On the day of Soul Saturday, the Divine Liturgy and the customary memorial service for the departed were celebrated at the Holy Church of the Life-Giving Spring in the village of Makota, Iringa region. Soul Saturday holds special spiritual significance, as the Church prays for the souls of the departed, invoking God’s mercy for their rest. The names of our deceased brothers, submitted by donors and faithful, were commemorated, and the kollyva was blessed and distributed.
This was followed by a Love Feast, offered by the Missionary Home team from Stuttgart, Germany, under the guidance of Mrs. Sarah Amanatidou. Our brothers from Germany continuously support the pastoral and charitable work of the Holy Metropolis of Arusha, assisting the needs of the mission with a sense of responsibility and genuine Christian love.
However, as the photographs reveal, the Holy Church of the Life-Giving Spring faces significant deterioration due to its age and local climatic conditions. The Holy Metropolis of Arusha emphasizes the maintenance of churches as a fundamental priority, in order to ensure the safety and dignity of the places of worship.
The Holy Church is the place where the people of God gather, where the Sacred Services are performed, and above all, where the Divine Liturgy is celebrated. Caring for the proper condition of the church expresses respect for the Holy Mysteries and the sanctity of the space.
Guided by this theological and ecclesiological understanding, the Metropolis is implementing an organized renovation program. The interventions aim to restore essential structural damages. Contributing to this effort is the association “Missionary Shelter of Saint Dionysius of Olympus,” actively supporting the work of the Metropolis.
The Holy Metropolis and the Missionary Shelter extend a heartfelt appeal to every person of goodwill to contribute to the maintenance and renovation of the Church. Every assistance, small or large, constitutes a meaningful contribution to the preservation of Holy Churches, strengthens the credibility and witness of the Orthodox Church in the region, and transforms this effort into a shared ecclesiastical responsibility and a tangible expression of love for the Mission.
