Patriarch Kirill intends to open Russian parishes and build churches in Africa

Alexandria, April 12, Interfax – Patriarch Kirill promises to develop Russian church mission on African continent together with the Alexandrian Orthodox Church.

“We fixed that we’ll set up parishes for this (Russian-speaking flock – IF) flock and build churches where necessary,” Patriarch Kirill told journalists summing up results of the meeting with Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa in his residence in Alexandria.

He said the Russian Church was ready to send clerics to Africa and bear financial responsibility for organizing Russian churches. Patriarch Kirill also offered Theodore II to send young students both from Greek diaspora and local natives to get education in Russian theological schools.

The Russian Church Primate also expressed his gratitude to Theodore II for his active missionary politics carried out among African peoples and reminded that the Alexandrian Patriarch’s flock consisted of residents from over than 50 states.

“The Alexandrian Patriarch unites many nations and countries under his patriarchal omophorion. The Russian Church also preserves unity in spirit of nations now are living in various countries, but belong to one space of the Holy Russia,” the Primate said.

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