Call for ecclesial recognition of Bishop George Arthur Gatungu Gathuna. The founding father of the African Orthodox Church of Kenya

Authors

• Evangelos Thiani

Keywords:

African Orthodox Church, Kenya

Abstract

The African Orthodox Church of Kenya (AOCK), owes its formation and development to one Gikuyu man who later became an Orthodox priest and bishop. This man is Bishop George Arthur Gatungu Gathuna, considered and highly regarded by many locals as the father of Orthodoxy in Kenya, and an elder that impacted on many Kenyans who joined Orthodoxy in the 20th century or who became priests and church leaders from his mentorship, leaving a legacy worth studying. This study seeks to present a comprehensive past and current understanding and interpretation of the life of Bishop George by the Orthodox faithful in Kenya, highlighting both the positive contribution and the negative aspects of his life as well as his contribution to Orthodox missiology.