On 25th April 2023, Tuesday of the 2nd Week after Easter, Day of Rejoicing (Radonitsa), Archpriest Andrei Novikov celebrated the Liturgy on Mauritius island – that was the first time a Russian orthodox priest celebrated the divine service in the country.
Taking Holy Communion were the Russian people living in Mauritius, as well as a French lady who used to be an active member of the Orthodox Church of Alexandria, but later openly voiced a protest to a local priest of that Church, objecting to its joining the schism.
Easter messages from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and Metropolitan Leonid of Klin, Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, were read out during the Liturgy.
Father Andrei also celebrated a memorial service. During a meeting with the worshippers that followed he blessed the Paschal food. The atmosphere of the meeting was warm and friendly.
That same day Archpriest Andrei Novikov met with Mr Konstantin Klimovsky, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Mauritius.
The participants in the meeting discussed in detail various practical issues such as registration of the community, presence of a Russian Orthodox priest in Mauritius, and prospects of building a church there.
After the meeting, Fr. Andrei celebrated a moleben (prayer service) and a memorial service in the territory of the Embassy and blessed the Paschal food. An educational conversation on religious topics followed.
Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa
