(8/19/2009)
By the grace of God and the missionary zeal of Metropolitan Dimitrios of Irinopolis, the spreading of the word of God continues with the conversion of our African brothers. 1,780 newly illumined have been welcomed into the Church since the beginning of the year, and the philanthropic work in Tanzania continues.
St. Stylianos, the first Orthodox orphanage of the Holy Metropolis, which was inaugurated by Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Kition and Metropolitan Dimitrios of Irinopolis, has been completed.
This important and necessary work for the district was undertaken with the blessing of the Metropolitan of Kition, the help of “The Association to Fight the Scourge of Hunger, Cyprus,” and the philanthropic contributions of the sisters Norma and Alice Dimitriou of Lanarka, in the memory of Athena Dimitriou and Stella Papayianni.
The compound accommodates six residence rooms, baths, a kitchen, a dining room, a reading area, and areas for recreation and prayer. It is intended to house and protect 24 orphaned children, most of whom are suffering from the scourges of AIDS and malaria.
There, where the Muslims rule, after hard struggles, devout prayer, and systematic missionary work by the Greek and Cypriot missionaries (consisting of both clergy and laymen) thousands of Tanzanians have been baptized. At the same time, with the help of the Holy Metropolis, a number of new buildings have been erected including an Orthodox Clinic, three grade schools, two high schools, one kindergarten, and now the St. Stylianos Orphanage.
More Information: www.ocmc.org
