St. Catherine Monastery – Kiyindi, a convent built with the support of Romanian businessman and philanthropist George Becali, has recently attracted significant attention from Romanian media outlets. This comes after a YouTube video released by the channel Hristos în Africa on 27 March 2025. The video features a heartfelt interview with Rasophore Sister Paraskeva, conducted by a Romanian priest and journalist, Fr. Viktor Emanuel, shedding light on the growing spiritual and cultural bridge between Romania and Africa.
In the ten-minute video, Sr. Paraskeva reveals that the renowned politician and current owner of FCSB (Steaua București) is one of their great benefactors. “We are supported by our sponsors, one of whom is Mr. George Becali, along with others. I don’t know more details, Mother Thavoria, the Abbess, knows better than I do,” she stressed.
Following the release of the video, Romanian media outlets, including Fanatik, B1TV, and Romaniatv.net, have extensively reported on the monastery. They have highlighted George Becali’s contributions and future prospects for Orthodox Christianity in Africa.
B1TV quoted Becali stating, “I have hundreds of children there whom I provide food for. They are baptized and converted to Orthodoxy. This is my mission.”
The famous sports website, Fanatik, revealed that His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa was so moved during his 2021 visit to the monastery. His Beatitude then promised to award the 66-year-old with a gold medal in recognition of his exceptional support for Orthodoxy in Africa.
The recognition from other Romanian media outlets such as ProSport, Libertatea, Sport.ro, and others underscores the growing bond between Uganda Orthodox Church and Romanian Orthodox Church. It also highlights the role of faith-based philanthropy in strengthening Orthodox Christianity worldwide.
Built in 2016 with the blessings of the late Metropolitan Jonah Lwanga, then Archbishop of Kampala and all Uganda, St. Catherine Monastery was constructed in a traditional Romanian architectural style. The convent reflects the ascetic heritage of Romanian Orthodoxy, from its iconography to the nun’s vestments, which are inspired by Romanian monastic traditions.
Under the leadership of Abbess Mother Thavoria, the monastery is a haven to twelve rasophore nuns all tonsured in 2022 by Metropolitan Jeronymos of Kampala. There is also a significant number of novices who have embraced monastic life with devotion.
Nestled on a scenic hill overlooking the world’s largest tropic lake, Victoria in Kiyindi Town Council, Buikwe District, the monastery complex has a calm and spiritual atmosphere. There is an adequate space for poultry farming, as well as growing fruits and vegetables. These activities help provide food for the nuns and several vulnerable children they care for.