The Orthodox Church will officially have two days of mourning Metropolitan Jonah Lwanga, who has been the leader of the church since 1997.
The body of Metropolitan Lwanga arrived Sunday after which service was held. He died on 4th September in Athens, Greece where he had gone for missionary work.
He has been the second metropolitan of the Orthodox church in Uganda since its establishment in the 1930’s. He succeeded Metropolitan Theodoros Nankyama who was the first Metropolitan.
The church has been waiting for the return of his body for the last two weeks. The body was received by the Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka, government chief whip Thomas Tayebwa, the orthodox clergy who were led by the caretaker metropolitan of Kampala and the whole of Uganda Makarios Tillyrides and the bishop of Gulu and eastern Uganda Bishop Sylvestos Kisitu among others.
The body was taken to St. Nicholas cathedral Namungoona at 9:30am lead by the police bras band and the Uganda funeral services. Several people lined up along the road to the church.
Among the faithfuls at the Cathedral was Nakkungu Manjerie, the late archbishop’s paternal aunt, one of the few remaining immediate family members. She is over 92 years old.
The body was taken inside the cathedral and a prayer service led by the caretaker metropolitan of Kampala and the whole of Uganda Makarios Tillyrides started immediately. After the service, the faithful were allowed to pay their last respect.
Burial will take place on September 20th at the Namungoona cathedral burial grounds.