New converts at the Romanian Church of St. Silouan and St. Philothea in Chile. Photo: mitropolia.us
Orthodox Christianity continues to expand its presence in the Western world, with two recent examples being mass Baptisms that took place in Chile and the Netherlands, welcoming a total of nineteen new converts into the faith.
In Concepción, Chile, the Romanian Orthodox Church of St. Silouan the Athonite and St. Philothea of Arge? witnessed “one of the most memorable chapters in its recent history.” Nine young people embraced the Orthodox faith through the holy mysteries of Baptism, Chrismation, and Holy Communion, reports the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas.
The newly baptized—Maria, Divna, Iacobos, Paisios, Alexander, Gabriel, Sebastian, Justino, and Constantino—received the Sacraments just days before the consecration of their church. The timing of these Baptisms was noted as lending “unique significance” to the event, which “not only strengthens the spiritual life of the parish but also bears witness to Orthodoxy as a living spring of faith and hope in Latin America.”
?Conversions in the Netherlands. Photo: spc.rs
Meanwhile, in the Netherlands on Saturday, September 13, ten Dutch converts were baptized in the Lek River and received into the Serbian Orthodox Church. The new members, who underwent a year-long catechumenate program of intensive preparation, received the names Maria, Ksenija, Irina, Stefan, Katarina, Gavrilo, Agaton, Sofija, Dimitrije, and Jovan, reports the Serbian Orthodox Church.
The Baptisms and Chrismations were celebrated in both Dutch and English by Protopresbyter Goran Kova?evi?, Fr. Nebojša Mastilovi?, and Fr. Krsto Staniši?. During their preparation, the converts attended regular catechetical classes. They also participated in monthly Divine Liturgies conducted in Dutch as well as weekly services in Serbian.
A new cycle of catechetical instruction is already set to begin in October, with more than 15 people already registered. The Church reports that a large number of Dutch people have been joining the Orthodox faith in recent years, mostly young people in their early twenties. Most converts are joining either the Serbian or the Russian Orthodox Church, and many have already received holy Baptism and Chrismation and are “zealously living the Sacramental life.”
The clergy of the Western European Diocese of the Serbian Church stated they are working to welcome all those seeking Orthodoxy
“with open arms, offering them love and hospitality, as well as providing catechesis, instruction and pastoral care in order to fulfill Christ’s commandment:
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
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