On August 27, Russian Patriarch Kirill received a large delegation of the“Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa” in the patriarchal hall of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. The delegation included clergy from more than twenty countries. Thus, the Moscow Patriarchate demonstrated that its actions in Africa are not limited to individual movements, but are trying to build a comprehensive structure on the continent.
The delegation was led by “Metropolitan of Cairo and North Africa Konstantin.” He spoke of “over 260 priests” who now serve under the omophorion of the Russian Orthodox Church, adding that at every Divine Liturgy “the name of Patriarch Kirill is mentioned.” In his address to the Russian Patriarch, Metropolitan Konstantin explained that the reason for the creation of the “Patriarchal Exarchate in Africa” was the “great tragedy in Orthodoxy” that occurred when the Ecumenical Patriarch, and after him several other Primates of Local Churches, “recognized the schism in Ukraine.” According to Metropolitan Konstantin, this disturbed many priests in Africa, and when the Patriarch of Alexandria also entered into Eucharistic communion with the schismatics, the priests sought the protection of the Russian Orthodox Church.
For his part, Patriarch Kirill stated that the Russian Church was not trying to profit from the creation of the new church structure in Africa, but was acting “completely selflessly,” supporting the African Orthodox, who, as he claimed, did not want to be involved in the Ukrainian schism. He emphasized Russia’s non-colonial history, claiming that his country had helped African peoples gain independence.
Patriarch Kirill praised the African priests for their “resilience,” acknowledging that they had faced threats and difficulties, and urged them to continue unwaveringly. Finally, he presented gifts to dozens of clergymen, who received crosses, medals, plaques, and other awards.
The African delegation presented the patriarch with gifts of strong symbolism: a pastoral staff from Uganda and an icon from Mauritius. These actions by the Moscow Patriarchate are intended to consolidate the new relations of dependence that Moscow is cultivating in Africa, in the context of which Patriarch Kirill presents himself as a “father” to hundreds of clergymen who left the Patriarchate of Alexandria due to disagreement with the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Thus, the Russian Church, presenting itself as the defender of Orthodoxy in Africa, undermines the canonical authority of the Patriarchate of Alexandria. According to data from the Moscow Patriarchate, its Exarchate is present in 36 countries in Africa with more than 330 communities and over 270 clergy.
Sources: website of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate and Orthodoxia.info
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First published in this link of The European Times.
