Africa in Siemianówka

Orthodox Church in Kenya
Anna Czerewacka
26.08.2011

A typical rural parish was visited by Kenyans during their stay Siemianówka. August 21 four-person delegation of the Orthodox Church in Kenya took part in the Liturgy celebrated in the parish church by Fr. Mikołaj Szebelan accompanied by Fr. George Njoroge from Kenya.

Kenyans sang during the Liturgy the troparion of the feast of the Transfiguration in the language of their tribe – the Kikuyu. Orthodox residents of Siemianówka also had the opportunity to hear fragments of service in Swahili.

Father Mikołaj Szebelan, handing Kenyans an icon of St. George, the patron saint of the parish and the patron saint of Fr. George expressed his gratitude for the visit in Siemianówka. He stressed that for this parish it was a historic event because during 55 years of its existence there were not visitors from Kenya. He noted that in the daily liturgical prayer in any church there is prayer not only for the local community, but also for other Churches, including the Church in Kenya. – We pray for them and they pray for us and thereby we are united by Christ – said Fr. Mikołaj.

Father George thanked for the warm welcome he experienced in Siemianówka. He noted that the church is attended by many older women, which evokes the memory of his own parish, which, he claimed, would not exist without the presence and activity of women.

After the Liturgy in the community center in Siemianówka a meeting between the Kenyans and the residents was hold. Guests talked about the activities of their parish, about a clinic and school the parish runs, about the problems they experience and how they deal with them. Residents asked questions about the design of the church, calendar used, as well as details of the farm, grown plants, kept animals, etc.

After the meeting guests from Kenya presented a folk dance and some ritual songs. The meeting ended with a joint photo and fund-raising for the parish in Kamangu, where the Kenyans visiting Poland come from.

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