Twenty residents of the Kenyan village of Indagalasia were baptized into the Orthodox Church on the Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul during celebrations at the Parish of the Apostle Matthew, part of the Kakamega Deanery of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa.

The festive Divine Liturgy was led by Dean Fr. Arseny Chitwa, concelebrating with clergy from across the deanery. Following the service, Fr. Prodrom Kabala and Fr. Antipas Odiambo administered the Sacrament of Baptism to the twenty catechumens, welcoming them as new members of the Church.

After the liturgy, clergy and parish leaders met to discuss preparations for a seminar scheduled for August that will bring together clergy and lay members for pastoral and educational activities.

The latest baptisms mark another milestone for the Parish of the Apostle Matthew, which has already witnessed significant growth this year. In January, 17 villagers were baptized at the same parish, while another woman was received into the Orthodox Church through the Sacrament of Chrismation. At that time, clergy encouraged the newly received faithful to participate regularly in worship and parish life.

The parish has also made steady progress in constructing its permanent church. In the spring of 2024, the foundation stone for a new church dedicated to the Apostle Matthew was blessed. Since then, construction has advanced considerably, with the foundation completed and brick walls erected, while additional building work continues.

Until the new church is finished, services are being held in a temporary chapel, which also serves as a center for catechetical instruction, youth activities, and preparation for baptism.

The Orthodox community in Indagalasia is one of the younger parishes of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa. Although it has not yet completed its permanent church building, the parish continues to grow steadily, with repeated group baptisms reflecting sustained interest in the Orthodox Christian faith among local residents.