Archbishop Makarios of the Orthodox Church of Kenya
Email to a Friend
RSS Syndication
Posted on Mon Jul 30 2007
Cyprus Mail - Nicosia,Cyprus
By Constantine Markides in Kenya
THE Orthodox Church is renowned for its unshakeable adherence to ancient Byzantine traditions, as is reflected in its regal vestments and lengthy liturgical ritual. But adhering to Byzantine tradition does not necessarily mean that the customs of other cultures must be discarded, at least not according to the Limassol-born Archbishop of Kenya Makarios Tyllirides, whose efforts over the past three decades have led to a flourishing of Orthodoxy throughout Kenya.
In one week this month, he consecrated three churches, one in the Nairobi periphery shantytown of Kangemi, another in the southern hillside community of Karinde, and another in the jungle village of Ivola near Lake Victoria in Western Kenya. But although the ceremonies did not diverge in substance from those performed in Cyprus and Greece, there was an additional dimension to them: the rituals of the tribal community were also included.
TheKenya Archbishop does not merely grudgingly allow these tribal traditions. In fact, he insists that they be incorporated into the Orthodox services.
“Actually, we as a church are the ones who are encouraging and keeping alive the culture of these people,” Archbishop Makarios said. “For some of these tribes, this is the first time that written texts [the translated texts of the Orthodox services] are circulating in their dialects. In fact, the services you heard today in Swahili were published in Cyprus.”
Archbishop Makarios noted that technological advances and the Kenyan government’s adoption of English as its official pedagogical language had only served to sever the 42 tribes of Kenya from their native dialect.
“We also insist that every tribe demonstrates [in the church] its traditional dances and songs,” the Archbishop said. “That way we maintain the tradition.”
The 62-year-old Archbishop is so supportive of their traditions that he joins in on the dances with them, wearing his bishopric regalia, scepter in hand.
“Many cannot imagine a bishop dancing,” he said. “[They find] it unthinkable in our tradition. But here we do it. It does no harm to anybody.”
The Archbishop has also learned the chants in the language spoken in the particular region, so the liturgies are conducted in both Greek as well as the local dialect.
All of this, along with his commitment to building schools and clinics in remote regions, has helped to draw in crowds. The churches overflow during the consecrations, with attendees one moment bowing down and crossing themselves silently, and the next ululating and clapping their hands over their heads.
Last Wednesday during the funeral service of a 38-year-old Presbytera who died from post-natal anemia after giving birth to her 11th child, hundreds of Kenyans, possibly even a thousand, gathered from the neighbouring villages to hear him speak.
But despite the innumerable churches constructed under his guidance and the thousands of Kenyans who have joined the Orthodox Church in Kenya, Archbishop Makarios insists that proselytising does not take place.
“We don’t go out knocking on doors to bring people in. We merely say come and see. If they like what we are doing, then they will join us.
“We are not forcing anybody.”
Mission in Kenya
Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Κένυας είναι πραγματικά αξιοθαύμαστος για το έργο που επιτελεί στην αφρικανική ήπειρο μέσα σε αντίξοες συνθήκες. Αφήνοντας πίσω του μια αξιόλογη κατά κόσμον καριέρα έκανε τη ζωή του θυσία στην υπηρεσία της ιεραποστολής. Είθε να βρεθούν και άλλοι μιμητές του έργου του.
Kudos Makarios, we are witnesses of your good job!
Diversity and vision
[No Subject]
|
Post a Message:
|
