With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Photios of Zvornik-Tuzla, His Grace Bishop Sylvester of Jinja and Eastern Uganda paid an official visit to Brčko in Bosnia on October 21, 2025, during which he delivered a lecture on the topic “Orthodoxy in Africa: Today’s Confession of Faith and the Mission in Uganda.”
Bishop Sylvester, who came to Brčko accompanied by the Reverend Abbot Theophilos, Superior of the Monastery of Duga Njiva, and the Very Reverend Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Jadranko Stojanović, was welcomed by the brotherhood of the Cathedral Church of Brčko, headed by Protopresbyter Aleksandar Jeftić. Following the reception, a Vespers service with the blessing of the five loaves (Artoklasia) was celebrated in the church.
His Grace Bishop Sylvester, with the team accompanying him, all gathered at the spiritual lecture, were greeted on behalf of His Eminence Metropolitan Photios by the Archpriest of Brčko, the Very Reverend Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Miodrag Tošić, who warmly welcomed the distinguished guest.
The lecture of His Grace Bishop Sylvester aimed to acquaint the faithful with the state of Orthodox Christianity in Africa, as the Bishop noted, “with a particular emphasis on Orthodox Christians living in sub-Saharan Africa.”
The gathering also had a humanitarian character, as a monetary contribution was collected to support scholarships for students and to further assist the ongoing missionary work of the Orthodox Church in Jinja.
The visit of Bishop Sylvester stands as an expression of brotherly love between the Orthodox faithful of Uganda and those of the Diocese of Zvornik-Tuzla, as well as a continuation of cooperation and support for the Orthodox Christians of Africa.
