In the twentieth century, the Orthodox Church began an active mission among the indigenous population of Africa. That mission, which has proven to be very successful, continues to this day. In 2002, the Mission Center in Colvezia (Republic of Congo) published a series of testimonies in which our contemporaries, Orthodox Africans, speak of their journey to Orthodoxy and of the miracles that the Lord and His Saints do among them.
How the father of Athanasius Discovered Christ
“I was born in Kananga province (southern Congo) in 1948. The father was a Gentile, the mother a protestant. I was a Roman Catholic and studied in a Catholic school. In 1966, having successfully passed the exams, I was employed by a railway agency and became its manager nine years later.
I have often prayed to the Lord to show me the true path of soul salvation and allow me to enter into eternal life.
For the purpose of the service, I was transferred to another city – Likasa. Buying some things in one of the quarters I unexpectedly came across a temple. It was surrounded by many people. I became interested in what was at stake and received the answer that it was a temple consecrated on behalf of the three Saints, belonging to the Orthodox Greek community. Up to that point, I only knew about the Roman Catholic Church, which I thought was the only true one. Some force pulled me all the way to get inside. The soul immediately filled with joy and exultation. I began to pray in front of the Savior icon. Immediately, I clearly felt the conviction from within that it was the true Church of Christ, which He had founded for the salvation of men. I did not know any Orthodox priests at the time, I knew little about Orthodoxy in general. By the grace of the Holy Spirit, my heart immediately knew the truth of our Faith.”
“Father Athanasius tell us something about your spiritual father – Jerome Monk Kozmi from the Grigoriyat monastery in Mount Athos.”
“He was one of the first missionaries in Katanga province. He erected temples, preached and baptized. He continually served God until his death. He helped the poor, drove the sick to the hospital himself, paid for their treatment. He visited them often. He went to comfort the prisoners in prison. He made them wooden beds because they were forced to sleep on the stone floor. When traveling, he always had a hook in front of him to hook up the loads that the villagers were driving in Kolveza, crossing vast distances.
My whole family are his spiritual sons. It was with us that he first talked about the Orthodox faith and then baptized in the church of the Prophet John the Baptist in Likasa in 1985. He spoke to us about the essence of Orthodox teaching, talked about heresies, about the meaning of Lent, about the history and harsh persecution of our Church.
The efforts and life of Father Cosma communicated to us the living word of God. He was a true missionary. I believe he is with the Saints. He’s still alive for us. May the Lord rest his soul.”
"The three candles suddenly lit by themselves ..."
Father Kozma, a priest of the village of Kasazi, who is around the city of Lualaba in Katanga province (Shaba), spoke of this miracle.
“Good Friday evening. The service is being served at the new Temple of the Apostle Paul. There was a moment when they wore the Shroud in the lithium around the temple. Everyone had candles lit: three candles are attached to the cross. But as soon as we went out of the temple, a strong wind blew out all the candles. And here, when there was still about 40 meters left to enter the temple, a miracle happens: before the eyes of all three candles above the cross are lit by themselves. The candle flame strongly illuminated the cross and did not extinguish, despite the very strong wind. Everyone: both parishioners and the curious were – amazed. The voice said, “Look at the blessing power of the Orthodox Church!”
The Gentiles who witnessed this miracle said: “We must stay away from this Church. In it is hidden the tremendous power that the Lord has bestowed upon it to destroy us! “
However, this miracle has borne fruit. Within six months we have baptized 170 converts. “
"From Mormon I became an Orthodox Christian ..."
This letter was written to us by Deacon Talaley of a town called Garkazembe.
“I used to be a follower of the so-called Mormons. The founder of the movement was Joseph Smith. He was born in 1805. The “church” itself has begun to actively engage with us since 1987. Soon I was drawn into the group and consequently – “baptized”. They appreciated my zeal. I was recognized as a true follower and became a minister of the “church.”
In 1997 I graduated from the Faculty of Education. I got my specialization to teach beginner classes but couldn’t find a job anywhere. Eventually I was admitted to a shop owned by a Greek. He lived in the town of Lubumbashi and the manager and shop workers were locals.
Father D. often came here from the Orthodox Mission in Colvezia to change money. He brought us to the center by car. Along the way he used to tell us something about Orthodoxy and give us books in French. I read them I was amazed especially by the Lives of the Holy Fathers. I remember the remarkable impression that the Lives of the Reverend Seraphim Sarovsky left on me.
I worked at the shop for a year. I then became an elementary school teacher at an Orthodox school in the city of Garkazembe. I started attending worship at the nearest church of the Apostle Thomas. In the end, I wanted to be admitted to the Church. I started attending catechism classes. On July 20, 2001, my entire family was baptized, and later I married my wife. I very much wanted all children to become Orthodox Christians. And I began to teach children the laws of God. I used to hold a Sunday school for adults in the temple.
In April 2002, I took a Theology course. At the end of the month, Father Meletia called me to say that he saw the will of God in me becoming a servant of the Lord. Thus, on July 12, 2002, I was appointed by the Metropolitan of Central Africa as deacon.
I will emphasize the main point: it was Jerome Monk D. who sowed the seed in my soul, which came to lively response and bore its fruit.
With all my heart I love Christ, and that is why I have only one desire – to constantly strive to work in Sunday school for both the children and all Christians of our village. Adults come to me on Mondays. By driving them home every time I convince them not to give up these classes.
I would very much like Father D. to teach the law of God at least once a month to the children of our school. I would still like to take tailoring courses for girls and women. May the Lord help us all with the prayers of the missionary fathers. “
"The Son of God healed you ..."
Hariton, one of the catechists of the Parish of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, talked about the miracle that happened to his wife, Xenia.
“At the time, my wife was very weak. On Sunday we went to the temple together to pray. At home, her pain became worse.
At night, three strangers came to her in her sleep.
They stood by her bed and began to read their prayers. Then one of them stood before her and said. “Look, the Son of God has come to heal you …” At that moment the woman woke up and jumped out of bed in extreme excitement. She told me what she saw. She assured me that the pains were gone and that she felt completely healthy. And really, the next day we went to work together on the field. “
A jar of holy water
Father Spiridon, deacon of the parish of the Holy Martyrs of Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia in Capuchin, told us the following.
“One Christian, Vasily, took the exams. He did not know the answer to almost any of the questions asked.
“How will I pass the exams,” he thought all the time. Thinking he decided to go to the temple. He asked us to give him holy water, not saying what he needed it for. Entering the amphitheater, before the assignment was announced, he splashed his head with holy water, praying: “Lord Jesus Christ, hurry to help me, please. Enlighten my mind so that I may respond well. ” The professor wrote the assignments on the board. Vasily, with the help of God, solved all the tasks and first handed over the work. The lecturer was amazed: how he, who rarely attends lectures, was able to finish so quickly? He looked at the answers and was even more amazed: everything was correct. Then he asked him:
– How did you solve all this if you didn’t study?
“I didn’t even do anything,” the student replied.
The teacher asked him what temple he was going to. Vasily replied:
– Orthodox!
“Keep going there,” replied the lecturer, “because indeed, there they glorify the true God.
How St. Nicholas warned the woman
Father Spiridon told us another event.
“It happened in 1988. I brought the icon of Saint Nicholas the Miracle Worker to our village, and set him up in the yard. I didn’t go out of the yard that day. One woman, who went to work with other people, saw the icon and began scornfully saying, “So who is it? It looks like a criminal “just look at his hideous face!” And other people, although not Orthodox Christians, responded to her: “Do not insult the saint whose icon Father Spiridon brought.” But she disobeyed them and continued to insult the Miracle Creator. At night in her sleep she saw a worthy seven-year-old man in beautiful clothes.
He begged her with a cry.
– Why did you insult me?
“I didn’t insult you,” she replied.
Then the Saint said to her:
– I’m the one you mocked yesterday. And here I called you myself, and again, like yesterday, you are rude to me.
The woman fell to her knees before him and said:
– Oh, Saint! Forgive me, I will not insult you again.
“Beware, do not mock me further,” said the Saint, and disappeared. “
The appearance of the Holy Panteleimon
“It happened in 1997. Wife Marina was pregnant and very difficult to bear. She was forced to spend the first three months in bed doing nothing. Doctors did little to ease her condition. Realizing how difficult it was for her, and that she might die, I took up a prayer book and began to read the akathist to Our Lady. Then I took my prayer rope and I began to pray: “I turned” one hundred beads to the Savior, one to the Virgin and another hundred to the healer Panteleimon. With great faith and pain, I prayed to the Saint for the healing of my wife, because I knew what a miracle worker he was. Then I lay on the dry earthen floor of our huts. Suddenly, sinking into sleep, I felt great joy in my heart. At that time, footsteps were heard outside. Rising up, I looked at the woman: she was lying still. Coming out of the hut, I met face to face with a young man in glittering clothes. I was amazed, even frightened, because I realized that the Holy Panteleimon was in front of me. He stood still for a few seconds, saying nothing, then disappeared before my eyes. I rushed home to thank the Lord and His Holy One. Since that day my wife’s condition has started to improve significantly and at some point she gave birth to our toddler well. St. Panteleimon did a miracle and we named our son after him. I thank the Lord for His grace. “
Spiridon, deacon and catechist,
the parish of the Holy Martyrs of Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia,
In Kipuchi (Lubumbashi area, Katanga province,
Democratic Republic of the Congo)
"The European was here!"
This event was told by one teacher in our primary school:
“I have been married to my wife Irina for many years, but we haven’t had any children yet. In the end, the Lord bestowed upon us an heir – the little one Angelos – who received his name at baptism. He got sick once, and we took him to the hospital. They cured him there. We soon returned home. But after a few days the disease started to worsen again. On that day, after reading the evening prayer, my wife and I sang tropar to Holy Nectary. We prayed to the Saints on the prayer rope for our toddler Angelos. Suddenly we heard the son yelling loudly. We ran to see what happened. The frightened toddler shouted, “A European was here” a European came here! “We realized that it was Saint Nectary: he was visiting our Angelos.
That night, the son slept soundly. We sat around, worrying that the temperature would not rise, so he wouldn’t start crying. But by the morning he slept peacefully, there was no temperature. In the morning the toddler woke up to joy and ran to play with other children.
All this is the protection of Saint Nectarius, who answered, blessed and healed our child. “
I sang "It is truly meet and right ..."
2002, Great Lent. My wife and I were returning from a vigil on Thursday. After I was very tired, I told my wife that I was going to bed immediately. Not reading the evening rule, I hurried to the bed. Around midnight, my wife woke me up saying, “Listen, something’s going on with our daughter Paraskeva!”
Our daughter was lifeless, although there were no signs of powerlessness in the evening. I was very upset. It soon became clear that she had malaria. The disease is life-threatening, especially for children, because it turns their blood into water. The child burns away from it very quickly. My wife began to cry inauspiciously, saying her daughter would not survive. I took the little girl in my arms and, in front of the icon of the Mother of God, sang “Its is truly meet and right.” The cry was heard by the neighbors and they came. With my baby in my arms, I opened the door. “Paraskeva,” I called her. She opened her eyes. It was already midnight. We all went to the nearest ambulance together. The fever was gone. After returning home, our daughter revived and even started playing. The Blessed Virgin has healed her!
"Holy Mother of God, heal my child! ..."
That same father recounted another incident regarding his second child.
“My son Peter also developed malaria somehow. We immediately took him to the hospital that night. My wife was in the hospital with him, and I stayed home. Standing before the icons, I addressed the Blessed Virgin Mary: “Holy Mother of God, unholy ones insult You day and night, but I believe in You, belong to You and pray. Allow me to celebrate the glorious Name of Thy miracles tomorrow. Don’t leave my son in the hospital. I stand before You in sadness. “
I brought tea to my son in the morning and went straight to work. Already at noon the doctor discharged him from the hospital. After returning home with my wife, I thanked the Blessed Virgin Mary for her prompt response. “
"Ask my son to help you"
At a school at our Mission Center in Colvezia, mathematics is taught by a Christian called Matthew. Here’s what he told us about his healing.
“It happened on July 21, 2002, on Sunday. I got so much pain in my stomach that I even fell to the floor. My wife brought a paramedic from the Mission Center. Looking at me, he said it was a bowel attack. They drove me to a clinic in Mulol. They gave me some medicine there, but the attacks only intensified. The pain became so unbearable that I even cried. Soon the pillow was completely wet with tears. I thought I was dying and began to pray to the Blessed Virgin Mary for forgiveness of sins and for intercession when my soul left the body. The night passed in prayers. I kissed her icon and begged for help. Suddenly the pain subsided and I saw the Virgin. “Ask My Son to help you,” She told me. Tortured, already sinking into sleep, I prayed to Jesus Christ. In the morning I woke up shaken by this wonderful event. During the day, priests from the Mission Center came: Father Damascus with Father Nectarius and Father Sylvester. They prayed for me. They prayed for the help of Saint Nectarius, Saint Arsenius of Cappadocia and John of Russia. They sang tropar to each of these Saints and prayed to them. Wishing me well, they returned to the center.
At night, as I fell into sleep, I suddenly felt some force. Literally electricity flowed through me from head to toe. This was repeated three times. And that moment the pain stopped.
In the morning, the doctor became interested in how I was feeling. All I have to do is answer that I’m completely healthy. Without further ado, the doctor let me go home without even checking if I was really healed. That same day, I went to school to take classes as if nothing had happened … “
"The chain was broken in two places ..."
Here is another marvelous event told by that same math teacher. It happened to him shortly after his baptism and conversion to Orthodoxy.
“They baptized me in January 2000, along with three classmates. Meletti’s father immediately put crosses on us with tight leather necklaces. The next day I went to the store and bought myself a gold chain because I didn’t like the leather one. I was unable to put on a new chain because it was breaking in two places at the same time. It fell into three parts, two of which remained in my hands, and the third fell with the cross on the ground. It was then that I realized that the leather necklace was consecrated after the Sacrament. The Lord allowed this especially for my reasoning and understanding.
An injection the Angel
In response to requests to recount some instructive events from the life of her parish, Efrosini Song, a devout Christian parish priest of St. George in Colvezia, wrote us the following letter.
“I thank the Mother of God for the miracle that happened by her grace. Now I’m healthy and full of joy. I got sick once. I immediately began praying to the Blessed Virgin. I called on her mercy and help. In my dream, the Virgin Mary and the Angel of the Lord appeared. She turned to Angel and gestured to show that he was giving me an injection. I woke up completely healthy in the morning. About that day, I became even more convinced that the Orthodox Church is the true Church. Orthodox faith is true faith and whoever converts, whoever resorts to our God will invariably receive His grace.
I thank the Lord for bringing me to the Orthodox – True – Church. I will remain a faithful Christian for the rest of my life. “
"Just keep the Orthodox Faith ..."
This event took place in the parish of Saint Cyril, located in the village of Kapolue. And the deacon Avraam speaks.
“One of our parishioners named Joakim Kipanga got sick. Blood ran down his throat. His Wife Ana, comforting him, told him she was ready to die for her husband. He was taken to hospital but within three days he died. It happened on September 13, 2001. His wife, exhausted, broken with grief, fell into a difficult sleep. Suddenly she woke up startled. Anna said she saw a mourned husband. Dressed in white clothes, he walked on some path going the distance. He was holding a New Testament book in his hands, which was given to them on their wedding day.
Three days after the funeral, the late Joachim answered his wife’s sister and said, “Go tell your sister Anna that I have not left her. I don’t want her to grieve so much. May he leave his sorrow and tears because I am alive. Just keep the Orthodox Faith! “
"Some Orthodox priest read the prayers ..."
I deacon Kalinik of St. John the Baptist Parish, located in one of the villages of Katanga Province, tells us how he turned to Orthodoxy:
“My father died in 1986. Immediately after, I was seriously ill for four years. I was treated in hospital but to no avail. I was bored to go to the doctors. I met my friend once. Noticing my deplorable state, he said: “Turn to you Orthodox priest, let him read the prayers to Saint Cyprian – you will be better.” I was already so exhausted that I could barely walk. However, my mother and wife insisted and we headed to the temple. That was 1990. Father Augustine of Likashi met me. He prayed and my condition improved significantly. By 1994, I had already become a father twice. That year, my entire family was baptized in the river, which is close to our village by Father Varnava from the Grigoriyat monastery on Mount Athos.”
"I got rid of satanic chains ..."
Our father Aquila, a priest of the same temple of St. John the Baptist, told us how he converted to Orthodoxy:
“For a long time I was seriously ill. There was no hope of healing. My parents took me to the doctor. He commanded me to arm myself with suffering, to starve. However, there were no improvements. Then they took me to a Roman Catholic priest. He read a prayer, but it only got worse. Some Christians from my village spoke about the blessing power the Orthodox Church has. Then we called an Orthodox priest. He read to me the prayer of St. Cyprian. I just felt like I was getting rid of satanic chains. Without any medication, a visible improvement occurred to me. Just that day I was filled with the unwavering faith of the Orthodox Confession of salvation. I was baptized with my whole family and today I am a clergyman in our village. “