Friends of St. Christina Orthodox Christian Nursery & Primary School
Northern Uganda

St. Achellos Orthodox Church was established in 2009, following the return of people from displacement camps after 25 years of war. This community, once filled with farms, cows, chickens and goats, and the laughter of children faced severe poverty and sadness leaving many children orphaned and many families without basic necessities.  An Orthodox priest welcomed these individuals into his home, offering compassion and hope, which led many to embrace Orthodoxy. In 2009, they came together to establish St. Achellos Orthodox Church.

 

Among them was Kyrillos Okello, a young man who was very serious about his faith.  He whole heartedly dedicated himself to Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior and His Holy Church.  His faith led him to  attend Seminary in Nairobi, Kenya. Upon his return as Fr. Kyrillos Okello, he was once again deeply moved by the plight of the war-orphaned children and prayed for the strength to create a nursery and school for them. Thus began St. Christina Primary School and Nursery, in 2023, where, with a few of the families, they constructed three temporary classrooms to provide meals, basic education, and socialization. Today, the school supports 148 children  including 27 orphans regardless of their race, religion, tribe or social affiliation.  Two dormitories will be built.  One for the orphaned girls and another for the orphaned boys. The orphaned children are currently living with their caretakes.   Classrooms, administrative offices, and a cafeteria will also be built with your help.

​

Our Church

​

After seven years of praying in the hot sun, without any shade, the priest at the time, Fr. Emmanuel Oruk met an elderly man named Achilles in Greece, who pledged to build a church in Northern Uganda, named St. Achellos. 

Saint Achillius (or Achillios/Achillas) of Larissa (Greek: Άγιος Αχίλλειος) was a 4th-century bishop and wonderworker in Thessaly, Greece, who was present at the First Council of Nicaea. He is a prominent Greek saint, and his feast day is May 15.  The community accepted the name Achellos as a condition for receiving the funds to build the church. When starting the school in 2023, Fr. Kyrillos learned about St. Christina of Tyre, a 3rd century martyr and saw similarities between her story and the community's experiences, which inspired him to name the school "St. Christina Nursery and Primary School."