The young Rwandan Catechumen Teophile Niyigena was christened by His Eminence Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina at the Transfiguration of the Lord Monastery on top of the Ceahlău Mountain.
The Sacrament of Baptism took place on the monastery’s patronal feast, August 6, 2019.
Teophile’s godfather is lawyer Andrei Vladareanu, who is known for his efforts to support Orthodox mission in Africa.
Vladareanu met Teophile during a pilgrimage to Georgia earlier this year.
‘He has an extraordinary sensitivity, a special delicacy and an authentic humility,’ Vladareanu said about the young Rwandan friend.
‘Theophile is an extraordinarily sensitive young man with a great gift from God and I think that he will represent a bridge between the Metropolis of Moldavia and the Metropolis of Burundi and Rwanda,’ he added.
Rwanda, officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a country in Central and East Africa and one of the smallest countries on the African mainland.
Metropolitan Innocentios of Burundi and Rwanda is currently paying a visit to Cluj, Romania, where he joined the important celebrations dedicated to the Mother of God at Nicula Monastery.
Photography courtesy of Doxologia / Oana Nechifor
