On February 24, the Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, Metropolitan Konstantin of Zaraisk, arrived in the capital of Zambia, Lusaka.
The hierarch was accompanied on his trip by the rector of the Cathedral of St. Sergius of Radonezh of the South African Diocese, Archpriest Daniil Lugovoy, and his personal secretary, Reader V.V. Dendiuk.
On the same day, Metropolitan Konstantin met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Zambia, A.A. Yarakhmеdov. During the meeting, issues related to the activities of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa in Zambia were discussed. The Exarch thanked the head of the Russian diplomatic mission for his assistance to the Russian Orthodox Church.
On February 25, the bishop celebrated the Divine Liturgy on the premises of the Russian House in Lusaka. Metropolitan Konstantin of Zaraisk was assisted by Archpriest Daniil Lugovoy and the rector of the Church of St. Demetrius in the Luanshya District, Priest Barnabas Ntasha.
Present at the service were the Russian Ambassador to Zambia, A.A. Yarakhmеdov; the head of the Russian House, S.N. Kovaleva; staff of diplomatic institutions; compatriots; and local residents.
The Liturgy was celebrated in Church Slavonic and English.
At the end of the service, His Eminence addressed the congregation with an archpastoral word. The archpastor thanked S.N. Kovaleva for her assistance in organizing the service and presented the Russian House with an icon of the Most Holy Theotokos and a Bible.
After the service, a conversation with compatriots took place over tea.
His Eminence announced the transfer of a land plot for the establishment of the first Russian parish in the capital of Zambia. With the blessing of the Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, the parish has been named in honor of the Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the Other Heavenly Bodiless Powers. Archpriest Daniil Lugovoy has been appointed as the temporary rector. The archpastor gifted a set of liturgical vessels to the future church.
Following this, necessary planning meetings were held. Metropolitan Konstantin inspected the land plot and the condition of the premises.
Patriarchal exarchate of Africa
Translation: DECR Communication service
