Archbishop Makarios of Nairobi Calls for Renewed Brotherhood Between Orthodox Churches, Recalling Shared History with Patriarch Kirill

romfea.gr and OCP News Service – 13/02/2025

Nairobi – Kenya:  Archbishop Makarios of Nairobi has issued a call for renewed brotherhood between the Orthodox Churches of Alexandria and Moscow, highlighting a personal connection with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and emphasizing the historical ties between the two patriarchates. His statement follows the recent Syndesmos Day: The World Day of Orthodox Youth held in Nairobi.

Archbishop Makarios recalled his first encounter with the future Patriarch Kirill at a 1971 SYNDESMOS meeting in Boston. This early connection, he stated, underscores the deep and long-standing relationship between the Russian and Alexandrian Churches. “It is time,” he declared, “to restore the spirit of brotherhood that once united us.”

He further noted that this bond was reaffirmed when he, as Dr. Andreas Tillyrides, authored a book celebrating 1,000 years of Orthodoxy in Russia, which he presented in Moscow while Kirill was already a bishop. These shared experiences, he emphasized, provide a foundation for reconciliation.

Archbishop Makarios’s appeal comes amidst a significant rift between the two patriarchates. The division arose after Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria recognized the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” in 2019, a move that led to a cessation of commemoration by Patriarch Kirill. The situation further deteriorated with concelebrations between Patriarch Theodoros and the OCU primate, Metropolitan Epiphany Dumenko, and the subsequent establishment of the Russian Orthodox Church’s African Exarchate on the territory of the Patriarchate of Alexandria. This action led to a break in communion between the two Patriarchs.

The Archbishop’s call for reconciliation highlights the deep concern within the Orthodox world regarding this schism. He emphasized the role of SYNDESMOS, the international Orthodox youth movement, as a vital bridge of unity, recalling their shared history within the organization. His plea for restored brotherhood resonates strongly given the current challenges facing inter-Orthodox relations and underscores the hope for healing and restored unity between these two ancient Churches. The photo of the young Andreas and Kyrill in Boston, released with the statement, serves as a poignant reminder of the once close ties between the two leaders.

Source:

OCP News Service, romfea.gr and orthochristian.com