Tanzania: Elevation of new Oikonomos, father of 15 children
With the gracious permission and blessing of His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria and All Africa, His Grace Bishop Chrysostomos of Bukoba embarked on a visit to the Archiepiscopal District of Geita in Tanzania, where he performed the Divine Liturgy and the ordination of two new deacons.
On Saturday, 9 March 2024, His Grace headed to the Parish of the Nativity of Christ in Musasa, 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 Divine Liturgy, 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 patronal feast day (March 11), commemorating Saint Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem.
On Sunday, 10 March 2024, His Grace Bishop Chrysostomos visited the Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Geita, where he ordained Prodromos, another seminary student, as a deacon. Deacon Prodromos will fulfill his diaconal duties at the Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Boukoba as he completes his theological studies.
Following the Divine Liturgy, a Youth Conference was held, attracting the participation of 100 young people from the parishes within the Archiepiscopal District of Geita. The central theme of the conference centred on repentance and confession, which is the general theme of the entire Diocese for the year 2024.
During the conference, the youth delivered speeches addressing repentance and the sacrament of confession. Bishop Chrysostomos engaged with the youth, answering their many questions and facilitating discussions surrounding their personal experiences with confession and the profound joy accompanying the forgiveness of sins.
The Bishop also inspected the work at the Missionary Centre of Saint Euphemia Kasawa, where he inspected the construction of the church camps of the Geitas area, donated by devout Christians from Nigrita, Serres, Greece.
