Patriarchal Exarch of Africa Metropolitan Konstantin of Zaraisk - Exarchate of Africa
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Patriarchal Exarch of Africa Metropolitan Konstantin of Zaraisk

Was born on 3rd August 1977 in Moscow in the family of a priest.

In 1994, finished high school and the church music school at the Assumption Church in Krasnogorsk, Moscow region. In 1990-1995, he performed various duties at the Assumption Church in Krasnogorsk.

In 1995-1999 he studied at the Moscow Theological Seminary, and in 1999-2003 – at the Moscow Theological Academy.

In 1997-2002 he was subdeacon of Metropolitan Juvenal of Krutitsy and Kolomna.

On 9th October 1998, the rector of Moscow Theological Schools, Archbishop Eugene of Vereya appointed him a reader.

On 6th January 2001, by Metropolitan Juvenal of Krutitsy, he was tonsured a monk with the name Konstantin in honour of the Holy Martyr Konstantin Bogorodsky.

On 15th February 2001, he was ordained a deacon by Metropolitan Juvenal of Krutitsy, and on 2nd December 2002, he was ordained a presbyter with the laying of a loincloth.

In 2002, he was appointed vice-rector of the Kolomna Theological Seminary for Educational Work. Since 2003 he has led the choir of the Kolomna Theological Seminary and taught comparative theology, since 2007 – church singing.

In 2003-2006, he was a member of the Diocesan Council of the Moscow Regional Diocese.

In 2004, he was appointed a cleric of the Vvedensky Church of the Kolomna Theological Seminary and secretary of the liturgical commission of the Moscow Diocese. In 2005, appointed Chairman of the Department of Religious Education and Catechesis of the Moscow regional Diocese and a member of the coordinating council for cooperation between the Ministry of Education of the Moscow Region and the Moscow Diocese.

In 2009, appointed regent of the choir of the clergy of the Moscow Regional Diocese, and in 2011 – head of the missionary and catechetical courses of the Moscow Regional Diocese.

By the decision of the Holy Synod of 26th July 2012, he was elected Bishop of Zaraisk, vicar of the Moscow Diocese, and appointed rector of the Kolomna Theological Seminary.

On 29th July 2012, by Metropolitan Juvenal of Krutitsy and Kolomna, he was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite.

He was named bishop on 31st July 2012 in the cross church in honour of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, at the Patriarchal Residence in Chisty Lane in Moscow. He was consecrated on 12th August at the Liturgy in the house church in honour of the Three Saints of the Kolomna Theological Seminary. The divine services were celebrated by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.

On 2 June 2014, at the Moscow Theological Academy, he presented his PhD thesis on “History and teaching of the “Church of the Last Testament” (Vissarion’s cult)”. After the presentation, he was awarded a degree of Candidate of Theology.

By the decision of the Holy Synod of 25th August 2020, he was appointed chairman of the Commission of the Inter-Council Presence on Worship and Church Art.

By the decision of the Holy Synod of 13 April 2021, he was appointed vicar of the Metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomna.

On 1st July 2022, he was elected an honorary member of the Moscow Theological Academy.

By the decision of the Holy Synod of 25 August 2022, he was appointed vicar of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, with the dismissal of the duty of the rector of the Kolomna Theological Seminary; he was entrusted to head the newly created missionary department of the Moscow (city) Diocese.

By the decree of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill dated 14th September 2022, he was appointed rector of the Church of Saint Philip, Metropolitan of Moscow, in the Meshchanskaya Sloboda in Moscow.

Since 24th August 2023, he has been a member of the Synodal Liturgical Commission.

By the decision of the Holy Synod of 11th October 2023, he was appointed Acting Patriarchal Exarch of Africa.

On the 16th of February 2024, the Synod of the Alexandrian Patriarchate made a decision “defrocking” the acting Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, Bishop Konstantin of Zaraisk. The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church at the session on the 12th of March decreed to consider this decision “illegal and invalid”, and also confirmed Bishop Konstantin as Patriarchal Exarch of Africa (Journal No. 30).

On March 24, 2024, during the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill elevated Bishop Konstantin of Zaraisk to the rank of Metropolitan.