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[[Image:Ieromonaxos chrysostomos papasarantopoulos.jpg|right|thumb|Missionary Archimandrite Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos.]]
Rev. [[Archimandrite]] '''Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos''' (Greek: ''' ''Χρυσόστομος Παπασαραντόπουλος'' ''', 1903-1972) was a pioneering [[missionary]] who laboured to spread the [[One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church|Orthodox faith]] in [[Archdiocese of Kampala and All Uganda|Uganda]], [[Archdiocese of Kenya|Kenya]], [[Archdiocese of Mwanza|Tanzania]], and [[Archdiocese of Central Africa|Congo]].
==Greece 1903-1960==
===Childhood years===
Rev. Archimandrite Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos was born Christos Papasarantopoulos in 1903 in Vasilitsi, [[w:Messenia|Messenia]], Greece to Theodoros Papasarantopoulos and Stavroula Trigourea (''afterwards [[Nun]] Sebastiani''), the seventh child of the family. He was born into a devout Christian home, and from childhood he devoted his life to Christ. At the age of 10 he lost his father, and was forced to leave school in order to work. At 15 years of age he left his family home in secret and went to settle at the [[w:Koroni|Koroni]] [[monastery]] in order to pursue his longing for the spiritual life; however he soon left this monastery since his relatives would visit him and beg him to return to the family. Afterwards, he went to Kalamata, to the then well-known Hermitage of Panagoulakis (Holy Monastery of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary),<ref group="note">Hermitage of Panagoulakis in Kalamata, Greece (Greek: Ιερά Μονή Ευαγγελισμού της Θεοτόκου Παναγουλάκη). This monastery is currently [[Old Calendarist]] and not in communion with the [[Church of Greece]].</ref> known for its strict [[asceticism]]; here he became a [[monk]]. The excesses of the [[Igumen]] there and the very strict lifestyle of that Hermitage overcame him and left him with a permanent health problem.
===Later years===
He then came to Athens and joined the Holy Monastery of the Bodiless Powers (Petraki),<ref group="note">(Greek: [http://www.monipetraki.gr/ Ιεράς Μονής Ασωμάτων - Πετράκη])</ref> where his main duty was that of father [[Confession|confessor]] for people of all ages and walks of life, becoming well respected and loved. In the years of occupation<ref group="note">Second World War, and the ensuing [[w:Greek Civil War|Greek Civil War]].</ref> Fr. Chrysostomos went to [[w:Edessa, Greece|Edessa]] where he served as the General Hierarchical [[Vicar]] and [[Protosyngellos]]. Subsequently he was transferred to [[w:Kozani|Kozani]], Thessaloniki, and Athens, where he received his Secondary School Diploma. Eventually he returned again to the Monastery of the Bodiless Powers (Petraki) in Athens, from where he determined to enroll in the University of Athens Theological School. At the age of 55, in 1958, he finally received his theological degree which he had so greatly desired.
During the course of his studies in Athens he came into contact with certain colleagues of African descent, who may have inspired him towards his forthcoming mission. The African students at the University were from Uganda, and represented the first native Orthodox Christians from Uganda to be formally educated in the Orthodox faith. One of these fellow students, [[Theodoros (Nankyamas ) of Kampala and All Uganda|Theodore (Nankyamas)]], would later play a prominent role and become one of the first Orthodox [[bishop]]s in East Africa. Another, Demetrios Mumbale, would become the first Orthodox physician and founder of an Orthodox medical clinic in Uganda.<ref name=VERONIS>Fr. [[Alexander Veronis ]] ([[Orthodox Christian Mission Center|OCMC]]). ''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=W1QiVpBKfhYC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false Orthodox Concepts of Evangelism and Mission].'' In: Paul Wesley Chilcote, & Laceye C. Warner (Eds.). '''The Study of Evangelism: Exploring a Missional Practice of the Church'''. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2008. pp.279-294.)</ref> In the event, after many years of faithful service in his native country, he experienced a strong leading, a true "Macedonian Call,"<ref group="note">Acts 16:6-10.</ref> to go as a [[missionary]] to Africa.<ref name=MAKARIOS>[[Makarios (Tillyrides) of Kenya]]. ''Sermon at a Memorial Service for the Pioneer Missionary Rev. Archimandrite Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos, at the Church of St. Paul, Kagira, 29 December, 1993.'' '''Adventures in the Unseen, Volume 1.''' Orthodox Research Institute, 2004. pp.115-119.</ref>
==Africa 1960-1972==
Learning a new language at that age was not easy, but within a year of arriving in Africa, Father Chrysostomos could preach in [[w:Swahili language|Swahili]]. He provided [[Catechumen|catechesis]], he taught, and performed the [[Divine Liturgy]], and [[Baptism|baptized]] numerous of the [[w:Indigenous peoples|Indigenous peoples]]. In addition, he prepared others for the mission, guiding them towards the priesthood.
In 1963 Father Chrysostomos became the spiritual founder of the missionary society ''"The Friends of Uganda,"'' which continues its mission today from the city of Thessaloniki.<ref group="note">This Society has as its goal the moral and material support of the Orthodox External Mission all over the world. It started off its activities under the name of ''' ''“The Friends of Uganda”'' ''' (First Period: 1963-1971), later continued its course under the name of ''' ''“Greek Fellowship of Orthodox External Mission”'' ''' (Second Period: 1972-1978), and since 1979 (Third Period), it has been functioning under the name ''' ''“Brotherhood of Orthodox External Mission of Thessalonica”'' ''' (Greek: [http://www.greekorthodoxchurch.org/ierapostoli/first_text.html ΑΔΕΛΦΟΤΗΤΑ ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΥ ΕΞΩΤΕΡΙΚΗΣ ΙΕΡΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΗΣ ΘΕΣΣΑΛΟΝΙΚΗ]). At present it publishes the quarterly magazine ''“External Mission.”'' (George P. Liacopulos. ''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=xxY3gfmzdwwC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false Church and Society: Orthodox Christian Perspectives, Past Experiences, and Modern Challenges]''. Somerset Hall Press, 2007. 498pp. p. 260.)</ref>
===Kenya, Tanzania, Congo===
<blockquote>"I love the Africans and am fully convinced that the Lord has brought me here. I hope to use the few remaining days of my old age preaching and teaching here. The place I am now located in is a large city (Kananga) of 50,000 people near the central part of the Congo. The people are eager to learn about Orthodox Christianity. But I am old and alone and my capacities are now limited. I don't know how I'll manage, but the Lord Jesus will show me, as He always has in the past. Remember me in your prayers."<ref name=VERONIS/></blockquote>
[[File:Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos - gravesite.png|right|thumb|Archimandrite Chrysostomos' gravesite in Kanaga.]]
===Death===
Undaunted, Father Chrysostomos continued his labours until his death. On December 13, 1972 while travelling from [[w:Kananga|Kananga]] to [[w:Lubumbashi|Lubumbashi]] he was overcome by profuse nose-bleeding. He returned to Kananga, celebrated the [[Divine Liturgy]] on [[Nativity|Christmas Day]], and ultimately fell asleep in the Lord on [[December 29]], 1972.<ref group="note">A very close co-worker with Father Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos in East Africa had been a Greek Archimandrite named [[Athanasios Anthidis]], who offeried his mission work there for many years. On Christmas 1980, Father Athanasios traveled to India to begin a systematic Orthodox Mission in the rural area of Arambah, in West Bengal. After he passed away in 1990, he was suceeded a year later by priest-monk Fr. [[Ignatios (Sennis) of Madagascar|Ignatios Sennis]], who came to Calcutta to continue the mission. (''[http://www.cs.ust.hk/faculty/dimitris/metro/DEC98.html Censer], Dec. 1998'')</ref>
By July 1973 he was succeeded in the missionary echelon of Kananga by his old friend and partner, the Archimandrite [[Chariton (Pneumatikakis)]] (1908-1998).<ref name=ENORIA>{{el icon}} ''[http://www.agiosandreas.gr/news/ierapostoli/papasarantopoulos.html Ο πρώτος Έλληνας Ιεραπόστολος της Αφρικής μακαριστός π. Χρυσόστομος Παπασαραντόπουλος].'' Ενορια Άγιου Ανδρέα Παγγαιου. Retrieved: 2013-04-19.</ref>
On [[December 29]], 1985 the [[Metropolis of Messenia]] erected a bust of Father Chrysostom in his honor.<ref name=ENORIA/> And on December 29, 1987 the [[w:Academy of Athens (modern)|Academy of Athens]] posthumously awarded him the silver medal of honor.<ref name=ENORIA/>
==Legacy==
==Sources==
* Fr. Alexander Veronis ([[Orthodox Christian Mission Center|OCMC]]). ''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=W1QiVpBKfhYC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false Orthodox Concepts of Evangelism and Mission].'' In: Paul Wesley Chilcote, & Laceye C. Warner (Eds.). '''The Study of Evangelism: Exploring a Missional Practice of the Church'''. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2008. pp.279-294. ISBN 9780802803917
* George P. Liacopulos. ''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=xxY3gfmzdwwC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false Church and Society: Orthodox Christian Perspectives, Past Experiences, and Modern Challenges]''. Somerset Hall Press, 2007. 498pp.
* [[Makarios (Tillyrides) of Kenya]]. ''Sermon at a Memorial Service for the Pioneer Missionary Rev. Archimandrite Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos, at the Church of St. Paul, Kagira, 29 December, 1993.'' '''Adventures in the Unseen, Volume 1.''' Orthodox Research Institute, 2004. pp.115-119. ISBN 9780974561851
* [http://www.mmess.gr/gardikiou.php?lang=en Holy Metropolis of Messenia]. Holy Monastery of Gardikiou.
* Aναμνηστικός τόμος Ελληνικής Εταιρείας Ορθοδόξου Εξωτερικής Ιεραποστολής. ''Αρχιμανδρίτης Χρυσόστομος Παπασαραντόπουλος.'' Θεσσαλονίκη 1974. Επιμέλεια: Π.Δ.Παπαδημητρακόπουλου.
* Περιοδικό ''"Φως Εθνών".'' Ορθοδόξου Ιεραποστολής "Ο Πρωτόκλητος", τεύχος 114.
* Aρχιμ. Χαρίτων Πνευματικάκις. ''Στην Αφρική για το Χριστό ο Αρχιμανδρίτης Χρυσόστομος Παπασαρντόπουλος.''
==External links==
* {{el icon}} [http://ierapostoli.gr/ Πανελλήνιος Χριστιανικός Όμιλος Ορθοδόξου Ιεραποστολής] (''Orthodox Missionary Website - in Greek'')
[[Category:Priests|Papasarantopoulos]]
[[Category:Monastics]]
[[Category:Missionaries|Papasarantopoulos]][[Category:University of Athens Theology School Graduates|Papasarantopoulos]] [[el:Χρυσόστομος Παπασαραντόπουλος]]
