Orthodox Church Mission in Uganda - News Gateway
COMMEMORATION OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE ORTHODOX FAITH IN UGANDA
Today, 3rd June 2026, marks forty-four years since the falling asleep in the Lord of Bishop Christophoros Ssebbanja Mukasa Sparta, the first ever confessor of the Orthodox faith in Sub-Saharan Africa. Today, his memory and that of his co-laborer, Archimandrite Obadiah Kabanda Basajjakitalo, were celebrated together in deep devotion.
His Eminence Metropolitan Jeronymos of Kampala, together with His Eminence Metropolitan Innocentios of Sozusa (Patriarchal Vicar of the Holy Diocese of Mbarara and Western Uganda), co-presided over the Divine Liturgy and a special memorial service at St. Nicholas Cathedral - Namungoona, Kampala, to honor the blessed memory of our Church founders. They were joined by numerous priests and the faithful.
While Sparta was the first to boldly declare himself an Orthodox Christian, he was soon joined by his lifelong friend, Obadiah Basajjakitalo, and the two were later ordained to the Holy Priesthood. Father Obadiah dedicated his life to catechizing the faithful, preparing their hearts for Holy Baptism, and planting numerous parish communities across Central and Eastern Uganda. Together, their tireless missionary and apostolic labors cemented their monumental historical legacy as the foundational pillars of Eastern Orthodoxy in Sub-Saharan Africa.
In his autobiography, Bishop Sparta of thrice-blessed memory wrote of his spiritual journey:
"I started to be very concerned as to where I was to find the True Church... Despite all this, I found time for meditation daily. It was an attempt on my part to try to discover the true Church_Ecclesia. The Church of one flock, one shepherd and one Lord.
I had had a chance when I was working at the library of Bishop Tucker College under E.S Daniel (Archdeacon) at Mukono to read the Church History and came across a passage which says: The Church of Truth which has never deviated from Christ and his disciples is called ORTHODOX..."
Following this profound realization, special pronouncements were made on 6th January 1929 in the Protestant Church at Namwatulira village, Bulemeezi (Luweero district).
Memory eternal to our holy founders!
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