Patriarchal Exarch of Africa concludes his visit to the Republic of Malawi

DECR Communication Service, 12/02/2026

Fr om 3^rd to 11^th February 2026, Metropolitan Konstantin of Cairo and North Africa, Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, Temporary Administrator of the Diocese of Southern Africa, visited the Republic of Malawi. Accompanying the hierarch were Priest George Maximov, Chairman of the Exarchate’s Missionary Department, and his personal secretary V.V. Dendyuk.

The trip took place as part of a humanitarian campaign organized by the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa in collaboration with the Synodal Department for Church Charity and Social Ministry. During his humanitarian mission, Metropolitan Konstantin provided aid to many starving families in Malawi. Taking part in the mission was also Priest Dionisy Grishkov, Chairman of the Missionary Department of the Moscow City Diocese. As the result of the campaign, 2,700 families received aid.

Upon his arrival in Malawi, the Exarch met with the Russian Ambassador to Zimbabwe and Malawi and with the Adviser on Religious Affairs to the Administration of the President and the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Malawi.

The archpastor visited parishes within the Malawi Deanery, celebrated divine services and presided at a general meeting of the clergy. He also met with clerics and parishioners, including catechizers and seminary applicants, from Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. In addition, Metropolitan Konstantin blessed two drinking water wells.

During the archpastor’s visit to Malawi, a presentation of printed editions of the Prayer and Service Books translated into Chichewa – Malawi national language – took place. The books were distributed among local clergymen and the faithful. Besides, the clergymen received motorcycles for their missionary work.

On 3^rd February, Metropolitan Konstantin arrived in Malawi’s capital Lilongwe. There he had a meeting with Mr Nikolai Krasilnikov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Republic of Malawi.

On the following day, while in Lilongwe, the hierarch met with Pastor Timothy Khoviwa, Adviser on Religious Affairs to the Administration of the President and the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Malawi. Taking part in the meeting were also Russian Ambassador N.V. Krasilnikov, Rev. George Maximov and Reader V.V. Dendyuk.

Later that day, Metropolitan Konstantin visited St. Mary of Egypt Parish in Lumbadzi village, Exarchate’s website reports.

On 6^th February, the Patriarchal Exarch of Africa visited St. Anthony Parish in Dyeratu village, Chikwawa District. There, he distributed humanitarian aid among 275 families in need. Later that day, the hierarch met with believers from Zimbabwe – two catechizers and a seminary applicant.

On 7^th February, Metropolitan Konstantin visited Saints Peter and Paul Parish in Makande village, Chiradzulu District, and the Parish of St. Macarius the Great in Likuleze village, Phalombe District. There, he distributed aid among 210 families.

During his visit to Saints Peter and Paul Parish, the archpastor celebrated a memorial service at the grave of the parish rector, Priest Hermolaus Mwanancho, who had died last May.

At the parish of St. Macarius the Great, a drinking water well was opened, drilled with support from the Russian Orthodox Church.

In the evening, Metropolitan Konstantin met with Priest Christos Sitoe, rector of the Parish of the Life-Giving Trinity in Maputo, capital of Mozambique.

On 8^th February, Sunday of the Prodigal Son, commemoration day of the Synaxis of the New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Church, the archpastor celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Parish of the Holy Prince Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles, in Mtokodo village, Zomba District. Concelebrating with the hierarch were all Malawi clerics and a cleric from Mozambique.

After the service, Metropolitan Konstantin distributed humanitarian aid among 300 families.

Priest Sava Kajawa, a cleric of the local deanery, presented the Prayer Book and the Service Book translated into the Chichewa language. The translation had been done by Father Sava. The books, printed under the supervision of the Holy Apostle Mark Centre of Religious Education of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa, were distributed among the clergy and the faithful.

After that, Metropolitan Konstantin presided at a general meeting of the clergy. The meeting focused on the activities of the Malawi Deanery, which also includes parishes in Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Each cleric received a motorcycle as a gift from the Russian Orthodox Church, to be used for their pastoral and missionary needs.

On 9^th February, the Patriarchal Exarch of Africa visited the Parish of St. Theophan the Recluse in Chiradzulu District, wh ere he celebrated a prayer service and blessed a drinking water well, drilled with financial support from Russian benefactors. Eighty families received humanitarian aid at that parish.

To conclude his visit, Metropolitan Konstantin visited the Parish of St. Cyril, Teacher of the Slavs, Equal-to-the-Apostles, in Phalombe District. Welcoming the archpastor were hundreds of believers, including the faithful from Mozambique. There, the Exarch interviewed a seminary applicant. At St. Cyril Parish, 480 families received food packages.

The humanitarian campaign will conclude on 19^th February. During the remaining time, foodstuffs will be delivered and distributed by clerics of the Diocese of Southern Africa in Malawi.