Mass Conversion to Orthodoxy in Malawi: 59 People Were Baptized in a Single Week

Over the past week, 59 local residents in Malawi joined the Orthodox community. This mass baptism was the result of active missionary work by the Patriarchal Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church in Africa.

The sacraments were administered by Father Ioakim Bakali, the dean of the country’s Southern Ecclesiastical District. On November 1, 20 people were baptized in the village of Ndawawa, and on November 8, another 39 residents became parishioners of the Church of St. George the Great Martyr and Victorious in the Zomba District. These events mark a continuation of the steady growth in the number of believers that has been observed in the region over the past few years.

The development of the Orthodox mission in Malawi is accompanied by extensive educational and social work. The Exarchate pays special attention to translating liturgical texts into the local Chichewa language—this year, a prayer book and a service book were published in Chichewa. At the same time, local clergy and catechists are being trained through special educational seminars.

In addition to spiritual care, the Russian Orthodox Church provides significant humanitarian aid to the people of Malawi. Specifically, in February, 46 metric tons of food were distributed to those in need, and infrastructure projects were implemented to provide the population with clean drinking water through the drilling of wells.