Your donations keeping Kenyan seminary going!

(OCMC) - His Eminence Elder Archbishop Makarios of Kenya recently sent OCMC an update on the Archbishop Makarios III of Cyprus Patriarchal Seminary in Kenya. Thankfully, your support has made it possible for the seminary to make the necessary adjustments and continue its operations amidst COVID-19. Read His Eminence's update below:

Greetings in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Allow me to write this letter in regards to my email and telephone conversation with Fr. Martin, to express my heartfelt appreciation to the Orthodox Christian Mission Center fraternity and moreso the OCMC board headed by Fr. Martin Ritsi, the Executive Director, for the cordial relationship and the support for our mission work here in Kenya that has spanned for many years.

Through your support and grants for the Orthodox Patriarchal Ecclesiastical School: Archbishop Makarios III of Cyprus Seminary, and especially during these times of global economic challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, we thank God that the seminary is still functioning through an online learning program, which was mandated by government restrictions and guidelines to help curb the spread of COVID-19 in Kenya. We have continued to offer the learning process through the online platform, which has really helped us to complete our syllabus and prepare for the graduation of our students towards the end of the year. This has proven to be the best way to engage our students, but at the same time our expenditure has largely remained constant. This is because the lecturers and subordinate staff must be paid their monthly salaries, and we still have office and administration costs for the preparations of lessons, as well as security, electricity, and general maintenance bills which remains to some level constant. The only overhead that is not expensed is the food and catering service, although we still have a budget for it.

Your moral, spiritual, and financial support has enabled us to fulfill the Gospel of Jesus Christ through teaching. It is really a great blessing for all of us – and we note the great sacrifice from our brothers and sisters at OCMC. May the Almighty God continue to bless you.

In Christ’s Service,

Archbishop Makarios of Kenya