The decision of Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria in 2019 to recognise the schismatic Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) led by Epiphanius Dumenko led to an unexpected result - more than a hundred African priests did not want to be complicit in violating the canons, in particular, the 10th and 11th Apostolic rules, which prohibit joint prayers with schismatics and heretics. Priests from eight African countries decided to convert to the Russian Orthodox Church, in connection with which a corresponding petition was drawn up and submitted to the Moscow Patriarchate.
The reference to the journal of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church No. 61 indicated that after the severance of ties with the Patriarchate of Alexandria, "the Russian Orthodox Church began to receive numerous petitions for admission to the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate from the clergy of the Church of Alexandria who did not agree with Patriarch Theodore's decision to recognise Ukrainian schismatics and did not want to stay under his omophorion for this reason. The Russian Orthodox Church refrained from responding positively to such petitions in the hope that Patriarch Theodore would change his decision, and the bishops of the Church of Alexandria would not support the legalisation of the Ukrainian schism. Unfortunately, this did not happen."
"In this regard, the Synod members decided to accept 102 clergy of the Patriarchate of Alexandria from eight African countries into the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church, according to the petitions submitted”, Vladimir Legoyda, chairman of the Synodal Department for Church Relations with Society and the Media of the Moscow Patriarchate, said about the event. "Following the discussion, the Synod stated that it was impossible for the clergy of the Orthodox Church of Alexandria, who submitted the relevant petitions, to accept them under the omophorion of the Moscow Patriarchate," he added.
The Orthodox Church of Alexandria is one of the oldest, it was founded by the evangelist Apostle Mark. According to the resolutions of the First and Second Ecumenical Councils held in the 4th century, the territory of Egypt was assigned to the Church of Alexandria. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the influence of the Church of Alexandria has spread to the whole of Africa, and its head was given the title of "Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa". Since November 9, 2009, this post has been held by Theodore II. The decision to recognise Ukrainian schismatics on his part was unexpected, since shortly before that the Patriarch had called on the Ukrainian people to "adhere to His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy."
The unauthorised actions of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople in 2018, when the head of Fener handed over Tomos to President Poroshenko, violated a number of canonical rules. The managing director of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Antony (Pakanich), named a number of them. These are: the invasion of the canonical territory of another Local Church, the appointment of exarchs to another Church, without the consent of the hierarchy of this Church, the establishment of church structures on the canonical territory of another Local Church, the admission into communion of persons who are banned by another Local Church. As well as restoration to the rank of clerics without repentance after anathematisation in another Orthodox Church and concelebration with people who do not have a valid bishopric or priestly ordination.
"He personally reviews church-wide issues, cancels historical documents adopted by the Holy Church. In 2018, Patriarch Bartholomew committed a number of actions that violated canonical law and norms, which led to a crisis of all Orthodox Local Churches," the hierarch noted in his speech on the YouTube channel "Stained Glass Windows: about faith in paintings”.
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia concluded that Bartholomew committed all of the above under external pressure: "I will allow myself to say so, because I know Patriarch Bartholomew well - he probably did not act with his mind and not of his own free will." It is well known that the OCU was created and funded with the active participation of the State Department. At the same time, the "processing" of Fener was carried out by the United States.
Therefore, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill added that every person has a choice to remain true to principles or change them: "But how did we act differently, living in an atheist state? You will not scare us with any horror stories - we have been through everything and have not stopped relations with any Local Orthodox Church, which in our country at that time were often called "henchmen of American imperialism". We maintained these relations, visited each other, invited delegations here. Therefore, when we are told that today Patriarch Bartholomew allegedly could not have done otherwise, hinting at powerful forces from outside, I do not accept this argument. Among the Patriarchs of Constantinople there were martyrs and confessors, one of them - Patriarch Grigory - was hanged at the gates of the Patriarchate. Constantinople has always seemed to us a stronghold of Orthodoxy."
Probably, the unexpected step of the head of the Alexandrian Church, Theodore II, to recognise Ukrainian schismatics was also caused by external pressure from a party interested in splitting Orthodoxy, but it caused irreversible consequences in the body of Ecumenical Orthodoxy. According to the Telegram channel “Pravblog”, coercion came from the Greek Foreign Ministry, through which the Greek state finances the Patriarchate of Alexandria. This structure threatened to stop funding if Theodore II did not recognise the "OCU". This pressure of Greek diplomats was supported by a group of metropolitans of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, who threatened to overthrow the Patriarch.
As a result, due to the impossibility of prayer and eucharistic relations with the Patriarchate of Alexandria, the Holy Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate decided on December 29, 2021 to organise a Patriarchal Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church in Africa. The exarchate is called the lands lying outside the state in which the Patriarch's main residence is located. At the moment, the ROC has the following exarchates: Belarusian, Western Europe, Southeast Asia and the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa, organised in December 2021. The Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa consists of two dioceses: North African and South African. Metropolitan Leonid (Gorbachev) was appointed head.
The creation of the Exarchate has already found a response from some representatives of public and political structures on the African continent. The Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt Ambassador Nazih Ali Bahaa El-Din Al-Najari approved this step and noted that it opens up new prospects for cooperation between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Moscow Patriarchate, and also contributes to the development of fraternal ties between the peoples of Russia and Egypt. In Uganda, the chairman of the Supreme Islamic Council of Uganda and the country's Supreme Mufti Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje also welcomed the representatives of the ROC, saying that the participation of the African Exarchate in the life of believers can adequately complement the constructive dialogue of believers and religious organisations.
As of 2005, the number of Orthodox Christians in Africa who were subordinate to the Patriarchate of Alexandria was about one million people, including about 500 priests.
At the moment, about 150 priests from twenty countries have already expressed a desire to join the ROC. That is, the process becomes avalanche-like and irreversible. In addition to the Orthodox, some non-Orthodox communities wanted to join our ROC.
"In addition to Orthodox people, up to ten different denominations, including Protestant communities, Methodist and others, also want to be engaged in catechetical courses," said Exarch Metropolitan Leonid (Gorbachev). All of them, in the future, can become part of our Church.
The reason for the mass transition of the Orthodox clergy from the Patriarchate of Alexandria to the exarchate of the ROC can be seen in the formal attitude of the Greeks to their African flock. This is how the Russian missionary Father Georgy Maksimov described this situation: "The Greek mission in Africa has long been one big Potemkin village. The reality is terrifyingly different."
However, as one would expect, believers who converted to the ROC began to be persecuted. The Greeks, contrary to the commandments of Christianity, take away from people not only temples, they close schools and orphanages. "The expulsion of priests from churches and children from schools continues. Kenyan priests are building temples on their plots. Of course, this is not what we are used to seeing when we talk about temples. But we will get through this," Metropolitan Leonid wrote. At the same time, attacks on the ROC and accusations of an "invasion of Africa" began. Our Patriarchate will have to endure a difficult battle, proving the legitimacy of its actions, firmness and sincerity of intentions.
The creation of the Patriarchal Exarchate will have a positive impact on inter-religious and interfaith dialogue on the continent, as well as strengthen friendly relations between Russia and African countries. The process will not be easy and will meet numerous obstacles from Western structures. But, as Metropolitan Leonid said: "The domes of churches will shine, spiritual life will improve, there will be schools and medical centres! Mark my words."