SERVICE OF LAYING OF THE FOUNDATION STONE - TWELVE APOSTLES ORTHODOX PARISH / RWAMAGANA - RWANDA

Titus Twungubumwe

On Tuesday 31st July 2018 the afternoon, His Grace Innocentios Byakatonda, Bishop of the Orthodox Diocese of Burundi and Rwanda conducted the Service of Laying of the Foundation Stone for the Construction of the Cathedral named after the Twelve Apostles located in Rurembo Village, Cyanya Cell, Kigabiro Sector, Rwamagana District City, East Province of Rwanda.

The basic community was started in middle October 2014 by gathering first into the open air for catechetical meetings; 3 years ago the Orthodox Diocese managed to purchase the land in which is a modest house that since then temporarily served the Parish of the Twelve Apostles for different needs. The representative is Reader Tuyisenge Fidele Anastasios .

The readings in the Service of the Laying of the Foundation Stone are: Acts 7:44-47 and Matthew 16: 13-19.
" And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." (Mt. 16-18)

Peter / rock is a play on the word for rock in Aramaic and Greek (petros/petra). Rock refers not to Peter himself but to the confession of his faith. The true Rock and foundation of the Church is, of course, Christ Himself. The Church rests upon this Rock by her unchanging faith, her confession. With this faith as the foundation, the gates of the Hades, the powers of death, are powerless against her.

" Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily." (Isaiah 28: 16)

"You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:5

Peter likens the growth of the Church to the Old Testament Temple, with its attending priesthood and its sacrifice and worship, Christ Himself being the fulfilment of this imagery. Thus, in Christ we become living stones, a spiritual house, a royal priesthood (v. 5 ; see Ex. 19:5,6), the people of God who have obtained mercy (v. 10 see 1 Cor. 3:16, 17; 2 Cor 6:16 ; Eph. 2:19-22). This is salvation in all its fullness.

The service ended by the blessing of people by the Blessed Waters, and the talk of the bishop thanking all people who are collaborating to build the Holy Cathedral. The bishop also reminded people that the service of blessing the inauguration of construction should be a custom even at the faithful homes every time they launch some private construction.

May the parish prosper and grow, and be the source of salvation for countless souls.
Report by:
Reader Timotheos Titus Twungubumwe

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