AFRICAN KING BAPTIZED ON MT. ATHOS (UPDATED)
Mt. Athos, June 6, 2018
Photo: apantaortodoxias.blogspot.com
An African king traveled to Holy Mt. Athos recently to be baptized into the holy Orthodox Church. It was initially reported by the Union of Orthodox Journalists only that an African king was baptized by Hieromonk Dionysius of Koutloumousiou Monatery with the Christian name of David. The king was subsequently identified as Tribal King Tchiffi Zae Jean Gervais of the Krou chieftains in Côte d’Ivoire.
Photo: apantaortodoxias.blogspot.com
King Tchiffi Zie Jean Gervais serves as the Permanent Secretary General of the Forum of Kings, Princes, Sheiks and Traditional Leaders of Africa, which was was established in August 2008 in Benghazi, Libya, and is headquartered in Sirte, Libya, according to Afrika247. He is also Prime Chancelor of the United Kingdoms of Africa, a “non-political, social development advocacy platform which functions in support of Presidency and National Government, institutions and peoples to support the National Development Plans.
Photo: apantaortodoxias.blogspot.com
African King baptized on the Holy Mountain Athos
Dimokratia news.gr (in Greek)Translation K.N.
Photos: skai.gr/news
The Holy Mountain is Orthodoxy's beacon and its spiritual radiance reaches beyond the boundaries of the Hellenic State by embracing the entire inhabited world.
This spiritual radiance, which is above and beyond nations, races and languages, confirms in the most "vocal" way the pan-human message of the Orthodox faith, as well as the exhortation of Jesus Himself to His disciples to "go forth and teach all the nations".
The Holy Mountain not only gives spiritual direction to the whole world; it is also a pole that attracts people from every financial, social and spiritual class - regardless of race, tongue or religion.
In the shadow of Athos Mountain
When talking with Hagiorite Monks, one will learn that even atheists or well-meaning individuals who observe another faith or Christian denomination very frequently visit the Holy Mountain in search of the Orthodox spirituality from within the austere Hagiorite order and tradition. There are some of those who seek God who finally find Him in the shadow of Athos and are baptized Orthodox.
In much the same way, tribal king Tchiffi Zae Jean Gervais - one of the Kru chieftains in Ivory Coast - joined the Orthodox Church on the 7th of June 2018, taking as an Orthodox Christian the name of Israel's king: David.
His spiritual guide and the one who initiated him into Orthodox spirituality and baptized him is Priest-Monk Dionysios of theKoutloumousiou Monastery.
The blessed event of the African king's Baptism was publicized with photographic material by the website pentapostagma.gr.
King Tchiffi Zie Jean Gervais serves as General Secretary at the Forum of Kings, Princes and Traditional Leaders of Africa, which was founded in August of 2008 in Benghazi, Libya and is based in Syrte of Libya.
He is also Head of the United Kingdoms of Africa's "non-political platform for social development that supports the presidency and the national government, the institutions and the peoples in support of the national plans for development".