On October 22, Metropolitan Konstantin of Zaraisk, Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, arrived in the Republic of Benin.
The next day, he celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the parish of the Nativity of Christ in Cotonou. Assisting him were Rev. Georgy Maksimov, chairman of the Exarchate’s Missionary Department, Rev. Parthenius Dansou, dean of the Exarchate’s parishes in Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Benin and Togo, Rev. Daniel Agbaza, dean of the Exarchate’s parishes in Nigeria, and Rev. Stephen Assongba, rector of the parish.
Attending the divine service were local residents and compatriots.
Before the Liturgy, the Exarch ordained reader Jerome Moses Assongba, the father of Rev. Stephen Assongba, as reader.
The Liturgy was celebrated in French, English and Church Slavonic.
After the Great Entrance, Metropolitan Konstantin elevated deacon Christodoulos Ocheba from Uganda to the rank of priest.
The sermon before the Holy Communion was delivered by Rev. Daniel Agbaza.
At the end of the service, Metropolitan Konstantin addressed the congregation with an archpastoral homily and presented the parish with an icon of the Savior. All the parishioners received small icons and crosses for prayerful remembrance, the website of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa reports.
In the evening, the hierarch celebrated the Blessing of the Waters and a requiem litiya at the Russian Embassy. The service was attended by H.E. Yevdokimov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Benin and the Togolese Republic, his wife, sailors from the large Russian Navy frigate ‘Neustrashimy’ that arrived in Cotonou on a business visit on that day, as well as other compatriots.
Metropolitan Konstantin presented the head of diplomatic mission and his wife with a Bible and an icon of the Most Holy Mother of God.
Patriarchal exarchate of Africa
Translation: DECR Communication service
