Icons for 22 New Churches in Kenya
Donation protected
Dear Fathers, Brothers, & Sisters in Christ,
Greetings in this season of the Nativity Fast! This time of the year calls to mind the great love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and how he came to Earth to be with us. He who is above the heavens came in a most humble manner as a babe in a manger. He came because He loves us. He came to save us.
Our Lord, after he accomplished the work of salvation, commanded us to spread this love. He commanded us to be partners with the Holy Spirit in spreading the Good News of His Gospel (Matthew 28:19-20). This Holy command, either directly or indirectly, is a privilege for every Christian to embrace.
A couple months ago the Archbishop of Kenya, Makarios, contacted me and asked for my help with the opening of 22 new churches [1]. He specifically asked me to construct the iconostasis in the churches, which require 132 large icons. The intention of this project is to help complete beautiful new temples so believers can come together in worship and partake of the sacraments of the Church with their families.
By the Grace of God, during our visits to Kenya, Congo, Guatemala, and remotely helping Indonesia in the years 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, we -
- Constructed 9 baptismal fonts
- Mounted 94 two by four feet icons for 15 different churches
- Delivered 20 Holy Communion chalices
- Distributed 12 censors with incense
- Brought 18 vestments, 20 altar boy robes, and many other items
- Helped with distribution of 652 shoes for orphans
- Setup 8 projectors
- Constructed 2 chicken coops and 5 egg incubators
- Provided instruction on how to raise vegetables on small farms
- Taught construction techniques
- Helped educate children
We were deeply moved that Archbishop Markarios would contact us and are very grateful for the opportunity to serve. We very much look forward to committing our time and talents to helping the Kenyan church. However, we do not have the means to do this alone. This monumental task will require us to raise $17,000 in order to commission printed icons, building supplies, tools, shipping, and other construction costs. This is why we are asking for your material support in donations and prayers. Please prayerfully consider partnering with us to make the goals of this trip a reality. A family can donate an entire set of icons in one church for $773. The plan is to leave for Kenya by early February, 2022.
Also, please send us the names of your loved ones so that we can submit their names to the Kenyan churches for remembrance at the Divine Liturgies.
Thank you for reading. Even if you are unable to donate your prayers for the success of the trip would be appreciated.
With sincerest love in Christ,
Ted Karamatskos
[1] Names of churches to be consecrated
1. St. Constantine and Helen
2. St. Mark
3. St. Makarios
4. St. John the Baptist
5. Holy Transfiguration
6. Holy Trinity
7. St. Sophia
8. St. Paul
9. St. Luke the Apostle
10. St. Athanasios of Alexandria
11. St. Andreas
12. Nativity of Christ
13. St. Stephen
14. Holy Annunciation
15. The Dormition of the Mother of God
16. Holy resurrection
17. St. Peter
18. St. Matthew
19. St. George
20. St. Stylianos
21. The Four Evangelists
22. Nativity of the Theotokos
Organizer
Ted Karamatskos
Organizer
Elk Grove Village, IL