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KENYA
The
Kikuyu tribe proclaimed the Metropolitan of Nairobi as
their “Elder”
Source:
http://o-nekros.blogspot.gr/2017/12/
Last week the Very Reverend Metropolitan Makarios of
Nairobi, Kenya, co-officiated in the Divine Liturgy with
Their Eminences Bishops Innocent of Rwanda and
Burundi, Athanasius
of Kisumu and Western Kenya,
and a large number of Priests, at the sacred church of
Saint Eleftherios in Rironi, a suburb of Nairobi.
Present at the Divine Liturgy were the Orthodox faithful
from neighboring areas, board members of parishes,
orthodox ladies from Christian unions, orthodox men from
their respective unions, youngsters, political factors
and others.
Towards the end of the Divine Liturgy, the Very Reverend
Metropolitan bestowed honours on two important workers
of the Orthodox Christian Union who had served for
several years and had performed effectively: Moses Mungo
who was Chairman, and William Muhoro who was Secretary
of the Union.
Moses was present and had accepted the honorary plaque,
whereas William had already slept in the Lord, so his
widow accepted the honorary plaque in his stead.
Also honoured was the oldest of the professors of the
Patriarchal School “Archbishop of Cyprus Makarios III”,
Clement Kabutu (…)
Afterwards outside the church, there took place a
special ritual where, according to the Kikuyu tribe’s
traditions and culture, the Metropolitan was proclaimed
“Elder” of the tribe, which is a very important honorary
title – the highest – for his humble ministry in Kenya.
That day was particularly special for the Very Reverend
Metropolitan, who, after the Divine Liturgy and
extremely moved, revealed to everyone that God had
blessed him in so many different ways and with spiritual
experiences, given that he performed the Divine Liturgy
with the two African Bishops and the Priests, who had
all been students of his at the Patriarchal School.
As a matter of fact, because of the absence of Bishop
Neophytos, his message was read by a representation of
Priests who had purposely come over, to honour the
Metropolitan.
The same thing occurred on the previous Sunday at the
church of Saint John at Nyeri, where he co-officiated
with the aforementioned Bishops and the local Bishop
Neophytos together with all the Priests who again
happened to be his former students and were also
ordained by him. This was the greatest blessing that the
Metropolitan had received, inasmuch as all three African
Bishops used to be his students.
This was followed by a rich celebratory program with
dances, songs and the cutting of the traditional cake.
Excerpt from Metropolitan Makarios’ speech:
"(...) Titles and Ranks are all good! But they are a
challenge and a reminder that we must focus on the way
we can help our fellow man…
Do we actually examine in depth and convince ourselves
that we need to increase inside us the virtue of
humility and reconciliation?
Our Lord taught us with His words and His actions how we
can serve our fellow-man with humility, out of love
towards him, and that only thus can we succeed in this
crucifixional-resurrectional course.
«Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s
well-being» (1Cor.10:24). We will succeed, only when we
sacrifice our very self for our fellow-man, the least
among our brothers, who is none other than God Himself.
It is the fruit of virtue, since we
are giving the other an exceptional honour and are
interested in his ascent.
Please browse through the following items also :
Hope for the Kikuyu (Kenya) / "The caves along the Tana
River became the refuge for freedom fighters..." 
The First-Born Son of the Prime Minister of Kenya is Baptized Orthodox
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