Plenary session of the Conference “Educational Activities of the Russian Church in Africa: Challenges and Prospects”

On October 28, 2026, at the Danilovskaya Hotel, on the sidelines of the 3rd Russia–Africa Summit, a plenary session of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa’s conference, “The Russian Church’s Educational Activities in Africa: Challenges and Prospects,” took place.

The event was chaired by the Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, Metropolitan Konstantin of Cairo and North Africa. Archpriest Tigriy Khachatryan, director of the Apostle Mark Spiritual and Educational Center of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa, served as the conference moderator.

In the first part of the session, Metropolitan Konstantin presented the keynote address, “The System of Educational Activities of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa.”

This was followed by the following presentations:

— Hieromonk Simeon (Seregin), Chief of Staff of the Synodal Department for Religious Education and Catechesis — “Key Guidelines for the Church’s Educational Activities”;

— Hieromonk Luke (Pronskikh), acting rector of the Nikolo-Ugresh Theological Seminary—“Spiritual Education for African Students: The Example of the Nikolo-Ugresh Theological Seminary”;

— Priest George Maximov, Head of the Missionary Department of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa — “The Missionary Content of Conversations with Schoolchildren.”

After the break, clergy members who serve as directors of Orthodox schools and orphanages in African countries delivered presentations. Presentations were given on educational centers in Kenya, Uganda, the Central African Republic, and Tanzania, as well as on orphanages in Kenya and Cameroon.

Among the speakers were:

— Priest Methodius Kariuki, director of the Apostle Barnabas Educational Center in the village of Nyabini (Kenya);

— Priest Thomas Ssebiranda, director of St. Alexius School in the village of Nkokondjeru (Uganda);

— Priest Raphael Andayi, director of the School of the Great Martyr Panteleimon in Nairobi (Kenya);

— Priest Sergius Voemawa, director of the St. Sergius of Radonezh School in Bimbo (Central African Republic);

— Priest Patapios Chasia, director of the Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky Educational Center in the village of Oyani (Kenya);

— Priest John Bessala, director of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessaloniki Orphanage in Yaoundé (Cameroon);

— Priest Theodore Ouru, director of the St. Athanasius the Great Orphanage in the village of Nyabigege (Kenya);

— Priest Isaiah Wanyonyi, director of the Apostle Paul School in the village of Marakusi (Kenya);

— Priest David Lakwo, rector of the Archangel Michael Parish in the village of Gulu (Uganda).

The forum was attended by Bishop Euphimy of Lukhovitsy, Vicar of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa and Dean of the Egyptian Ecclesiastical District; clergy and staff of the Exarchate; students from the Moscow Theological Academy, the Nikolo-Ugresh Theological Seminary, and the Perervinskaya Theological Seminary; and media representatives.

Photo: Ilya Belov

Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa