From 21 to 29 August 2025, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, a pilgrimage trip to Russia was held for thirty deans and senior priests representing 22 countries of pastoral responsibility of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa.
The clergy met with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and served His Holiness on the eve of the Feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God at the All-Night Vigil in the Cathedral Cathedral Church of Christ the Saviour, participated in the first church-practical conference of deans of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa and a press conference on the mission of the Russian Orthodox Church. The priests also took part in divine services in the churches of the capital, in conversations with Metropolitan Constantine and pastoral meetings, and visited shrines, churches and monasteries on excursions.
The delegation included Bishop Evfimy of Lukhovitsky, Vicar General of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa and deans of church districts in South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of Congo, Uganda, Burundi, Malawi, Central African Republic, Rwanda, Madagascar, Côte d'Ivoire, Togo, Benin and Burkina Faso, as well as clerics of the Exarchate in Angola, Gabon, Zambia and Mauritius.
South Africa was represented by Archpriest Daniel Lugovoi, rector of the Cathedral of St Sergius of Radonezh in Johannesburg.
On 21 August at the Danilovskaya Hotel, the delegation met Metropolitan Constantine. Vladyka welcomed the clergy and held a general meeting.
On 22, 25, and 26 August, a church-practice conference was held. On the first day of the event, reports were delivered by interventions Metropolitan Constantine of Cairo and North Africa, Chairman of the Missionary Department of the Exarchate, Priest George Maximov, Archpriest Tigri Khachatryan, Assistant Exarch for Religious Education and Catechesis, Archpriest Andrey Novikov, rector of the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity on the Sparrow Hills, and Priest Stanislav Rasputin, clergyman of the Petrozavodsk Diocese. Archimandrite Vasily (Pasquier), Vicar of the Holy Trinity Monastery in Cheboksary, also spoke.
On the second day of the conference interventions Bishop Euthymius, Vicar bishop of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa, deans and senior priests of parishes of the North African and South African dioceses. A total of 30 reports were presented.
On the final day of the conference took place a master class on promoting church content in social media, organised by the staff of the RT TV channel. The workshop was followed by presentations by Archpriest Tigriy Khachatryan, Priest Anatoly Trushin and Deacon Georgy Yurenko, assistants to the exarch for educational activities.
On 23 August, a delegation of deans visited guided tour of Red Square, Moscow Kremlin cathedrals, the Nativity of the Virgin, Sretensky and Danilov monasteries.
In the evening, on the eve of the Week of the 11th after Pentecost, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Metropolitan Constantine of Cairo and North Africa committed All-Night Vigil in the Church of the Resurrection of the Word in Danilovskaya Sloboda, Moscow.
He was served by Bishop Evfimy of Lukhovitsky and other members of the delegation of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa.
In the Week of the 11th Pentecost, took place pilgrimage trip to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. In the Dormition Cathedral of the monastery, Bishop Kirill of Sergiev-Posad and Dmitrov, Vicar of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, presided over the Divine Liturgy in the company of Metropolitan Constantine, Bishop Euphemia, the staff of the Exarchate in the priesthood, the brethren of the monastery and the African clergy.
On the same day, the African clerics met with Bishop Kirill in the small assembly hall of the Moscow Theological Academy, after which a tour of the monastery was organised for them.
26 August at TASS. took place press conference "The Russian Orthodox Church in Africa: Mission and Development Plans". The journalists' questions were answered by Metropolitan Constantine of Cairo and North Africa, Archimandrite Philaret (Kimaro), dean of the Central Church District in Tanzania, Priest Titus Kipngeni, dean of the Nandi Church District in Kenya, Bishop of the Central African Church District (CAR), Priest Sergius Voemava, Bishop of the West African Church District (Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Togo, Burkina Faso), Priest Parthenius Dansou, Bishop of the Southern Church District of Madagascar, Priest Nicholas Ramarosun Bruno.
On 27 August in the Patriarchal Hall of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia accepted delegation of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa, headed by Metropolitan Constantine of Cairo and North Africa.
The meeting was attended by Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Bishop Alexis of Ramensk, Personal Secretary of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, Advisor to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Archpriest Igor Vyzhanov, Deputy Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, and members of the delegation of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa: Archpriest George Maximov, Chairman of the Missionary Department of the Exarchate, Archpriest Tigri Khachatryan, Assistant Exarch for Religious Education and Catechesis, Archpriest Tigri Khachatryan, and deans of the church districts of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa.
At the beginning of the meeting Metropolitan Konstantin addressed the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church with a welcoming speech.
Afterwards, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill delivered the High-Priestly Word and answered the questions of the African clergy.
At the end of the talk, the Primate honoured the clergy of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa with ecclesiastical awards.
In consideration of his diligent archpastoral labours, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill presented Metropolitan Constantine of Cairo and North Africa with the Patriarchal commemorative cross and panagia.
With the blessing of His Holiness, a number of clerics of the North African and South African dioceses of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa for their diligent service to the Holy Church were honoured signs of Patriarchal attention and liturgical-hierarchical awards.
In the evening, on the eve of the feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill committed All-Night Vigil in the Cathedral Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow.
Among those serving His Holiness were Metropolitan Constantine of Cairo and North Africa and members of the delegation of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa.
The service was attended by the Ambassadors of Benin, CAR and Burundi to Russia, as well as representatives of the Embassies of Côte d'Ivoire, South Africa, Rwanda, Angola and Madagascar.
On the Feast of the Dormition of Our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos, and Our Lady Mary, Metropolitan Constantine, Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, celebrated the Liturgy in the Church of St Philip, Metropolitan of Moscow, in Meshchanskaya Sloboda, Moscow.
He was served by Priest George Maximov, Archpriest Tigri Khachatryan, Archpriest Alexander Karzan, consultant of the Department for External Church Relations, the deans of the church districts of the North African and South African dioceses and the clergy of the church.
29 August pilgrimage trip concluded. At the Danilovskaya Hotel, Vladyka Konstantin warmly bid farewell to the African clergymen, gave them a farewell address and gave them the archpastoral blessing.
Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa
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