Gaborone, Botswana, November 1, 2018
Photo: spc.rs The Orthodox faithful living in Botswana experienced a great spiritual joy on Saturday as His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia consecrated the nation’s first ever Serbian Orthodox church, in the capital city of Gaborone.
At the first service in the newly-consecrated church, dedicated to St. Sava of Serbia, His Holiness was concelebrated by Metropolitan Gennady of Gaborone and Botswana (Patriarchate of Alexandria), His Grace Bishop Ioann of Šumadija (Serbian Patriarchate), and a number of priests. The Liturgy was attended by the Serbian ambassador to South Africa, the Russian ambassador to Botswana, the Serbian Consul in Pretoria, and a number of Orthodox Christians living in the area, reports the site of the Serbian Church.
Photo: spc.rs The plot of land on which the church was built by purchased with donations from Milivoje Nikolic and his wife Linet.
Photo: spc.rs There are a number of Orthodox Greeks, about 40 Serbian families, and Russians, Bulgarians, and Romanians living in Botswana today.
Efforts at opening a Serbian church in Botswana began on Pascha in 2015, when a priest serving in South Africa visited. The Nikolics soon donated funds for the land, and a cross was erected and fundraising for a church building began.
A Serbian delegation from Botswana visited Pat. Irinej that same year, and he gave his blessing for the building of the church. His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria and All Africa also gave his blessing for the building of the church. Then His Eminence Archbishop Damascene of Johannesburg and Pretoria visited to acquaint himself with the Serbian community’s plans.
After negotiating with local authorities, a new site had to be purchased, which was again funded by the Nikolics. The first prayers on the land were offered on July 22 and a cross was erected, and the first stone in the foundation of the church was placed on October 15.
Photo: spc.rs In the foundation of the church were placed stones from Belgrade, Krusevac, Arandjelova, Studenica, Ostrog Monastery, Novi Sad, and Myra in Lycea, from the tomb of St. Nicholas.
His Holiness arrived in Johannesburg on October 25, and will remain in Africa until November 4.
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