His Eminence, Bishop Nektarios (Lubega)
of Kampala, Uganda
Bishop Nektarios was born on 3 May 1973 of a poor family to Mr. Bernard Sseguya and Veronica Machumi at the village known as Buwala — Bbanda subcounty, Busujju county, in Mityana district. His current residence is at the headquarters of the Genuine Orthodox Church Nakabango on Kamuli Rd, 11 kilometers from Jinja city adjacent to Kyabazinga Palace.
He attended all the typical primary and high school education facilities of Uganda. He was inclined to the religious life from his youth, and although brought up in the Roman Catholic jurisdiction of Uganda he freely left and joined the Greek Orthodox Church in Uganda in the year 2000, which was under the Patriarchate of Alexandria. After being received into the Alexandrian Patriarchate, in May of 2001 he was ordained a deacon at the age of 28, and a year later ordained to the priesthood by the ruling hierarch of the Greek church in Uganda, Metropolitan Jonah Lwanga. As a single parish priest he converted many Ugandans to Orthodoxy and established many churches throughout his region. He was also appointed as a teacher in the Saint Paul Orthodox Seminary.
After receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Religious Science and also a Bachelor’s degree in Theology in 1998, his Metropolitan Jonah wanted him to be educated further, so he enrolled him in the Ugandan Christian University Mukono, to achieve a Master’s degree in Education Planning, which he acquired in 2006. He immediately embarked upon his Doctorate degree in Philosophy and Biblical Counseling, which he obtained in 2008 at Therapon University on St. Thomas Island (one of the Virgin Islands in the USA.)
Later Father Nektarios was appointed to be the chairperson of the spiritual court of the Orthodox Church in Uganda where fortunately he learned of the grossly uncanonical conditions of the Patriarchate and of its involvement in the ecumenical movement, plus other serious issues such as the calendar question.
Seeing that no one cared for correction or repentance, in frustration Father Nektarios fell away from the church and lapsed back into Roman Catholicism in the year 2010. Although he was accepted whole-heartedly by the heretics, he realized that this was not the proper road to salvation, even though many had followed him in their quest for the True Church.
He then decided to come back to Orthodoxy, but certainly not World Orthodoxy of the ecumenists and the masons and the modernists that call themselves Orthodox. Fourteen clergymen joined with him to beseech God to lead them to the True Orthodox Church. They gathered together at a spiritual retreat that would focus only on prayer and fasting for one whole week, and beseech God with their whole heart to direct them in the way they should go. At the end of the week, with one accord they decided that the Genuine Orthodox Church of America, although small in numbers, is the only church that seemed to them to be true. The senior hierarch, Archbishop Gregory, was a true disciple of the great hierarchs of the Russian Church. He was moved by the supplications of the 14 clergymen to receive them and help all the people of Uganda.
Although Bishop Nektarios, on his journey to find the true Church, endured all the frustration and setbacks that accompany those who seek the truth, suffered bruises and pitfalls, but finally through it all he has come to a perfect knowledge of where the Church is. He has renounced all his former affiliation with heretical Roman Catholics and heretical “Orthodox”, and all previous affiliation with any jurisdiction that he may have been associated with, and with the one voice of the Orthodox Church anathematizes those religions.
Bishop Nektarios has made a life-changing commitment, not only to himself, but to all the people of Uganda, to be a role-model pointing the way to salvation.
The Acceptance Speech
of Bishop Nektarios
20 September 2020
SPEECH PRESENTED BY BISHOP NEKTARIOS ON THE OCCASION OF HIS CONSECRATION AS BISHOP OF KAMPALA, IN THE GENUINE ORTHODOX CHURCH OF AMERICA AT DORMITION SKETE, BUENA VISTA, COLORADO, U.S.A
Your Eminence, The Most Reverend Archbishop Gregory of Denver and Northern America,
Your Lordship, The Right Reverend Bishop John of Colorado Springs and Southern America,
Reverend Fathers, Monks, Nuns, and Novices,
Beloved visitors who have travelled from near and far: those from Buena Vista, Colorado Springs, and our sister who has travelled from New York for this occasion,
And all my brothers and sisters present here at the synodal seat of the Dormition Skete Cathedral.
Looking at what has happened to me today and seeing you gathered here, I can only say like King David, “who am I O Lord God and what is my house that you have brought me to this point? (Sam. 7:18)” This question will remain in my mind for a long time, and maybe forever and ever, but I can be consoled by what St. Paul told the Corinthians, that “the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom (I Cor. 1:25)”
My journey to the Genuine Orthodox Church of America is a mystery that has been lead by the Holy Spirit. May He guide us now as I describe my spiritual journey. On my spiritual journey of seeking the Truth, I have lived in the heretical jurisdictions for so many years, and I have led thousands of people into heresy in Uganda and other countries. But finally, God has led us to the Truth, me and all those with me. I am now consoled that I have found a home, the True Church founded by Jesus Christ on the true teachings of the Apostles.
With great necessity, giving honor and Glory to God, allow me to take this opportunity to appreciate in a special way His Eminence Archbishop Gregory for safeguarding the true Orthodox Church of Christ, and for sticking on the principle of truth. Furthermore, allow me to thank him for guiding and supporting this holy Church.
With your Blessing, Vladyka Gregory, may I take this opportunity to thank you for considering me as an individual, and receiving the entire Church of Uganda into the Genuine Orthodox Church. You are really a true missionary of Christ. Thank you for the spiritual and material support that you render for the entire Church, and more particularly for the Church in Uganda. On behalf of the clergy, nuns and all the faithful, we are indeed very grateful for the offer that you gave for the purchase of the Antimensia. Once again, thank you very much for sparing your time in giving spiritual direction, supporting, and protecting the name of our church worldwide, and also for the invitation to visit this Holy Monastery of Dormition Skete in Buena Vista, Colorado, United States of America.
“I give thanks to the God and Father Who rendereth us sufficient for the portion of the lot of the saints in the light” (Col. 1:12)
In spite of my unworthiness, God has called me to the office of bishop in His True Church, and God knows Himself why He has called me. I am always consoled when I read the words of Christ in St. John’s Gospel (Jn. 15:16), “You did not choose me, BUT I chose you and I commissioned you to go and bear fruits that will last.”
It is with filial respect that I address these words of gratitude to our beloved, holy father, His Eminence, Vladyka Gregory for appointing and consecrating me as the Bishop of Kampala for the Genuine Orthodox Church.
I recognize the fact that I am the first bishop to be consecrated by Archbishop Gregory for Uganda. This for me is a big challenge, a great responsibility and a call to discipleship in a special way.
I will do my best not to disappoint His Eminence Archbishop Gregory, and to preserve the trust of the people of the Genuine Orthodox Church of America.
I promise to be obedient, abide faithfully to the laws of the Church, and uphold the holy Canons. With my whole heart I give myself to the Genuine Orthodox Church.
Permit me to thank in a special way our Lord, the Right Reverend Bishop John for correcting me whenever I go wrong. Bishop John has shown great love not only to me but also for all Ugandans. I count myself extremely privileged to have benefited from Bishop John’s profound wisdom, sound knowledge, high spirituality, and solid faith coupled with practical experience in the Orthodox faith.
I wish to thank Hierodeacon Paul for guiding me in all the liturgical services and prayers. He has been with me all the time.
Allow me to thank all the priests, monks, nuns and novices for the reception you have accorded to me ever since I arrived at the holy monastery. You have been always praying with me. Continue praying for me and the Church in Uganda.
All of you my brothers and sisters who have travelled from far; New York, Colorado Springs, for this great occasion. Thank you so much for showing me this great love which I will never forget.
Finally my brothers and sisters, the work of a Bishop is not easy, because a Bishop is charged with caring for souls, helping the souls to go to heaven, and protecting the faith. I need your prayers every day!
In previous conversations with Archbishop Gregory, he asked me: “What is your Mission for Uganda?” I told him: to preach the Gospel of Christ. He asked me three times. I thought it was not enough. I added:
Vladyka, I will proclaim the Gospel of Christ in Uganda; protect the Orthodox Faith in Uganda, preserve it unchanged, perfect and pure, like your Eminence has done in America and elsewhere in the world. He didn’t need to ask me again!
This is not an easy task, but I am always consoled by God’s words through the Prophet Isaiah, “Do not fear, I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God, I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10)”
Pray for me always.
By the intercession and protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, may the Lord God have mercy on us and save us. Amen.
† NEKTARIOS OF KAMPALA, UGANDA
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