127 Baptized in Mass Orthodox Ceremony in Africa
A joyful mass baptism in the Democratic Republic of the Congo brought 127 new Orthodox faithful into the Church, spanning generations from infants to the elderly.
GOMA — A mass baptism of 127 new members of the Orthodox Church was celebrated on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at the Parish of St. Nektarios in Goma, in an atmosphere described as joyful and spiritually uplifting. The event followed a reflection on the missionary work described in Acts of the Apostles, where early Christians preached in Antioch “because the hand of the Lord was with them.”
The liturgical celebration was presided over by His Grace Bp. Timotheos of Goma and Megalo Kivos, assisted by clergy of the diocese, including Fr. Ignatius Biteko and Fr. Athanasios Mushabisa. The newly baptized ranged in age from four months to 85 years old, all receiving the sacraments of Baptism, Chrismation, and Holy Communion.
Church leaders emphasized unity in the sacramental life of the Church and prayed for the perseverance of the newly illuminated faithful in the Orthodox faith, invoking the words of Christ’s Great Commission to baptize all nations in the name of the Holy Trinity.
Previously, the UOJ reported that the relics of St. Chrysostomos were uncovered in Congo.
