Theologian: ROC Synod's decision will be salvation for African Orthodoxy

Father Ambrose and Father Georgy. Photo: Fr Georgy Maksimov’s TG channel

The decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church on the creation of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa and the reception into its jurisdiction of 102 clerics of the Alexandrian Patriarchate will be salvation for African Orthodoxy. Theologian Fr Georgy Maksimov wrote about this on his Telegram channel.

He noted that after the decision of the Russian Orthodox Church, one should expect indignation about “ungrateful Africans” and “insidious Russians” from the Greek hierarchs of the Alexandrian Church, who will not want to admit that they themselves are to be blamed for what happened.

Explaining his position, the theologian cited as an example the story of Father Ambrose Chawala from Tanzania, who was one of those who in November 2019 signed an open letter from the priests of the Alexandrian Patriarchate disagreeing with Patriarch Theodore's recognition of schismatics from the OCU.

“Moreover, at that time for Fr. Ambrose did not even talk about the transition to the Russian Orthodox Church. There was a hope that the Alexandrian Patriarch would listen to the voice of his clergy, and to many other voices calling him to reverse that fateful decision,” said Father George.

After the publication of the letter of the African clerics of the Alexandrian Church, Father Ambrose was summoned by Bishop Agathonikos (Nikolaidis) of Arusha and Central Tanzania, who demanded that the priest sign a paper in support of the decision of Patriarch Theodore. After the priest refused to do this, the bishop cut the salary of the cleric by half.

Later, when the temple of Father Ambrose was robbed in August 2020, in particular, the Chalice and the Gospel were stolen from the altar, the ruling bishop declared that the priest himself had committed the crime. "Yes, you probably stole it yourself! You want to go to the Russians, so you hid them!" Moreover, Bishop Agathonikos blessed his assistant to report to the police about Fr. Ambrose. The police arrested the priest but then released him, convinced of his innocence,” wrote the theologian.

Priest Georgy Maksimov believes that such actions of the Alexandrian hierarchs provoked the desire of the priests to go to the Russian Orthodox Church. “The decision of the Synod is historic, and I hope that it will become salvation for African Orthodoxy and breathe new life into it. Orthodox Africans deserve the best,” the theologian concluded.

As reported, in the temple of Tanzania, “Russian” icons were torn down by the order of the Alexandrian hierarch for the fact that the rector did not support the communion of Patriarch Theodore with the schismatics.

On December 29, 2021, the ROC formed the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa and received 102 clerics of the Alexandrian Patriarchate from eight African countries into its jurisdiction at their request.

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