On December 2, a significant event took place at the Parish of Apostle Peter in Gesonso, Kisii County, Kenya, where a mass baptism was conducted. According to the press service of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa, 46 residents of the county became new members of the Church of Christ. The Sacrament of Baptism was administered by the priests Hermogenes Otar, Patapius Chasia, Theodore Ondoro, and Innocent Achar.
The parish of Apostle Peter regularly hosts charitable meals for the local population every Sunday. During one of these meals, residents approached the parish priest, Father Hermogenes Otar, expressing genuine interest in learning about Orthodoxy. Father Hermogenes acquainted the attentive audience with the Creed, answered questions, and distributed printed materials about the history of the Orthodox Church.
"Many of the nearby residents expressed a desire to receive Baptism, and Father Hermogenes, the parish priest, organized catechetical discussions for the newly interested. After three weeks of intensive preparation, those who had been catechized were baptized into the Russian Orthodox Church," the statement reads.
This initiative demonstrates the parish's commitment to both spiritual and community engagement, creating an environment where individuals not only seek assistance through charitable activities but also find an avenue for spiritual exploration and connection within the Orthodox faith.