Kidamali, Tanzania, February 13, 2020

Photo: doxologia.ro

The Orthodox faithful of Tanzania celebrated a day of firsts earlier this week.

On Monday, February 10, the first Orthodox monastery in the nation celebrated its first Divine Liturgy. The service was celebrated by His Grace Bishop Agathonikos of Arusha and Central Tanzania at the holy habitation in Kidamali together with a number of Greek hieromonks and Tanzanian priests, reports the Romanian outlet Doxologia.

Photo: doxologia.ro

The monastery’s church is dedicated to the holy Archangel Michael and St. Paisius (Velichkovsky) of Neamț Monastery in Romania, as several monasteries and parishes from the Archdiocese of Iași contributed to the erection of the church.

Photo: doxologia.ro

After the service, the foundation stone was laid for the erection of a number of cells and annexes necessary for the proper functioning of the monastery, with its small community of nuns: Mother Irina and Riassaphore Nun Sofronia from Romania and two Tanzanian novices—Sisters Tekla and Maria.

The day ended with an agape meal of rice, beans, and goat meat for all present.

Photo: doxologia.ro

230 Africans, including many former Muslims, were baptized in Tanzania late last month.

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