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Apostle to Zaire: The Life & Legacy of Blessed Father Cosmas of Grigoriou

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Review of Apostle to Zaire, Copyright 2001, Uncut Mountain Press

Apostle to Zaire is an amazing testimony to a life poured out for others in the missionary field; namely, the Greek Orthodox monk-become-missionary, Fr Cosmas. The first half of the book chronicles primarily Fr. Cosmas's life as a missionary in Zaire (Democratic Republic of Congo): his experiences, the miracles, his interaction with the natives of the area, and his insight into what is truly required of the Orthodox missionary. Addressing monks of the Monastery of Gregoriou, Fr Cosmas says, "the mission isn't only for a few months, and anybody who wants to be a missionary has to leave his bones in the soil of Africa" (p. 104). The second half comprises of letters written by others to or about Fr Cosmas, as well as some of Fr Cosmas's writings.

Structurally: the work has gorgeous color photography superior to gray-scale photos normally founds in publications. One significant disappointment, however, is that the work is poorly edited in the English translation; I count no fewer than 14 blatant grammatical and/or typographical errors.

This biography-cum-letters functions as a model for modern Orthodox evangelism. In the authors' view, Fr Cosmas's life upholds the power and truth of the Orthodox faith in contradistinction to the other missions in Zaire. In telling detail, the reader observes some of the differences in approaches to missionary work between Orthodox and non-orthodox Christians. A personal observation of mine is that the Orthodox work in Zaire may have parallels, should we choose to pursue them, to Orthodox evangelization among Native Americans in the United States. In sum, the work is a powerful read and deserves careful editing and republication! I hope it becomes mandatory reading for the Orthodox Christian considering a call to the mission fields.

Fr. Cosmas of Grigoriou (on Mt. Athos) was responsible for the massive growth of Orthodox Christianity in Zaire. His whole life is covered, not just his Zairian mission work, in order to show how his whole life was in preparation of going to Zaire.

In addition to spiritual ministry, Fr. Cosmas also ministered to the basic needs of Zaire's people (regardless of their religion.) He organized farms and schools as well as preaching and translating Orthodox works into Swahili.

The book is also full of testimonies from fellow priests and monks as well as laymen and others about Fr. Cosmas' Christ-like love for mankind, and particularly the people of Zaire. Fr. Cosmas' famous quote about mission work is quite different from that of the missionaries of other Christian confessions.

He says, "The missionary's beginning is significant, however it is not the sum of the matter. The outset might be blessed or might become blessed at the end. What's important is that the giving be true and total, without holding back, with a disposition to self-sacrifice and self-denial, and with the aim of leaving our bones amongst the natives."

That is the zeal of an apostle , to die amongst those he ministers to whether of persecution or natural causes or whatever the cause. Fr. Cosmas certainly gave total commitment to Zaire and is an inspiration to us all.