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).
News
Christ, our True “Qurban”
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!
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
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
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...
Funeral Service of Fr. Seraphim Schiedler
Fr. Seraphim Scheidler, a great friend of the Orthodox Church in Indonesia, passed away January 17, 2011. He had struggled with a weak heart condition for many years. Fr. Seraphim loved the Orthodox mission in Indonesia, which he visited twice in an official capacity. In fact, he was ordained to the sub-diaconate at Holy Apostle Thomas Orthodox Church in Jakarta, February 23, 2006, and was … More...
Who are the Friends of Indonesia?
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.
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.
“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.
How did the Church in Indonesia start?
Fr. Byantoro baptizing a child
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
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.
