Friends of Indonesia

Serving the Orthodox Church in Indonesia

  • Home
  • Indonesia
    • History, Geography, Politics and more
      • History
      • Geography
      • Politics
      • Economy
      • Provinces
      • Demographics
    • Indonesian Culture
      • Summary
      • Music
      • Performing Arts
      • Dance: Traditional/Classical
      • Dance: Modern
      • Religion in Indonesia
  • Indonesian Church
    • Patron: St. Thomas the Apostle
    • History — Indonesia and Christianity
    • Christian – Muslim Relations
    • Essays & Interviews
    • Galleries
    • Parishes
    • Clergy Biographies
    • Clergy Contact Info
  • Fr. Byantoro
    • Biography
    • Podcasts
    • Video Sermons
  • Newsletters
    • Subscribe
    • Latest Issue & Past Issues
    • News Briefs
    • Fr. Gordon Walker, FOI Chairman – Pastoral Letters
  • About FOI
    • Mission and Purpose
    • Board of Directors
    • Webmaster resources
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Host An Event
  • Contact Us

Just Published! Spring Newsletter!

Read about:

  • Christ, Our True “Qurban”
  • New Mission founded on the Slope of Mt Merapi near Solo
  • Manado celebrated Holy Week and Pascha
  • St. Mark Orthodox Mission purchase a church building
  • Despite obstacles, Surabaya ministry is expanding

Download the Spring, 2012 Newsletter (.pdf).

 
 

Latest News

Fr. Alexios Represents the Orthodox Faith in Indonesia

May 4, 2012

Blessing the people

The Orthodox Church in Indonesia calls itself the GOI, Gereja Orthodox Indonesia Jawa Tengah. Fr. Daniel Byantoro, its founder and president, is frequently out of the country raising funds for the organization, so most of the day-to-day duties in the GOI fall to Fr. Alexios, Dean of Holy Trinity parish in Solo. Fr. Alexios is first and foremost a priest who oversees a large and active parish, … More...

Christ, our True “Qurban”

January 13, 2012

extreme-humility

In the Feast of Sacrifice pilgrimage, Muslims perform rituals at and around their holiest shrine, the Ka’ba, in Mecca. The ritual itself reminds them of what they believe to be the reenactment of Abraham’s near Sacrifice of his son (Ishmael not Isaac according to Muslims) which God replaced with an animal sacrifice. At the conclusion of their rituals, they slaughter animal sacrifices, … More...

Rise Up and Walk!

January 13, 2012

rise-1

During the massive eruption of Mount Merapi in the fall of 2010, Fr. Marcus and Fr. Alexios started to reach out to the people of that area, first in their physical relief efforts, later in their spiritual. While they were delivering relief supplies and housing refugees, they were also spreading the gospel. A small seed that has since flowered. Fr. Markus had been talking to a shaman of the … More...

Fr. Alexios Visits the Community of St. Mary of Egypt in Jakarta

May 17, 2011

bio-fr-alexios

Sunday, January 23, 2011 Fr Alexios led the Divine Liturgy and blessing of the water in his visit to the Community of St. Mary of Egypt in Jakarta. Click pictures to enlarge.   January 24, 2011, Fr Alexios attended a world Christians prayer week along with the Catholic and Protestant Spiritual Leaders in Solo, Central Java, Indonesia.   January 25, 2011 Fr Alexios blessed … More...

Fr. Daniel Byantoro: Pray for the Church in Indonesia as Muslim Tension Increases

February 12, 2011

Muslims attack Christian Churches

Read a news report on Yahoo News. Dear friends, Please kindly read the sad news at the bottom of my following report. On Sunday, February 6th a radical mob of Muslim fanatics had attacked an Ahmadiyah congregation in Cikeusik, Pandeglang, Banten province (West Java). Three people were killed and some members of Ahmadiyah group were severely wounded. On Tuesday, February 8th three … More...

Read older News...

 
 

Who are the Friends of Indonesia?

Fr. Byantoro baptizing a child

Friends of Indonesia exists to raise awareness and support for the Indonesian Orthodox Church. Our purpose is to dissminate information about Indonesia, its history and culture, and about the Orthodox Church in Indonesia; and to encourage Orthodox believers to support the Church in Indonesia through their prayers and gifts.

How did the Church in Indonesia start?

The Church began with the conversion of Fr. Daniel Byantoro, a former Muslim who longed for a deeper certainty of God. In high school the young Byantoro met a Christian, debated him, and won. But the Lord Jesus Christ, seeing the young man’s longing for the One True God did not stop there. One night he received a vision. Jesus Christ appeared to him.

Afraid and confused but drawn by the Christ who appeared him, the young man searched the Koran even more deeply and through it encountered this passage that recalled the Annuciation when the angel Gabriel approached the Virgin Mary: “Remember when the angels said: O Maryam, surely Allah glad tidings with a Word from Himself, His Name will be the Messiah, Isa, the Son of Maryam. He is great in this world and hereafter, and he is among those who are near to Allah.”

Isa (Jesus) is the Word from God

Met. Hilarion ordaining an Indonesian Priest

“So the Messiah, Isa (Jesus) is the the Word from God,” he said to himself. And so began a long journey that would ultimately end with the young Byantoro’s reception into the Orthodox Church.

But the Lord was not finished. After the proper education and formation in Greece and elsewhere, and after ordination as a priest, Fr. Daniel returned to Indonesia and began building the Church. Today over 33 Orthodox parishes or missions exist in this predominantly Muslim land.

Our Work

Our work is a divine calling set before us by God to help establish the fledgling Indonesian Church by helping Fr. Daniel and the faithful priests who serve with him. We invite you to join us.

Look over the information on this website. See the miracle that is unfolding in Indonesia. You will be inspired and strengthened in your own faith when you see what our Lord is doing. Then prayerfully entreat the Lord and see if you might be called to join us in this important work.

 
 

What can you do to help?

  • Stay informed. Sign-up here to receive our quarterly newsletter and other communications.
  • Spread the word. Tell your friends and local parish about the remarkable story of the Indonesian Orthodox Church. Invite Fr. Daniel to speak at your Church or organization.
  • Pray daily – for Fr. Daniel, for the Indonesian Orthodox priests, and the Orthodox faithful.
  • Give generously, as God has blessed you. Your financial gifts are absolutely critical to the survival of the Indonesian Orthodox Church.

You can learn more here.

Featured Top Left

This is an example of a text widget that you can place to describe a particular product or service. Use it as a way to get your visitors interested, so they can click through and read more about it. This is an example of a text widget that you can use for various things.

Featured Top Right

This is an example of a text widget that you can place to describe a particular product or service. Use it as a way to get your visitors interested, so they can click through and read more about it. This is an example of a text widget that you can use for various things.

Featured Bottom

This is an example of a text widget that you can place to describe a particular product or service. Use it as a way to get your visitors interested, so they can click through and read more about it. This is an example of a text widget that you can place to describe a particular product or service. Use it as a way to get your visitors interested, so they can click through and read more about it. This is an example of a text widget that you can place to describe a particular product or service.

Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter View videos on the FOI Youtube Channel Follow FOI in your Newsreader

Stay Informed

Receive an email whenever we post something new to the FOI website.

Fr. Daniel’s Speaking Schedule

There are no upcoming events at this time.

FOI Semi-Annual Newsletter

Pictures from the Indonesian Church

Get the Flash Player to see the slideshow.

Latest News

  • Fr. Alexios Represents the Orthodox Faith in Indonesia
  • Who are the Friends of Indonesia?
  • Christ, our True “Qurban”
  • Rise Up and Walk!
  • Fr. Alexios Visits the Community of St. Mary of Egypt in Jakarta

Gallery: Baptism of Converts

Mass Baptisms at Holy Trinity Parish, Solo Mass Baptisms at Holy Trinity Parish, Solo Mass Baptisms at Holy Trinity Parish, Solo Mass Baptisms at Holy Trinity Parish, Solo Mass Baptisms at Holy Trinity Parish, Solo Mass Baptisms at Holy Trinity Parish, Solo Mass Baptisms at Holy Trinity Parish, Solo Mass Baptisms at Holy Trinity Parish, Solo Mass Baptisms at Holy Trinity Parish, Solo Mass Baptisms at Holy Trinity Parish, Solo Mass Baptisms at Holy Trinity Parish, Solo Mass Baptisms at Holy Trinity Parish, Solo Mass Baptisms at Holy Trinity Parish, Solo Mass Baptisms at Holy Trinity Parish, Solo Mass Baptisms at Holy Trinity Parish, Solo

A Message from the Chairman of FOI

walker-small

Friends of Indonesia exists to raise awareness and support for the Indonesian Orthodox Church. The vision of those who support the Indonesian Orthodox Church is to infuse the local Indonesian culture with Orthodoxy.

 

In the United States we work to inform Orthodox Christians about the work in Indonesia and tell people of Oriental and Asiatic heritage about the rich legacy of Orthodoxy Christianity.

 

We hold firmly to the Orthodox missionary imperative that the Church grows in each local culture according to the truths those cultures already hold. We labor to bring the Gospel of Christ to the Indonesian people in ways that respects and affirms their cultural distinctiveness, and build a Church that will reflect and strengthen the rich cultural heritage they already possess.

 

It is hard to overstate the miracle happening in Indonesia. Our hope is that you might become inspired as we are and join us in this effort.

 

Read Fr. Gordon Walker’s Pastoral Letter to the Friends of Indonesia or download the .pdf version.

Download the FOI Brochure

Click the image to download the brochure

Return to top of page

Copyright © 2013 Friends of Indonesia · Designed by LOGOS Web Services · Log in

Friends of Indonesia · PO BOX 9484 · Baltimore, MD · 21228