Today, Friday, August 29, 2025, Archbishop Makarios of Nairobi presided over the divine liturgy service together with His Eminence Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina, and His Grace Bishop Ignatie of Huși at the historic Secu Monastery dedicated to the Beheading of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John in Romania.
Orthodox faithful from all over Romania and Pilgrims flocked to the ancient monastic dwelling to rejoice in the communion of prayer and to seek the intercessions of Saint John the Forerunner, as well as to take part in the feast served by a concelebration of hierarchs, priests, and deacons, including Archimandrite Athanasios, who accompanied the Archbishop of Nairobi.
Every Christian should bear witness to the Gospel, Archbishop Makarios of Nairobi
Reflecting on the reading of the Holy Gospel, His Eminence Makarios delivered a homily, addressing those present about the calling of every Christian to bear witness to the Gospel.
Archbishop Makarios said, “Each of us, as Orthodox Christians, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, has received the message of the Gospel. We are called, through our own ways and circumstances, to bear Christ within our lives, not to keep Him for ourselves alone, but to hand on the word and the message of the Gospel to others. If we do not do this ourselves, we risk losing the word and message of the Gospel”.
Referring to his mission in Africa, the Archbishop of Nairobi mentioned that, by the grace of God, when he began this ministry, he never believed he would remain in Africa for so many years, stressing that he had other dreams in his life.
“I wished to become a musicologist. I had talent in this field and longed to be an orchestra conductor. At the age of 20, I went to England to study at one of the most renowned music colleges in London. There, as I was searching for a spiritual father for Confession, those around me told me about a Russian elder who had come from the Holy Mountain, Athos. They took me to him, and the father asked me: ‘Why have you come here?’ I replied: ‘I have come to England to become a musician.’ Then he said to me: ‘God has another path for you.’”
As the celebrations went on throughout the day, the faithful venerated the holy relics of Saint Hierarch Varlaam, Metropolitan of Moldavia, which had been placed for veneration in the water-blessing chapel in the monastery courtyard.
On arrival at the historic Secu Monastery, His Eminence Makarios was accorded a warm welcome, portraying a sign of brotherhood, love and unity between the Orthodox Church in Romania and Africa in general.
