On Sunday, July 20, Metropolitan Theodosios of Kinshasa laid the foundation stone for the first Orthodox Church in the bustling city of Matadi, located in the Democratic Republic of Congo. With a population exceeding two million, Matadi officially welcomed Orthodoxy just three years ago.
Initially, the faithful gathered in a rented house, where they practiced their religious duties under the guidance of a catechist. Later, occasional visits by priests evolved into the presence of a permanent clergy, fostering the growth of the community.
On Sunday afternoon, the Metropolitan, accompanied by the Athonite monk Father Koukouzelis and others, conducted the foundation-laying ceremony for the Church of Saint George. Present at the event were the local neighborhood leader and some of the first faithful.
Metropolitan Theodosios conveyed the blessings of Pope and Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa. He expressed his gratitude to the donor and spoke about Saint George’s spiritual significance and the blessing the new church brings to the region. He also emphasized that the only canonical Orthodox Church in Africa is the Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa.
The Metropolitan thanked the parish’s first priest, Archimandrite Chrysostomos, as well as his successor, Father Leon, a native of Matadi, for their dedicated service to the growing Orthodox community.
Transltated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
