With the blessings of Bishop Silvester of Jinja, Bishop Constantine of Juba celebrated the Divine Liturgy in Jinja on Sunday October 6, 2024. The shepherd of the Republic of South Sudan presided over the Eucharistic service at Holy Resurrection Cathedral on the Third Sunday of Luke.
He co-served with the Cathedral Dean, Fr. Chrysostom Koolya and monk-priest Paraskevianos assisted by monk-deacon Moses. The celebration was also graced by the attendance of Bishop Innocentios, the titular Metropolitan of Sozusa.
While delivering his homily, Bishop Constantine urged the congregation to never cease praying at all times– during trying and triumphant moments. Making reference to the Sunday Gospel (Luke 7:11-16), he said that “Christ’s immense compassion on the broken-hearted widow of Nain showed how He never forsakes those who run to Him.’’ “By resuscitating the daughter of the widow, it means He has dominion over life and death–that’s joy and sorrow’’, he added.
After the Liturgy, the hierarchs were hosted to a breakfast in the cathedral gardens by the Dean, Fr Chrysostom Koolya who also doubles as the Vicar General.
This is the second time Bishop Constantine has visited Jinja since his enthronement as shepherd of Juba. On 5 August 2024 he paid a courtesy visit to Bishop Silvester and showed gratitude for the “invaluable spiritual support’’ he has and continues to offer him since his elevation to episcopate.
The Bishopric of Juba and South Sudan
His Grace Constantine Mbonabingi was elected bishop of the new diocese of Juba & South Sudan by the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria on 15 February 2024. He received the fullness of episcopacy after his consecration on 7 April in the cathedral of St Nicholas in Hamzawi, Old Cairo, Egypt by His Beatitude Theodore II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
On Monday 8 April, he was joyously welcomed at St Nicholas Cathedral, Namungoona Kampala by all the Ugandan hierarchs and hundreds of believers for the grand doxology service and farewell celebration. As an archimandrite, Fr. Constantine was serving as the protosyncellus to Metropolitan Jeronymos Muzeeyi in Kampala as well as the parish priest of St. Catherine-Vvumba.
With the patriarchal blessings of His Beatitude Theodore II, Metropolitan Jeronymos of Kampala presided over the enthronement of Bishop Constantine in Juba. In presence were all the hierarchs of the Uganda Orthodox Church; Bishop Silvester of Jinja and Bishop Nectarios of Gulu who were also accompanied by a number of priests and laymen from Uganda.
Local religious leaders from other denominations and Orthodox faithful from the country were in attendance to witness the start to a historical journey in their young Republic of South Sudan.
“The enthronement of Bishop Constantine starts a new journey of Orthodoxy in this country which has been for long yearning for a shepherd. The journey is not going to be an easy one given the current situation of South Sudan, but we are optimistic that by the love, grace, and care of our Almighty Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Victory for the kingdom of Heaven on Earth (South Sudan) will be witnessed. Keep us in your prayers’’, Orthodox Diocese of Juba and South Sudan posted on their Facebook page after the enthronement ceremony.
We pray for the Glory of God to give you more strength and blessings in the work Despota Constantine. Let him also pray for us that we strengthen our Faith as we tread this journey of life.
Blessings