpose by the government of Kenya. Our action
today in founding this Seminary is to help our African brothers in their
search for the ways of God in Christian virtue and brotherhood. With the
blessings of Almighty God we create here a center from which new Apostles
of Christ will spread the word of the Lord in this part of the world and
administer the comforting joy of the gospel in the hearts of our beloved
African brothers.
This Seminary, beyond the religious purpose which it will serve,
will constitute a symbol and an expression of a permanent link of friendship
and brotherhood between the people of Kenya and the people of Cyprus.
The foundation of this Seminary constitutes yet another corner-stone in
the consolidation of the existing friendly relations between our two countries;
relations that have been founded by the belief in common ideals and common
struggles.
I am deeply grateful to President Kenyatta and the government of
Kenya for the generous gesture in making available this splendid terrain,
thus making my idea of establishing this Seminary a reality. I also wish
to express my warm thanks to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kenya,
Dr. Mungai, for his valuable contribution to this project, and to all
those who have helped in various ways.
Parallel to the Seminary, I have plans for the establishment of
a Technical School for Kenyan boys and girls. I believe that such an institution
will contribute in a small way to the efforts of the great leader of Kenya,
Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, to develop the technical and industrial possibilities
of this wonderful country. We, in Cyprus, are following with great interest
the untiring efforts of the government of Kenya and especially of its
inspired leader to make this country prosperous and happy. A great deal
has already been achieved in many fields since Kenya has gained its freedom.
And now, with the blessings of God, I place this foundation stone
of the Orthodox Christian Seminary with the wish to have the joy of inaugurating
it in the future.”
The proclamation of the foundation read as follows:
“In the Glory of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The President of the Republic of Kenya being H.E. Mzee Jomo Kenyatta,
the Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa being H.B. Nicholas VI and
the Bishop in the Holy Archbishopric of Irinoupolis being the Metropolitan
Nicodimos, today in the day of the week being Monday the twenty-second
of the month of March of the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred
and seventy-one in a holy ceremony and by the hand of H.B. the Archbishop
of Cyprus and President of the Republic of Cyprus, Makarios III, the foundation
stone was laid of this Theological Seminary in Nairobi which is to be
built by the expense of the Holy Archbishopric of Cyprus.”
Metropolitan Nicodimos made the following speech that very historic
day:
Your Beatitude, the Archbishop of New Justinian and All Cyprus,
Mgr. Makarios. We offer hymns and doxologies to the Founder of our most
Holy Church, our Lord Jesus Christ, on this notable day and holy moment
during which we see with great joy and gratitude the brotherly and most
kind assistance which the Church of the martyr Apostle Barnabas promised
a year ago to her sister Church of the martyr Apostle and Evangelist Markos,
to be materializing.
We are especially elated and rejoicing, Your Beatitude and Holy
Brother, because among the Hierarchs of the autocephalous Orthodox Churches
you are the First Who is visiting this remote comer of the African continent
in which the Holy Metropolis of Irinoupolis does its mission work, and
thus justifiably could be called a Missionary Metropolis, and with a heart
pulsating with holy and humanitarian feelings and with pure and guileless
intentions comes to the assistance of Orthodox brothers in need in the
titanic work which is taking place here through the grace of God.
You are the Orthodox Hierarch who does not only knows how to struggle
for the noble ideals of the Hellenic-Christian spirit and civilization,
but also the only one who has suffered everything for these ideals.
Your love to our most Holy Orthodoxy, Your open mind and Your intuition
for holy and great work led Your steps here, and with the intelligence
and wisdom which are characteristics of Yours, You are taking on the great
project of founding and radically restructuring the Orthodox Seminary,
which is destined to become a light for all Africa in spreading the messages
of our Hellenic Orthodox Faith to our African brothers throughout this
continent.
Through this work, and like another Pantainos, Origen and Athanasios
the Great, you are transmitting the Orthodox Christian truth to our African
brothers thus making them partake of the high truth of the sweet Jesus
of Nazareth.
Most respected Holy Brother,
Our joy is so great that not only me personally, but also my flock,
cannot find words to express our gratitude to You, the Great National
Ethnarch.
Through this help of Yours, and through the expression of Your
love for the mission work of my Metropolis, through Your generositv. through
Your most kind gesture, allow us to consider You a Great Benefactor of
the Metropolis of Irinoupolis, and ardently wish that Lord our God grant
You health and length of days, for the glory of our dear Orthodoxy and
our beloved country, the eternal Greece.
Your four-day visit here allowed Your Beatitude, holy Brother,
to observe the life and action of our holy mission. You saw the difficulties
we are facing, You are a witness of the numerous kinds of impediments
and difficult-to-solve problems we are dealing with. We are begging You
to become, after your departure from here, a herald of all these things
you saw with your own eyes, so that the everywhere pan-orthodox
flock of our most Holy Church is moved to come and assist us in our work
for which we strive day and night.
Holy Angel of the Church of Cyprus,
Allow me to express to You the brotherly gratitude of His Beatitude,
my Venerable Father and Master, the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and
All Africa Mgr. Nicolaos the VI; of the Holy Synod of the Church of the
beloved Throne of Apostle Mark; of my devout flock; and mine personally,
and assure You that we will never forget this great and kindest assistance
from You.
Finally in conclusion I wish that God our Lord grant to your
struggles bright and glorious success.
I also beg that you carry the brotherly greetings of my flock in
Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania to our Cypriot brothers and assure them that
we all pray to our Savior, Lord Jesus Christ, to help them in their most
noble struggle.
May the years of His Beatitude Makarios, the most Eminent Archbishop
of New Justinian and All Cyprus be many!
The same morning the President of Kenya had met Archbishop Makarios
and said that the Archbishop's name was like a passport throughout Kenya,
whose people considered His Beatitude as a symbol of struggle and a fighter
for world freedom. President Kenyatta also expressed great joy for the
spreading of Christianity in Kenya by Archbishop Makarios and said that
he, himself was a Christian.
Common
struggle for freedom
Early
in the morning of 23rd March, Archbishop Makarios, on his arrival at Nicosia
International airport, made the following statement: "My short visit
to Kenya has been for me a religious experience that I shall always recall
with emotion. Thousands of Africans of every age, families and individuals,
have adopted the Christian Orthodox Religion through baptism. Within two
days, I conducted mass christenings of more than 5,000 persons. And the
numerous arrival to the christening would continue for days, if it were
possible to prolong my stay in the country.
The mass christenings conducted constitute an event that will occupy
a position in our Church history and, especially, in the history of foreign
missionary work by the Orthodox Church. A black Orthodox Church is being
built and expanded at this moment in the eastern part of the African continent.
And the flock of this Church will, in the future, will number millions
of Africans. I am glad that among the godfathers of this African Church
is the Church of Cyprus.
My visit to Kenya was of a religious nature and had no official
character from the political point of view. However, there were many friendly
manifestations towards Cyprus both by the Government and the people. Yesterday
morning, I had a meeting of common interest in a cordial atmosphere. The
laying of the foundation stone of the Seminary was attended by the Minister
of Foreign Affairs of Kenya, Mr. Mungai, who in an address to the gathering
referred to Cyprus' and Kenya's liberation struggles and stressed the
friendly bonds between the two countries."
Seminary
completed a month before the "coup d'etat"
The
construction of the Seminary was completed in June 1974, a month before
the "coup d'etat" against Archbishop Makarios. Archbishop Makarios
spent about five months in exile, during which he was trying to find a
peaceful solution of the Cyprus problem. When he returned to Cyprus in
December 1974, the island was in great distress, owing to the two invasions
by Turkey. He did everything he could: he used all his qualities and gifts
to improve the conditions of the 200,000 refugees.
Therefore, the Seminary was not in a position to open, but when
the general situation was improving he decided to start preparing the
function of the school.
On the 29th of March, 1971, Archbishop Makarios speaking at the
session of the synod of the Church of Cyprus said:
Talking about joining the Christian flock, we wish, dear Brothers,
to share with you the joy we personally experienced when a few days ago
we visited Kenya. With God's blessing, we conducted mass baptisms of about
five thousand indigenous people who all became through the holy baptism
members of the Orthodox Christian Church. We were moved when we confirmed
that many more thousand of the indigenous population were ready to accept
the Orthodox faith. These mass baptisms constitute the beginning of the
firm establishment and extension in the Eastern part of Africa of an Orthodox
Church which will possibly soon count millions of faithful. We are rejoicing
because the Church of Cyprus is one of the godparents of this African
Orthodox Church. In order to contribute to the development of missionary
work in Africa, we decided to build a Theological Seminary at the expense
of the Holy Archbishopric of Cyprus, and we already set its foundation.
This Seminary will be preparing priests and missionaries for the advancement
of the Orthodox Christian Religion in the African continent. We have no
doubt that this work has the blessings and the support of the members
of the Holy Synod.
On another occasion Archbishop Makarios visited privately Kenya
and on his departure day, the 17th of September 1972 made the following
statement:
"After a four-day stay in Seychelles, on my return I remained
in Nairobi for two days. I met the President of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta and
I had unofficial meetings with other Government officials. During my stay
in the capital of Kenya, I dealt with issues concerning the soon-to-be-completed
Theological Seminary and I was also present at a large assembly of indigenous
people who had accepted the Orthodox Christian Faith. My contact with
the indigenous Orthodox strengthened my conviction in the great possibility
for spreading the Orthodox Church in the African continent."
Archbishop Makarios communicated the following information to the
Patriarchate of Alexandria:
Your
Beatitude the Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, beloved to me and
most erudite brother and co-celebrant, Mgr. Nicolaos,
It
is with great joy that we are informing Your beloved to us Beatitude,
that the Theological Seminary under construction in Nairobi at the expense
of the Holy Archbishopric of Cyprus, and whose foundation stone we set
in March 1971, is nearing completion. Already the main wing of the College,
consisting of the classrooms, has been completed. This College, as Your
Beatitude is aware of, comprises, in addition to the classrooms and the
Library, dormitory and residences for the teachers. There is provision
in the plans for the erection of a Church and a building to house the
Archbishopric.
With God's blessings, we will be in Kenya from the 9th of next
month December, responding to invitation by the President of Kenya Mr.
Jomo Kenyatta, to be present at the celebrations for the national day
of the country. During the period of our visit we would like, if Your
Beatitude approves, to hold the opening ceremony for the completed main
wing of the above-mentioned College, and probably baptize a good number
of indigenous people.
Before our travel to Kenya, we intend to send there His Grace Bishop
of Constantia Mgr. Chrysostom, in order to do the necessary preparations
together with the local Church administration. More information on this
matter can be provided to Your Beatitude by our Assistant Bishop, the
commissioner of the present letter.
Dutifully and orderly having communicated this to Your Beatitude,
we are brotherly requesting , Your blessings and approval.
Additionally, in our wish to fulfill a promise given to Your Beatitude
for the contribution of our Holy Archbishopric in the creation of sources
to sustain the ancient Patriarchate of Alexandria through the development
of the space which the old Patriarchal Building occupies, we are taking
the opportunity to send along with the Bishop of Constantia, the Architect
Mr. Andreas Philippou, in order for them to get informed of Your thoughts
regarding this project, toward the realization of which we are happy to
contribute.
Embracing You, we pray to God to keep and protect You for many
years and in good health.
Holy
Archbishopric of Cyprus,
27
November 1972
Your
brother in Christ,
Makarios
of Cyprus
August
1976
Archbishop Makarios’ next visit to Kenya was delayed due to
the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, and it was not until August 1976 that
he had an opportunity to see the buildings of the Seminary as well as
of the Technical School completed.
During his stay in Nairobi, (10th - 22nd August, 1976) Archbishop
Makarios was present at a divine liturgy which was celebrated at the Holy
Trinity church, Mugauga. In a sermon that he made on that occasion, he
said:
“Once again I am visiting your country. My ties with Kenya
go back to the days of my exile to the Seychelles, 20 years ago. At that
time Kenya was a British Colony and the Kenyans, under the leadership
of Jomo Kenyatta, were struggling for freedom and independence. When I
was released from the Seychelles and on my way back I came to Nairobi,
where I stayed for a week. Jomo Kenyatta with some leaders were then in
prison. During my short stay, I visited camps where many freedom fighters
were detained. I also met many leading personalities from whom I learnt
certain details of the then prevailing situation. A few years later, your
struggle for freedom was crowned with success and Kenya got its independence
and so did my country, Cyprus.
Kenya now under the leadership of the great leader, Jomo Kenyatta,
is making significant strides towards development and progress. Cyprus
and Kenya since their independence have developed and maintained very
friendly relations and have co-operated in many fields.”
During my official visit here, at the kind invitation of
President Kenyatta, I conceived the idea of establishing a Christian Orthodox
Seminary to meet the needs of the African faithful. With the permission
of the Government and the blessings of Patriarch Nicholas of Alexandria,
under whose jurisdiction comes the diocese of Irinoupolis and the entire
Orthodox Church in Africa, I founded the Seminary in Nairobi. I planned
this short stay here on my way back from the Colombo Conference to exchange
views with your Metropolitan Most Reverend Froumentios, and to make arrangements
for the opening of the Seminary that was completed three years ago. I
hope that by next January the Seminary will function and will receive
students from Kenya and East Africa generally. The students will be prepared
for priesthood. I shall have the pleasure of being with you again at the
official opening of the Seminary.
Taking this opportunity, I wish to convey to you and to all Kenyans
heartfelt greetings from the people of Cyprus and the expression of our
appreciation for the stand of the Government and the people of Kenya on
the Cyprus problem. President Kenyatta proved a trusted friend of Cyprus
at critical moments. As you know, my country has been invaded by Turkey
and a great part of Cyprus is now under Turkish occupation. Turkey violated
the independence and territorial integrity of my country and the people
of Cyprus are striving once again for freedom. In our struggle we have
the support and solidarity of all freedom-loving countries and Kenya is
among the first. Despite the many difficulties, we do not lose hope that
we will be able to restore our territorial integrity. We are determined,
not to submit to brutal force. Justice may have been trampled upon temporarily
but, at the end, it will prevail. God is just, and He will see that justice
is done.
Once again my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I express my
thanks for the warm welcome and the manifestations of your love to me
and to my country. I bestow upon you the blessings of the Church of Cyprus.
May the Grace of God be always with you and may the Spirit inspire and
guide you in your life."
Orthodoxy
in East Africa - the Role of Archbishop Makarios
Future
historians will assess Makarios’ great role in establishing a good
relationship with Africa and especially Kenya, when he baptized thousands
into the Orthodox faith and founded the Theological Seminary. His remarkable
work for the African people and his contribution to the expansion of Orthodoxy
were much appreciated by the African people as well as by the leaders
of other Orthodox churches.
The full significance of the meaning of the life of Archbishop
Makarios, his work for Africa and the renewal of Christian vision, is
something which cannot yet be seen, but which we may come to see if we
are faithful to the vision that he himself both saw and followed.
He dreamed of an Africa full of the light of Orthodoxy through
his love for all human beings — nothing is lost of what has gone
before, but all is transfused with a new light in the completeness of
the picture in the Heavenly Glory.
The
Makarios Theological Seminary Today
Much
hope rests in the Makarios Seminary for the future needs of the rapidly
growing East African Orthodox missions.
Read
other writings by His Eminence Metropolitan Makarios in Adventures
in the Unseen
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