Gem, Kenya, February 11, 2026
Photo: Orthodox Africa
The new baptistery at St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Mission in the village of Gem in western Kenya was inaugurated with a mass Baptism on Sunday, February 8.
In total, 33 new parishioners were received into the Orthodox Church.
The Sacrament was celebrated by Fr. Silouan (Brown), the founder and director of Orthodox Africa, with priests and deans of the Kakamega Deanery of the Moscow Patriarchate’s African Exarchate, and the local rector Fr. Antipas Odhiambo.
A celebratory agape meal was observed afterward with the local clergy coming together to continue their missionary work in the region.
The joyous event is but one of many receptions reported here and on other Orthodox media platforms, highlighting large numbers of inquirers converting to the Orthodox faith across Africa.
Largely unknown to the rest of the Orthodox world, Africa is seeing huge numbers of conversions revealing a great need for more Orthodox priests, missionaries, catechists, and volunteers in various fields of expertise that can help establish self-sustaining missions and parishes. Donations such as icons, service books, and vestments, as well as financial support, are necessary to promote these missions and parishes beyond the development stage and on to self-reliance.
St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Mission is part of the Orthodox Africa mission platform and a sister parish of St. Mary of Egypt Russian Orthodox Church in Roswell, Georgia.
Photo: Orthodox Africa
Visit Orthodox Africa to learn more about and donate to its mission.
Support the St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Mission via its GoFundMe, or specify the mission when making a donation on Orthodox Africa.
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