By the Grace of the All-Holy Spirit and with the paternal blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Daniel of Accra, Côte d’Ivoire and Mali, the Holy Sacraments of Baptism and Chrismation were conducted on thirty-three catechumens in Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) sealing the fruitful progress of the Orthodox missionary work in the region, according to the word of the Lord, and the growth of the Orthodox faith in the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.
On Saturday, 10 January 2026, the catechumens were baptized “in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” and received the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit through Holy Chrismation, according to the apostolic word:
“Repent, and let each of you be baptized… and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).
The mass baptism in Côte d’Ivoire, a fruit of the pastoral work of Patriarchate of Alexandria
This joyful event is the fruit of the long-standing and tireless pastoral care of the ancient Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa and of the paternal guidance of His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, Theodore II, who, in the words of the Apostle Paul, “labors and strives… proclaiming the Gospel of Christ” (cf. Colossians 1:28–29) throughout the African continent.
Our newly illumined brothers and sisters, after many months of systematic catechesis and spiritual preparation in the parishes of the Holy Theophany of Christ (Bouaflé) and Saint John Chrysostom (Sinfra), approached the laver of regeneration, for “unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God” (John 3:5), and were incorporated into the Body of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
The Holy Sacrament was celebrated by the Very Reverend Protopresbyter Fr. Jeremiah, Vicar of Côte d’Ivoire; the Very Reverend Preacher Archimandrite Fr. Chrysostomos; the Very Reverend Economos Fr. Matthias; and the Very Reverend Presbyter Fr. Bartholomew, who, as the Apostle says, are “co-workers of God” (1 Corinthians 3:9) in serving the missionary work of the Church in Africa.
The joy and emotion of the newly illumined and of the faithful bear witness that, under the spiritual protection of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, “the word of God continues to grow and multiply” (Acts 12:24), and the light of Orthodoxy continues to shine powerfully in Côte d’Ivoire, leading many souls to salvation.
