Archpriest Georgy Maksimov, a traditional missionary with the Russian Orthodox Church in Africa, published a video of the Liturgy held in Africa. It shows dozens of priests praying in a modest small clay temple, singing in Russian and local languages. At the end of the video, a joint photo of the missionary Georgy Maksimov with the local clergy and faithful is shown.
It is worth noting that the ROC claims that 24 priests took part in the liturgy in the “West Kenyan denomination of the South African Diocese of the ROC” in the village of Ebuayang, while the video shows just about 15 of them. The attendance was also unimpressive. There was a choir consisting of priests’ wives and several parishioners, probably from among the local population. According to the ROC, the clergy come from the Kakamega and Vihiga districts.
The liturgy was celebrated at the new antimins of the Russian Orthodox Church, Leonid Gorbachev, the so-called “Patriarchal exarch of Africa,” wrote on Telegram, adding that Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, Metropolitan Leonid of Klin were mentioned during the service.
Thus, it became clear that “Exarch” Leonid (Gorbachev) has no intention to fly to the African continent, so all the “grand” work “to save Africa from schism” is performed pretty much by a single person – ROC priest George Maximov, who travels to various parishes of the Church of Alexandria, performing worship and making videos claiming ROC “victory.”
Although ROC Metropolitan Leonid (Gorbachev) said earlier that he had sent as many as 115 antiminses to Africa, only a dozen priests had gathered in the video. A natural question arises: where are the other 100 that the ROC had been talking about so much? In general, previously, even higher numbers were voiced – it was about 150 priests who joined the Moscow Patriarchate in Africa.
In any case, the “victory” of the ROC seems very gloomy and not as rosy as officials from Moscow portray. Indeed, passing decisions at the Synod in Russia is much easier than actually going to Africa and doing missionary work with priests who often seek only financial gain, not “salvation from schism” or “canonical protection” under the auspices of the ROC. Perhaps that is why the so-called “patriarchal exarch” Leonid (Gorbachev) has not shown any willingness to travel to his “ROC exarchate in Africa” for a month, opting for leading the structure from Moscow.
It seems that the ROC project in Africa is noticeably slipping, and the announced figures may be tainted by a detailed analysis of the stories of “case files” of some clergymen who had expressed a desire to join the ROC. After all, it has been repeatedly said that the ROC “recruited” to its ranks a number of priests who had been banned from the Church of Alexandria due to serious violations of canons.
Earlier, ROC Archimandrite Feognost (Pushkov) said that the number of African clerics who are willing to join the ROC has doubled. In addition, the ROC invasion of Africa may end with a trial of the ROC clergy, said ROC theologian Kirill Govorun. A meeting of the Pentarchy is to take place in the coming months to consider the ROC’s anti-canonical actions regarding the invasion of Africa.
