From July 23 to 28, 2026, the Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, Metropolitan Konstantin of Cairo and North Africa, visited Tanzania. He was accompanied on the trip by the chairman of the Exarchate’s Missionary Department, Priest George Maximov, and his personal secretary, Reader V.V. Dendyuk.
The archpastor consecrated the first church of the Russian Orthodox Church in Tanzania, the construction of which is nearing completion. His Eminence celebrated Divine Liturgies at parishes of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa and spoke with the clergy and the faithful. In Lake Victoria, the Archbishop baptized a group of local residents. Meetings were held for clergy from the country’s Central and Northern Deaneries. The clergy received liturgical vessels and Orthodox literature in Swahili, prepared by the St. Mark the Apostle Spiritual and Educational Center of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa. In addition, with the support of benefactors from Russia, another water pump was installed to serve the community’s needs, and all clergy were presented with motorcycles for pastoral and missionary work.
On 23 July, Metropolitan Konstantin performed the rite of minor consecration of the Church of St Nicholas the Wonderworker in the village of Kimamba and presided over the Divine Liturgy in the newly consecrated church. During the service, His Eminence granted the parish rector, Priest Laurent Sakwa, the right to wear the nabedrennik.
On the same day, the Patriarchal Exarch of Africa held a general meeting of the clergy of the Central Deanery of Tanzania. The bishop appointed Archimandrite Zachariah (Mulingwa), a graduate of the St Petersburg Theological Academy, as the new dean of the Central Ecclesiastical District of Tanzania. Archimandrite Filaret (Kimaro), who previously held the post of dean of the Central Diocese, was relieved of his duties with gratitude for his service and appointed confessor of the Northern and Central Deaneries of Tanzania. Motorcycles were presented to the clergy of the deanery to assist them in their ministry.
On 25 July, on the feast of the Icon of the Mother of God “The Three-Handed One”, Metropolitan Konstantin celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the parish of St Nina, Equal-to-the-Apostles, in Kisarawe. After the service, the bishop inspected the educational center, spoke with the students and held a meeting dedicated to the center’s development.
On 26 July, the 8th Sunday after Pentecost, the day commemorating the Holy Fathers of the Six Ecumenical Councils and the feast of the Archangel Gabriel, the bishop celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the parish of St Nicholas the Wonderworker in the village of Butengo. Following the service, a blessing ceremony was held at the parish for a water fountain and for motorcycles donated to the clergy with the support of benefactors.
This was followed by a meeting of the clergy of the Northern Deanery of Tanzania, at which issues concerning the activities and development of parishes in the country were discussed. Also on that day, the Exarch held interviews with seven young people wishing to pursue a theological education.
On 27 July, in Musoma, Metropolitan Konstantin baptised eleven people in the waters of Lake Victoria. A further twelve were received into Orthodoxy through the sacrament of Chrismation.
On the same day, His Eminence visited the parish of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessaloniki in Musoma and the Annunciation Parish in Mwanza.
To conclude his visit, on 28 July, Metropolitan Konstantin visited the parish of St Seraphim of Sarov in Kikatiti, in northern Tanzania.
Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa
