ORTHODOX | CHURCH | POPE THEODORE 

GULU - The supreme leader of the Orthodox Church, Pope Theodore II, the Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa has promised to build a technical school in Akonyibedo cell, Pakwelo ward in Laroo-Pece division in Gulu city. 

He said this will be a reward to support the community in Gulu district for welcoming him in the region. 

“I would like to announce today the building of a technical school here in your area which I will dedicate to Saint Theodoros. Archbishop Theodoros Nankyama was the first Archbishop (Metropolitan) of the Metropolis of Kampala and all Uganda who died on January 17, 1995”, he said.

Pope Theodore said the technical school will help unemployed youth learn life skills so that they can be self-employed and called Christians to love one another as one family regardless of race or religion.

“We are brothers and sisters, we are one family; Christ does not know race or religion, but he knows about love, love one another, Christ will be with us as children of God. My children I love you, have love amongst you, have patience and hope”, Theodore remarked.

Pope Theodore remarked while addressing Christians during a visit to Saint Nektarios health Centre in Pakwelo ward, also while presiding over Divine Liturgy at St Lavrentios Orthodox Cathedral, Koro Rom on Saturday.

Apart from the church construction, the Orthodox Church has also built a health Centre and Nursery and primary school in Akonyibedo cell.

The pope thanked Bishop Kisitu Silvester and appealed for continuous preaching of the gospel of God and bringing more people into Orthodox Church so that they build and expand the church in the northern region.

He also thanked President Yoweri Museveni for welcoming him to Uganda and also allowing the religion to preach the gospel of God.

Father George Lakony, the parish priest of Saint Basil Orthodox Church in Layibi Techo and also the acting parish priest of Saint Nektarios church said they have acquired 2.5 acres of land in Akonyibedo where the technical school will be constructed.

Pope Theodore II blessing the Bishop of Orthodox Diocese of Gulu and Eastern Uganda, His grace Bishop Silvester Kisitu during a divine liturgy at saint Lavrentios cathedral in Gulu district. (All Photos by Jackson Kitara)

“We will start with the two acres of land, but if there is a need for expansion, we will talk to the community to give land for expansion”, he said.

Bishop Silvester Kisitu, Bishop of Orthodox Diocese of Gulu and Eastern Uganda thanked the Pope for building the churches as well as health centres and schools in Gulu which will support people in northern Uganda.

He said, “through the support from the Pope, we built Saint Lavrentios cathedral, saint Nektarios health Centre II and Nursery and primary school”.

Rev. Fr. Julius Orach, the parish priest of St Lavrentios Orthodox Cathedral requested more dioceses and bishops in Uganda. He said much as the Orthodox Church was founded in Northern Uganda in 1946 in Labora in Koro Sub County, by then Gulu district, Now Omoro district, the church has not spread in other districts.

Orach cited that the Gulu Orthodox diocese has few clerics, but covers entire northern Uganda and eastern Uganda including South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo which needs more dioceses and bishops to spread the gospel since the area is big.

He said, “we need to encourage more youth to join seminary so that we have many clergies to spread the gospel, now we have youth who have finished their seminary and are waiting for their ordination”.

Father Emmanuel Oruk, the vicar of Gulu Orthodox Diocese said “ it is a blessing whenever the Pope visits us, in 2015, he visited us and promised Bishop and Diocese and we have it, now that he promises a technical school we believe in a short period we will have it”.

He said they have four seminarians that have finished their studies; two from Gulu and others from Lira which are waiting for ordination and others are joining seminary in Nairobi Kenya which he says will increase the numbers of orthodox clergy in the region.

Gulu resident City Commissioner, Denis Odwong Odongpiny said they welcome the ideas as it provides employment, health services and life skills to youth to be self-reliant.

He requested the community in Akonyibedo to either give their land or sell to the church for construction of schools and expansion of the health Centre.

Odwong said as the government, they will see that they improve road networks, water and electricity in the area.