Via ACNS: Sudan was inaugurated as the 39th Province of the Anglican Communion during a celebration at All Saints Cathedral in Khartoum, on Sunday, July 3oth. It had previously been an internal province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan. The Most Reverend Ezekiel Kondo was installed as Primate of the new Province during Sunday’s service.
From the Anglican Communion News Service:
Hundreds of worshippers joined distinguished guests from around the world in All Saints Cathedral in Khartoum on Sunday (30 July) as Sudan was inaugurated as the latest province of the Anglican Communion. It was a morning of joy and celebration: flags were waved, a marching band led the procession of clergy through the streets and into the cathedral, local women from the Mothers’ Union cheered and danced – all this in temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius.
The primate of the new province, Archbishop Ezekiel Kondo – who was also installed as Archbishop during the service – was thrilled by the occasion.
“I am so excited,” he said. “I am so grateful to everybody who was here… Now we need the people of the world to continue to pray for us.”
He also thanked the Sudanese government and said it was significant it had sent representatives including a minister.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, presided at the ceremony and presented Archbishop Ezekiel with a primatial cross to mark the occasion. He said the birth of a new province was a “rare and precious” event.
“To be invited here to preach this morning is a privilege of which I could never have dreamed,” he said. “I thank the province of Sudan for the honour of being here at your birth. Like all births, it comes with responsibility – it is for the Christians to make this province work and for those outside to serve, pray and to love this new province.”
Read more on the celebrations via ACNS.
Featured image: Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Archbishop of Sudan Ezekiel Kondo, via ACNS.