Moscow Patriarchate Receives102 Clergymen of the Patriarchate of Alexandria: Forms Exarchate of Africa
OCP News Service – 30/12/2021
Moscow-Russia: The head of the Synodal Department for the Church’s Relations with Society and Mass Media, Vladimir Legoida, reported on the resolutions adopted by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church at its meeting held on December 29, 2021, in the Patriarchal and Synodal Residence at the St. Daniel Monastery in Moscow. The meeting was chaired by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.
Mr. Legoida reported that the Holy Synod heard a report of the vice-chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, Archbishop Leonid of Yerevan and Armenia, on the numerous appeals coming to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia from clerics of the Orthodox Church of Alexandria to take them under the omophorion of the Moscow Patriarchate (Minutes No. 100).
“Summing up the discussion, the Synod stated that it is impossible to give another refusal to the clerics of the Orthodox Church of Alexandria, who petitioned to take them under the omophorion of the Moscow Patriarchate”, Mr. Legoida said.
“In this connection, the Synod resolved that 102 clergy of the Patriarchate of Alexandria from eight countries in Africa, in compliance with their petitions, be accepted in the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church”, he added.
The Holy Synod resolved that the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa be formed consisting of the Diocese of North Africa and South Africa and the head of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa be given the title “of Klin”.
Vladimir Legoida also reported that the Holy Synod resolved that the Diocese of North Africa should include the Patriarchal parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco and the ruling bishop of the Diocese of North Africa have the title “of Cairo and North Africa”.
“Moreover, the Holy Synod resolved that the Diocese of South Africa should include the parish of the Moscow Patriarchate in the Republic of South Africa”, Mr. Legoida reported.
“The Synod resolved that the ruling bishop of the Diocese of South Africa be given the title “of Johannesburg and South Africa”, he said.
According to Mr. Legoida, the Synod appointed Archbishop Leonid of Yerevan and Armenia as Patriarchal Exarch for Africa, Metropolitan of Klin, with instruction to rule the Diocese of North Africa and to be the temporary administrator of the Diocese of South Africa.
“The Holy Synod also resolved to relieve the Right Rev. Leonid of his duty as vice-chairman of the DECR, retaining his duty as temporary administrator of the Diocese of Yerevan and Armenia”, said the head of the Synodal Department.
