Gem, Siaya County, Kenya, August 22, 2025
By H. David Sauls
St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Mission and Refuge of Kenya
The St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Mission of Kenya, founded by Fr. Antipas Odhiambo, a part of the Orthodox Africa Mission platform founded and directed by Hieromonk Silouan (Brown), has begun construction on the mission rectory in the village of Gem.
The mission is slated to become the spiritual center for the Kakamega Deanery and already has a group of catechumens and laity attending Divine Liturgy every Sunday in the mission stable. Fr. Antipas will move from his quarters in the goat house to the rectory upon completion, and the house will host local clergy, missionaries, dignitaries, and volunteers who support the mission.
The next phase is to build a church.
St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Mission and Refuge has seen remarkable growth over the last year. Completion of a well with two 2,000-kilo tower tanks was completed, a herd of goats was established, a flock of healthy chickens was acquired and housed, various vegetable and root crops were planted, and a healthy corn crop spread across the mission property. There are also plans to purchase a herd of cattle.
St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Mission and Refuge of Kenya Orthodox Africa—with a vision of establishing self-sustaining Orthodox missions across Africa—began in 2015 under the leadership of Fr. Silouan (Brown). Interest in establishing autonomous missions united in the Orthodox faith has grown rapidly across the continent, particularly in Kenya and Uganda.
Working with a unified vision, missions on the platform represent a paradigm shift in African mission development. Historically, missions were dependencies rather than autonomies, with African Orthodox missions existing on handouts and hand-to-mouth survival.
Missions like St. Mary of Egypt represent a shift from begging to producing. Partnering with Orthodox Africa, it strives to pioneer the new African mission ideal—establishing a model of self-sustainability and united missions to spread the Gospel through the Orthodox Church.
As these missions grow and become rooted through donor support, their independence naturally extends to villages and communities across Africa, creating economic growth, improving health, and satisfying the rapidly growing interest in Orthodox Christianity that has led to thousands of converts.
Orthodox Africa’s list of missions currently includes:
- St. John of Shanghai Mission Center HQ
- Annunciation Orthodox Church, Bukasa Island, Uganda.
- St. John Chrysostom Orthodox Mission
- St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Mission and Refuge, Gem, Kenya
Follow Orthodox Africa and the St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Mission and Refuge of Kenya on Facebook.
Please consider becoming a regular supporter of the St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Mission and Refuge of Kenya at https://gofund.me/799467ea, and any of the Orthodox Africa platform missions at: https://www.orthodoxafrica.org/
If donating to the St. Mary of Egypt Mission on the Orthodox Africa platform, please specify “St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Mission and Refuge of Kenya”)
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