With the gracious permission and blessing of Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria and All Africa, Bishop Chrysostomos of Bukoba embarked on a visit to the Hierarchical District of Geita in Tanzania, where he performed the Divine Liturgy and the ordination of two new deacons.
On Saturday, March 9, Bishop Chrysostomos headed to the Parish of the Nativity of Christ in Geita, where he ordained Lazarus, a seminary student, as a deacon. Lazarus, committed to his studies, will also serve as a deacon under the guidance of the Bishop.
During the same ceremony, Bishop Chrysostomos elevated Fr. Sophronios, the father of the newly ordained deacon, to the position of Oikonomos of the Diocese and bestowed upon him a pectoral cross. Fr. Sophronios, a devoted father of 15 children, including a daughter who serves as a presbytera, joyfully presented his son to the Holy Clergy. Additionally, the Bishop extended his heartfelt wishes to Fr. Sophronios for his upcoming namesake day (March 11), commemorating Saint Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem.
On Sunday, March 10, Bishop Chrysostomos visited the Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Geita, where he ordained Prodromos, another seminary student, as a deacon. Prodromos will fulfill his diaconal duties at the Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Boukoba.
Following the Divine Liturgy, a Youth Conference was held, attracting the participation of 100 young people from the parishes within the Hierarchical District of Geita. The central theme of the conference centered on repentance and confession.
During the conference, young attendees delivered speeches addressing repentance and the sacrament of confession. Bishop Chrysostomos engaged with the youth, answering to their questions and facilitating discussions surrounding their personal experiences with confession and the profound joy accompanying the forgiveness of sins.
Source and photo: greek.vema.com.au / Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas