Russian Orthodox Church

Official website of the Moscow Patriarchate

Русская версияУкраинская версияМолдавская версияГреческая версияАнглийская версия
Patriarchate

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk: the Russian Church is compelled to set up her parishes in the African continent

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk: the Russian Church is compelled to set up her parishes in the African continent
Version for print
7 February 2022 year 12:38

“Christians in Africa need to be protected by Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church, not of her own free will but by perforce, has set up a Patriarchal Exarchate in Africa in order to offer a canonical asylum for African clergy who did not wish to follow the Patriarch of Alexandria in recognizing and legitimizing the Ukraine schism”, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the DECR, stressed.

The establishment of a Patriarchal Exarchate for Africa was a forced measure, the head of the Department for External Church Relations noted, “No incursion from our side was made into the canonical boundaries of the Orthodox Church of Alexandria, as we simply responded to the requests of African clergy”.

“In the Orthodox Church, the clergy and the faithful face a simple choice: Are you with a canonical Church or with schismatics? African clergy now have to make this choice”, the hierarch said.

Earlier, when there was the Eucharistic communion between the two Churches, in the Russian Church, the Russian-speaking believers living in Africa were advised to come to churches of the Patriarchate of Alexandria. “Now, regrettably, we cannot say this to them because the Patriarchate of Alexandria has associated itself with schismatics. Accordingly, now we have to set up our own parishes for our Russian-speaking parishes - the parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church”, the DECR head stated.

DECR Communication Service/Patriarchia.ru

Version: Russian, Greek

Materials on the theme

Bishop Konstantin of Zaraisk confirmed in office as Patriarchal Exarch of Africa

Orthodox community in Burkina Faso moves into the Russian Orthodox Church

Synod: Decisions of the Patriarchate of Alexandria on the hierarchs and clerics of the Russian Orthodox Church are invalid

Reply by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill to His Beatitude the Patriarch of Alexandria Theodore [Patriarch : Messages]

DECR chairman concludes his visit to Lebanon

Church for Russian Orthodox community consecrated in Lebanon

DECR chairman visits Archdiocese of Mount Lebanon

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk makes pilgrimage to Hamatoura Monastery in Lebanon

Archbishop Theodosios of Sebastia: The Orthodox Church is subjected to unprecedented persecution and violence in Ukraine

Archbishop Theodosius of Sebastia: the oppression to which the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is subjected is unjust and cannot be justified or accepted in any form

The Serbian Patriarch pointed to the escalating intolerance of the Ukrainian authorities towards the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Security service executes a search of the Ukrainian Orthodox hierarch who defends the rights of believers

Ukrainian authorities try to withhold information from world community regarding facts of violation of believers’ rights

Hundreds of Vinnytsia citizens gather for prayer outside UOC church previously closed by OCU activists

Metropolitan Theodosy of Cherkassy and Kanev: Тhe truth on the situation of the believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is entering Western society

Bishop Konstantin of Zaraisk confirmed in office as Patriarchal Exarch of Africa

Several humanitarian projects in Africa carried out in cooperation with Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa

Acting Exarch of Africa meets with Primate of Coptic Church

Acting Patriarchal Exarch of Africa held a meeting of the clergy of South Africa

Archbishop Theodosios of Sebastia: The Orthodox Church is subjected to unprecedented persecution and violence in Ukraine

Russian Church Synod expresses strong disagreement with decision to establish “Romanian Orthodox Church in Ukraine”

DECR chairman concludes his visit to Lebanon