Orthodoxy in Africa: Ancient Faith Finds New Home in South Africa
18:21 03.06.2025 (Updated: 20:57 03.06.2025)
Orthodoxy in Africa: Ancient Faith Finds New Home in South Africa
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As the Orthodox Church is experiencing a quiet but significant rise in popularity across the continent, particularly in South Africa, AfroVerdict joins a South African priest to discuss why this ancient faith resonates with modern Africans and the parallels between Orthodox rituals and traditional African spirituality.
Unlike the Protestant and Catholic traditions brought to Africa through colonialism, Orthodoxy traces its origins back to the first millennium of Christianity. Father Nicholas Esterhuizen, Rector of the Church of St John of the Ladder, explains that many South Africans discover Orthodoxy through studying Church history.
"The best way really to teach people or get people aware of Orthodoxy is to ask them: What did the church look like in the first thousand years?" he says. "Why do the colonial churches that they've experienced in Africa look so different to what the early church is, and why does the Orthodox Church resonate so much with the early Church?"
Rituals That Speak to African Traditions
One of the key attractions of Orthodoxy, Father Nicholas notes, is its rich liturgical practices—incense, icons, and communal prayer—which bear striking similarities to traditional African spiritual customs.
Fr Nicholas believes that the mentality of the African peoples "clearly understands that part of our worship of God involves rituals". In turn, these rituals "should be beautiful and intricate and rich with theology". African converts, particularly among the Xhosa, "recognize these elements", which are similar to their traditional practices, but also see them as "baptized, transfigured by Christianity."
Ancestors and Saints: Honoring Without Worship
A major point of discussion is how Orthodoxy approaches the veneration of saints compared to traditional African ancestral worship. While some African practices have shifted toward appeasing ancestors like demigods, Orthodoxy emphasizes prayer for the departed rather than worship.
"We honor our forefathers, and we pray for their salvation," Father Nicholas clarifies. "This is different to the reformed tradition, which says, when someone dies, it's up to God and we have no say. But we say, no, if we love someone, we pray for them."
Bringing Orthodoxy Home: Local Languages in Liturgy
A significant challenge, and opportunity, for Orthodoxy in Africa is incorporating indigenous languages into worship. While the Church has historically translated liturgies into local vernaculars, such as Church Slavonic for Slavic peoples, South Africa’s linguistic diversity with 12 languages bearing official status presents a unique task.
"The Orthodox Church has a history of translating texts and using the local language," says Father Nicholas.
Efforts are underway to translate services into Xhosa and Afrikaans, with some parishes already blending multiple languages to make worship more accessible.
"It can't be foreign because Orthodoxy is not meant to be a foreign exotic experience," he emphasizes. "It's meant to be a deeply personal experience. Language plays a big part of that."
Given Christianity’s historical ties to colonialism, Father Nicholas stresses that Orthodoxy offers a pre-colonial, apostolic faith. It brings the people a "pre-colonial Christianity".
"The agenda here is not to create little pockets of Russia or Greece... but to see the church grow locally," Fr. Nicholas explains.
In a country still grappling with racial divisions, Orthodoxy’s global yet localized approach provides a unique space for unity.
"Orthodoxy focuses on the teaching of the Church given by Jesus Christ to his apostles," Father Nicholas elaborates. "This common value system does really help to create a space where basically anyone from any background can worship."
The Future of Orthodoxy in Africa
Despite challenges like clergy shortages and widespread misconceptions, Orthodoxy’s ancient yet adaptable nature is drawing Africans disillusioned with prosperity gospel movements.
"They're seeking after a true, authentic Christian experience," Father Nicholas observes. "Orthodoxy challenges humanity to say, no, humans must live with dignity."
To hear the full discussion on Orthodoxy’s growth in Africa, as well as Orthodox chants with Xhosa elements, tune into the latest episode of AfroVerdict, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
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