Archdiocese of Kananga

The Holy Archdiocese of Kananga and Equatorial Africa is a diocese under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Alexandria. Its territory includes the parishes and missions located in the Greater Kasai region of Congo.

History

Eastern Orthodoxy first reached the city of Kananga in the Congo in 1970, when the blessed Archmandrite Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos started the Congolese Mission, where he would spend the last two years of his earthly life. There he spread the Holy Orthodoxy between the native population Kananga, who showed a great response to that new Faith. One month before his death, he wrote a letter saying:

“I love the Africans and am fully convinced that the Lord has brought me here. I hope to use the few remaining days of my old age preaching and teaching here. The place I am now located in is a large city (Kananga) of 50,000 people near the central part of the Congo. The people are eager to learn about Orthodox Christianity. But I am old and alone and my capacities are now limited. I don't know how I'll manage, but the Lord Jesus will show me, as He always has in the past. Remember me in your prayers.”

On December 13, 1972 while traveling from Kananga to the mission of Katanga he was overcome by profuse nose-bleeding. He returned to Kananga, celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Christmas Day, and died on December 29, 1972. The Congolese Mission was continued by Archmandrite Chariton Pneumatikakis until his repose in 1998. Archmandrite Chariton met with Hieromonk Kosmas of Gregoriou, an Athonite monk who studied by himself to become a missionary in Africa. He reached Katanga as a layman in 1975, and was responsible for building nine churches in less than two years. This overwork brought him headache for the years to come, but he persisted and was finally counseled by Saint Paisios to become a monk in Athos. Monk Kosmas traveled to Kananga in the end of the decade as an hieromonk to serve Archmandrite Chariton. He later wrote:

“Our African brethren are people with inwardness. Europeans usually underestimate them, but they are wrong to do so. The soul of Africans is inclined towards mysticism and this is why Orthodoxy has something to say to them, of a monastic and Athonite type. Because among our African brethren magic has great power, it is a true demonocracy. Their magicians are very powerful and have great influence, but ultimately Satan exterminates even these. This is why they often resort to Christ, the victor over all magic, demonic bonds and spells. In Africa I saw how true the gospel of Christ is.”

Ruling Bishop

• Theodosios (Tsitsivos) 2018–Present