On September 28, 2026, Archpriest Dimitri Matienko, rector of the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Port Louis (Republic of Mauritius), arrived in Antananarivo, the capital of the Republic of Madagascar.
In addition to his existing duties, the priest has been appointed rector of a newly established parish in the capital. He has been entrusted with the construction and furnishing of a church dedicated to the Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands (Holy Mandylion).
On his first day, Father Dimitri met with local priests to discuss matters related to the construction work.
The following day, a series of working meetings were held with construction companies, and the necessary building materials were purchased.
The cassocks, holy chrism, and incense were presented to Priest Vasily Randrianaivo, Dean of the Northern Ecclesiastical District of Madagascar.
On September 30, the feast day commemorating the martyrs Faith, Hope, Love, and their mother Sophia, Archpriest Dimitri, celebrated a prayer service for the commencement of construction with Priest Alexey Herizo. After the service, the builders began their work.
On October 1, Father Dimitri visited the servicemen of the African Corps in Madagascar. The priest spoke to them about the significance of repentance and then heard the confessions of those who wished to do so.
This was followed by the Divine Liturgy, during which many servicemen received Holy Communion. For some of them, it was their first time partaking of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.
The priest then delivered a sermon and spoke with those gathered. At the end, Father Dimitry presented the Corps headquarters with a diptych of the icon of Christ Pantocrator and the icon of Our Lady of Kazan.
Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa
