Our church

The church in Midrand is the first Russian Orthodox church in sub-Saharan Africa. The parish in honour of the Venerable Sergius, Hegumen of Radonezh and Wonderworker of All Russia, was established by the decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church of 29 December 1998.

The parish was originally based in a small house at 106 Eastbourne Road, Carlswald, Midrand, where a house church was set up with regular services. In September 2000, a plot of land was purchased in Midrand on which construction of the church began.

On 15 December 2001, in the presence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, I.S. Ivanov, the foundation stone of the future temple was solemnly laid. Thanks to the sponsorship of the Russian company "Stroytransgaz", the full support of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in South Africa and the personal participation of Russian Ambassadors Lukov V.B. and Kushakov A.A., donations from numerous parishioners, and the efforts of the rector of the parish, Father Filaret (Bulekov), the main design work on the construction of the church complex, including the church, parish centre and priest's house, was completed by March 2003.

On 2 March 2003, Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, accompanied by Metropolitan Seraphim of Johannesburg and Pretoria (Patriarchate of Alexandria), performed the rank of the Great Consecration of the church.