The sweet dawn of the resurrection of the Church of Rwanda with the ordination of the first Theologian clergyman

With the well wishes and prayers of His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa, and the friends of the Church of Rwanda, the first theologically trained Presbyter from Rwanda, Hieromonk Anastasios Tuyisenge Hamilcar Fidele, was ordained on Sunday, 5 January 2025.

The ordination took place at the Holy Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Bukoba, Tanzania, by His Grace Bishop Chrysostomos of Bukoba, Western Tanzania and Patriarchal Commissioner-designate for Rwanda.

Present were all the priests, deacons and subdeacons of the Diocese of Rwanda, who travelled together to be present at this great moment for the Orthodox Church of Rwanda.

God willing, in the coming days the Bishop and the clergy will travel to Rwanda, where they will submit the request to the State for the opening of the Churches of the Diocese.

It is recalled that since last July, no Divine Liturgy can be celebrated in Rwanda, nor any other service in Churches. The State requires that clergy be theologians and that Churches be suitable for the gathering of believers.

An effort is now being made to restart the local Church, with the Diocese of Bukoba noting that “we are at the sweet dawn of the resurrection of Orthodoxy in Rwanda, praying our “God who has appeared” may grant us.”