On August 13, 2024, in anticipation of the Feast of the Finding of the Honorable Wood of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, the Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, Metropolitan Konstantin of Zaraysk, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the parish of St. Sophia of Thrace in Mukurweini (Njeri Deanery), Kenya.
The hierarch was joined in the service by Father Georgy Maximov, head of the Missionary Department of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa; Father Vasilios Waicha, the dean of the Njeri church district; Father Barnabas Njaria, the dean of the Eastern church district; and all the clergy of the Nieri Deanery.
Also participating in the Liturgy was a new priest who had transferred from the Alexandrian Patriarchate. The evening before, Metropolitan Konstantin had an interview with him, after which the cleric was accepted into the Russian Orthodox Church.
Before the start of the service, the archpastor placed the pectoral cross on the priest, handed over the antimins, and the Eucharistic set.
At the end of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Konstantin addressed the faithful with an archpastoral message and presented a donation for the purchase of a baking oven for prosphora.
Following this, a concert was held to celebrate the arrival of the hierarch, featuring performances by the sisterhood, youth, and children of the parish.
On the same day, the exarch conducted a meeting with the clergy of the Nieri Deanery, discussing various issues related to pastoral care for the faithful and the development of parish activities.
Afterward, Metropolitan Konstantin, accompanied by his group, visited the parish of Righteous Joseph the Betrothed and the parish of St. Irene the Great Martyr in the same deanery.
The hierarch communicated with the clergy and parishioners and presented commemorative gifts, reports the website of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa.
Patriarchal exarchate of Africa
Translation: DECR Communication service
