Laying of the foundations of the Church of Saint Gregory and Saint Kosmas the Aetolian in Tanzania
On Wednesday, 13 December 2023, with the grace of God and the patriarchal blessing of His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa, His Eminence Metropolitan Dimitrios of Irinoupolis laid the foundations of yet another Church, dedicated to Saint Gregory and Saint Kosmas the Aetolian in the city of Doma, of the Morogoro province, in Eastern Tanzania.
God has blessed these 19 years of Missionary work of Metropolitan Dimitrios in Central and Eastern Tanzania, so that until this day, 36 Holy Churches have been built. However, the needs are still great, even as the Mission is rich in blessing and fruitfulness, there are more than 11 parishes which are housed in straw huts, and continued work is still needed.
From very early on Wednesday morning, native priests, readers, Orthodox believers, catechists, many poor students from the surrounding area began to arrive at the five-acre plot, recently acquired by the Holy Metropolis of Irinoupolis. The local peoples are being helped by His Eminence Metropolitan Dimitrios with school scholarships so that they can complete their studies in primary and secondary education. Also present for the laying of the foundations service of the new Orthodox Church in the area of Morogoro, were the Mayor of Doma and other government officials. The missionary effort which is taking place in Morogoro is one which is bearing much spiritual fruit, even as it contends the large Muslim population of the local area and the devastating poverty which plagues Eastern Tanzania.
After the blessing of the foundations, His Eminence Metropolitan Dimitrios, speaking in Swahili, conveyed to all the wishes and blessings of His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria, and praised the efforts of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, while at the same time the volunteers who offered two tons of corn flour, as a Christmas blessing, to the poorest of the poor.
