The African Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC): Reasons for the Establishment and Prospects of Further Expansion

The article examines the recent (December 2021) establishment of the African Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), which was related to the recognition of autocephaly (independence) by the Alexandrian Orthodox Church (APC) of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (PCU), and the subsequent rupture of relations between the APC and the ROC. Straight after the establishment of the African Exarchate, more than 100 African clerics left the jurisdiction of the APC and came under the jurisdiction of the ROC. The reasons for the active transition of Orthodox churches to the African Exarchate of ROC are connected not only with canonical issues, that is, unwillingness to be related to the church schism, but also with the policy of the APC in Africa. The African Exarchate, on the contrary, makes every effort to resolve current humanitarian issues and to build long-term cooperation on equal footing with the Orthodox Churches in Africa. An analysis of the events preceding the establishment of the Exarchate, the positions of the UOC and the ROC, as well as the expansion strategy may shed light on the prospects of the African Exarchate of the ROC.

Keywords

The African Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa, the Alexandrian Orthodox Church (AOC), the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU)

Publication date

30.03.2023

Number of characters

19688

Cite

GOST	Voronina N. The African Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC): Reasons for the Establishment and Prospects of Further Expansion // Asia and Africa Today – 2023. – Issue 3 C. 63-69 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://asaf-today.ru/S032150750024996-7-1 (circulation date: 19.05.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S032150750024996-7
MLA	Voronina, Natalia A. "The African Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC): Reasons for the Establishment and Prospects of Further Expansion ." Asia and Africa Today 3 (2023):63-69. DOI: 10.31857/S032150750024996-7
APA	Voronina N. (2023). The African Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC): Reasons for the Establishment and Prospects of Further Expansion . Asia and Africa Today (3), pp.63-69 DOI: 10.31857/S032150750024996-7

100 rub.

When subscribing to an article or issue, the user can download PDF, evaluate the publication or contact the author. Need to register.

Number of purchasers: 0, views: 385

Readers community rating: votes 0

1. The Primate of the Church of Alexandria recognized the PCU contrary to his promise. (In Russ.). https://tsargrad.tv/news/predstojatel-aleksandrijskoj-cerkvi-priznal-pcu-vopreki-svoemu-obeshhaniju_225075 (accessed 10.07.2022)

2. Kosenok A., Chernysheva E., Shkurenko O., Kozichev E. What you need to know about the split of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine. Kommersant. (In Russ.). https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3485919 (accessed 15.08.2022)

3. The Orthodox Church in Ukraine to be Autocephalous. RBC. (In. Russ.). https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/poyavilsya-ustav-pravoslavnoy-tserkvi-ukrainy-1544905888.html (accessed 12.08.2022)

4. Deutch G. Ukraine’s Spiritual Split from Russia Could Trigger a Global Schism. Atlantic. 11.10.2019. https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/10/ukraine-orthodox-church-independence-russia/571333/ (accessed 14.07.2022)

5. About the creation of the African Exarchate: canonical, historical and other aspects. Interview with Priest Georgy Maksimov. (In Russ.). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sv5tbSgAjQ (accessed 17.07.2022)

6. Internal Regulations on the Patriarchal Exarchate approved by the Holy Synod of 22.03.2022. (In Russ.). http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/5911551.html (accessed 24.03.2022)

7. The Patriarchate of Alexandria threatened to punish those in Africa who move to the exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church. ITAR-TASS. 12.01.2022. (In Russ.). https://tass.ru/obschestvo/13408301?utm_source=google.com&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=google.com&utm_referrer=google.com (accessed 22.06.2022)

8. Metropolitan Leonid: The core of the African exarchate will be forged in Moscow. RIA Novosti. 12.01.2022. (In Russ.). https://ria.ru/20211230/religiya-1766223233.html (accessed 15.06.2022)

9. Patriarchate of Alexandria: we face an immoral blow from the Orthodox. 12.01.2022. https://orthodoxtimes.com/patriarchate-of-alexandria-we-face-an-immoral-blow-from-the-orthodox-russians/ (accessed 22.07.2022)

10. Gall G. Ukrainian Orthodox Christians Formally Break from Russia. New York Times. 06.01.2019. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/06/world/europe/orthodox-church-ukraine-russia.html (accessed 17.03.2022)

11. Doroshenko D. After Autocephaly: What to expect after the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Receives Autonomy. The Ukrainian Week. 26.10.2018. https://ukrainianweek.com/Politics/221781 (accessed 20.03.2022)

12. Tucker J. Menhard M. Ukrainian’s Orthodox Autocephaly: Moscow’s Proxy Dispute. 12.12.2018. https://isdp.eu/ ukrainian-orthodox-autocephaly/ (accessed 27.06.2022)

13. Patriarch of Alexandria recognizes autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Ukrinform. 19.08.2022. https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-society/2814476-patriarchate-of-alexandria-recognizes-autocephaly-of-ukrainian-orthodox-church.html (accessed 17.07.2022)

14. Sereti M. The Ukrainian Autocephaly and its Consequences. 10.12.2018. https://ocl.org/the-ukrainian-autocephaly-and-its-consequences/ (accessed 17.07.2022)

15. Gorbachev L. Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa. Strategy. Development. Future. Lecture course “Krapivensky 4”. (In Russ.). 16.02.2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeDd-fg3BUg (accessed 05.08.2022)

16. Statement of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church of January 28, 2022. (In Russ.). http://www.patri-archia.ru/db/text/5891370.html (accessed 27.07.2022)

17. Rules of the Council of Antioch 341. (In Russ.). https://drevo-info.ru/articles/13674639.html (accessed 01.03.2022)

18. Maximov G. About the Alexandrian Church: modern realities. 11.12.2019. (In Russ.). https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=9F1OklhFs-o (accessed 19.08.2022)