TASS reported on Sunday that Zimbabwe’s Orthodox community attended a Christmas service for the very first time.
The service was led by George Maximov, a priest and the chairman of the Missionary Department of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa. Maximov mentioned that the ceremony took place in an adapted room within the embassy’s premises, but he also expressed plans for the construction of an Orthodox church in Harare and the establishment of a choir in the future.
He further highlighted that Russian Orthodox parishes are present in over 30 African countries, including Angola, Burundi, Rwanda, Zambia, Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Tanzania, Togo, and South Africa. Maximov emphasized the positive impact of the Orthodox service in helping Africans navigate challenging situations, citing an instance in Malawi where the local parish provided assistance to those affected by a flood.
Despite the absence of Orthodox churches in certain African countries, religious services continue to be held. The Christmas Liturgy took place in the auditorium of the Russian Embassy in Mali. In Senegal, numerous Orthodox Christians attended services at a Maronite Church. In Burkina Faso, parishioners were welcomed into a small Orthodox prayer hall.
On the eve of the holiday in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, children were baptized in the Orthodox Church of St. Andrew, which has been operational since 2022.
In the meantime, last month, nine students from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Kenya, and Benin arrived in Russia to pursue their studies at the Moscow Theological Academy, as reported on the website of the Patriarchal Exarchate.
