Combined Oriental Orthodox Mission in the Slums of South Africa (Exclusive)

Fr Thomas Ninan
09/10/2012
OCP News Service
Exclusive
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church & Indian Malankara Orthodox Church

Port Elizabeth, South Africa: This was my second visit to Addo, a township near Port Elizabeth, South Africa, which is known more for the Elephant National Park and the oranges. My first visit was in July 2012 when Abuna Yakob, the Archbishop of the Diocese of Africa, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church was visiting the indigenous Xhosa community in Addo for the first time. This Xhosa community in Addo is part a significant Black community which broke away from the Anglican Church in South Africa in 1983 and joined the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in 1990 when the late Abuna Yesahaq ordained a few priests and deacons for the community. This community, initially known as the Order of Ethiopia when under the Anglican Church, went through several struggles in pursuing the apostolic faith during the apartheid times and finally got in touch with the EOTC through Abuna Yesahaq who was in charge of the EOTC diocese in Jamaica in the 1980s.

Subsequent visits and teaching efforts by the late Patriarch Abuna Paulos and then by Abuna Petros and Abuna Yakob were affirming factors for the growth of this indigenous community in South Africa. However, due to challenges in language and culture, it became a challenge for this community to learn and sustain the Orthodox faith among themselves. Being a poor community, having full time priests was always a challenge as they could not afford them. Hence the priests ordained would take up additional jobs, usually as a teacher in the schools and serve their parishes on Sundays.

It was in such a context that my stay in South Africa brought me in contact with this community in Port Eizabeth, particularly to learn their history of joining the EOTC. Amidst challenges, first during the apartheid times to break away from a dominant Anglican Church and then to find a fulfillment of their long search of the apostolic faith in the EOTC, this community known as the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in South Africa have courageously upheld the Orthodox faith since the early 1990s. I was inspired by my first visit to Addo when I saw the various challenges they were facing as a community in learning and practicing the Orthodox faith. Joining them in worship inside a church structure which was valiantly put up by this poor community in 2004 after worshiping for a long time under a structure made of leaking old tin sheets was an experience in itself for me. Having spent with them a whole day, I found it hard to accept that they managed with very poor sanitary facilities in the church compound. Their joy of receiving the Archbishop in their poor set up and being part of the Eucharistic liturgy celebrated in IsiXhosa with His Grace was indeed to be seen to be believed. They have indeed come a long way in having transformed themselves from their Anglican history towards following an Orthodox way of life and practicing a liturgy in IsiXhosa today.

The Women’s Manyano (Women’s Fellowship) plays a crucial role in the community, particularly in a context where the priests are part-time. Visiting homes, particularly praying for the sick, fund raising and other spiritual activities keeps the Manyano active in the parish. It was a delight for me to be part of their regional meeting at Addo from October 6 – 7, 2012. About 50 women from the region came together for 3 days, spending much of their time in prayer , learning and fellowship. It was noteworthy to see the wives of the 5 clergy of the region playing leading roles in the meeting. I was joined by Kesis Kinfe Gabriel, Kesis Tesfey Mariam, Kesis Gabre Mariam, Kesis Tekle Mikhail, Kesis Haille Mariam and Brother Michael (Saife Mikhail). I was able to take a session on the Role of Women in the Church, with the encounter of the Canaanite woman with Jesus in Matthew’s gospel as an example for the same. Brother Michael took a session on God and Creation. Teaching of faith, having proper church structure, community hall and sanitation, helping the youngsters with proper education and jobs and clergy training (both present and future) are some of the challenges they face for their distant future.

Author: Fr Thomas Ninan is a Priest of Indian Malankara Orthodox Church who engages pastoral ministry in South Africa. He is presently doing his masters degree with the faculty School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg,South Africa. Fr. Thomas also serves as the Programme Coordinator at CMAI in New Delhi since 2003, responsible for programs relating to HIV and Substance abuse with mainline churches in India.

Fr Thomas Ninan can be contacted at: frthomas.ninan@gmail.com

Source:
OCP News Service