On the morning of 24t December 2013, His Grace Panteleimon, Bishop of Brazzaville and Gabon, baptized 30 newly-enlightened Christians of all ages, in the outdoor baptismal font in the Holy Cathedral of St Dimitrios, under construction in Pointe-Noire. The overwhelming majority of those Congolese baptized are adults who willingly approached Orthodoxy following their own personal spiritual quest, preceded by many months of systematic catechism in the three Parishes of the city.
Addressing the newly-enlightened ones His Grace expressed the joy of the local Church at their integration through baptism into it, under the spiritual supervision, paternity and Apostolic Heritage of the Throne of St Mark and urged them to live the Orthodox faith consistently and wisely, becoming active preachers of the Gospel teachings and examples of virtue to their fellow human beings, as Orthodox citizens of their noble country. He then gave them all a pectoral Cross and an icon depicting the Baptism of Christ.
Note that Baptisms take place on this day in all the Parish Churches of the Holy Diocese according to the early Christian practice.