On April 21, 2026, the Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, Metropolitan Konstantin of Cairo and North Africa, arrived in Abidjan, the capital of Côte d’Ivoire.
The hierarch is accompanied on his trip by the chairman of the Missionary Department of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa, Priest George Maximov, and his personal secretary, Reader V.V. Dendyuk.
On April 22, Metropolitan Konstantin celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the parish of St. Seraphim of Sarov in Abidjan.
His Eminence was concelebrated by Priest George Maximov and the clergy of the West African Deanery: the Dean of the West African Ecclesiastical District, parish rector Priest Parthenios Dansou, and parish cleric Priest Nicholas N’cho (Côte d’Ivoire), Priest Stephan Assongba and Priest Eugene Djossou (Benin), Priest Luke Somda (Burkina Faso), and Priest Boris Pitasso (Togo).
At the end of the service, the Exarch greeted the clergy and the faithful and delivered an archpastoral address. His Eminence Konstantin presented the parish with icons of the Savior and the Most Holy Theotokos, and also distributed Easter eggs to all those present.
On the same day, the archpastor held a meeting of the clergy of the West African Deanery, during which a range of issues concerning church life in the countries where they serve were discussed. After the general meeting, His Eminence spoke with each clergyman individually.
Patriarchal exarchate of Africa
