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Fr. James Omare
Kenya
Orthodoxy came to the people of East Africa, not through the efforts of a single missionary, but through charismatic African men searching for truth and 'ortho doxia' in the early 1920's. Correspondence began with the Patriarch of Alexandria, and in 1946, they were received into canonical Orthodoxy through Patriarch Christophoros. In 1958 the Patriarch appointed Nicholas Valeropoulos the first Metropolitan of Irinoupolis and All East Africa and in 1972 three African priests were ordained to the rank of auxiliary bishop.
In 1972 construction began on the Makarios III Patriarchal Seminary in Nairobi Kenya. Archbishop Anastasios Yannoulatos who, in 1982 was assigned as Acting Archbishop, completed the seminary and undertook the training of indigenous priests, translations and the building of Churches, clinics and schools.
On February 22nd, 2001 the Patriarch of Alexandria, PETROS and the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Patriarchate met to assign Archbishop MAKARIOS (of Zimbabwe) as Metropolitan of Kenya. The new Metropolitan has studied at Sorbonne and Oxford and holds a doctorate of Philosophy. He taught at the Orthodox Patriarchal Seminary in Nairibi for more than 15 years before being assigned to Zimbabwe. His Eminence continues the great commission of spreading Orthodoxy in Kenya along with dedicated priests who serve in communities around the country.
Fr. James Omare was born on February 7, 1940, in Kerongo, south Maragoli province. His parents were Orthodox and so as a young man, he was baptized by a traveling Orthodox priest, Fr. Gathuna. Fr. James went to both primary and secondary school and then attended the Police Academy. He then traveled to Uganda to take a job. In mid- 1960's he returned to Kenya and attended the St. Paul's Orthodox priest's training program in Kagira.
Ordained to the diaconate in January of 1970 by Archibishop Nikodemos of Irinoupolis, he was then ordained to the priesthood and assigned to Luhya speaking areas in Western Kenya. He was transferred to Nairobi to serve the Orthodox Church as the Acting Vicar for the Central Nairobi area. Some years later, he then he went back to his home area of Western Kenya to be closer to his family. Fr. James then served the region of Nyanza with some parishes in Nandi and Kiambu. Presently he is the parish priest of the Church of the Ascension in Mutaga and St. Mark's Church in Kapsanjomi in addition to traveling to parishes that do not have parish priests. In 1986 he was made Protopresbyter and vicar.
Fr. James performs the sacraments. Sometimes churches don't have places to worship in and so he performs the sacraments outside. He is dedicated to build churches and to bring the new Christians into the church. He teaches Christians catechism and how to sing the hymns.
Fr. James is married to Presbytera Lonah Mnboga, and they have ten children.
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