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Archangel Michael Kintamali Monastery: A beacon of Orthodoxy, love and hope in the heart of Africatranslated

August 5, 2026 · 1 min read

At the Missionary Center of the Holy Metropolis of Arusha in Kintamali, Iringa, a breath of heaven spreads: the Holy Monastery of Archangel Michael. Its reconstruction began in 2019, with the blessing of His Beatitude the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria, Mr. Theodore II, and continues uninterrupted until today. In the laborious missionary area, where monasticism was previously unknown, the presence of a monastery is a sign of hope, spiritual renewal and a living testimony of Orthodoxy.

The sisterhood is made up of Greek and native nuns and cadets. Under the umbrella of Brigadier Michael, souls from different peoples unite in one spirit, one heart and one faith, testifying to the universality of our Church, beyond races, languages and cultures.

Life in the Monastery is communal. The day goes by in silence, prayer and daily ministrations, in the kitchens, in the manual labor, in the care of the gardens and in the ministry of the people.

The monastery's katholikon, dedicated to the Most Magnificent Taxiarch Michael, the Holy Great Martyr Minas and the Holy Paisios Velitkovsky, constitutes the spiritual heart of the monastery. It is where the sacred...

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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Николай Костов

Interestingly, monasticism was unknown in Kintamali until a while ago, and now they have a common fraternity of Greek women and local girls. I love that they work together in the kitchen, garden and crafts - it's a real community. Do they already have enough nuns to complete the Catholicon?

Георгий Петров

Interestingly, the construction of the Catholicon began back in 2019 with the blessing of Patriarch Theodore II, and nuns from Greece and local girls work together in the garden and in the kitchen. It turns out to be a real community. Nikolai, I wonder how many sisters there are in the monastery now, are there enough of them for all the obediences?

Ηλίας Καραγιάννης

Interesting what they say about monasticism which was unknown there until recently. I especially liked that the Greek women and the local nuns work together in the kitchen, in the gardens and in the manual labor – it shows real sisterhood. Have they made enough progress with the ledger since 2019, or do they still need help?

Irene Wilson

The part about Greek and local sisters working together in the kitchen, gardens, and handwork really stood out to me too. It sounds like a proper community taking shape where there was no monastic life before. I wonder how far along the catholicon is now, with the three saints it’s dedicated to.

Стоян Колев

Interesting to say, Nikolay. It's really nice that Greek and local girls learn to work together in the kitchen and the garden - that's what brings them together the most. About the Catholicon, I don't know exactly how many there are already, but they are probably still building and waiting for more aid, because the work is going slowly. Have you ever been there?

James Phillips

Yeah, that mix of Greek and local sisters handling the cooking and garden work together is what makes it feel real. The catholicon sounds like it's going to be something special with St. Michael, St. Menas, and St. Paisios all together like that. Anyone know if they've started the icons yet?

Emily Bennett

Yeah, the shared work in the kitchen and gardens is what stands out to me too. That kind of everyday teamwork probably builds the real unity faster than anything else. Have they said when the catholicon might be ready for the first liturgy?

Hannah Hall

The dedication to St. Paisios alongside the others feels right for a place like this—his emphasis on simple obedience fits the daily kitchen and garden work the sisters share. I don't think the icons are started yet; last update I saw mentioned they were still raising funds for the marble floor. Have you followed their page for photos?