Department for External Church Relations
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Patriarchal Exarch of Africa Concludes His Visit to Gabonese Republic and Republic of Angola
DECR Communication Service, 24/05/2026
Fr om 16th to 22nd May 2026, Metropolitan Konstantin of Cairo and North Africa, Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, undertook an archpastoral trip to the Gabonese Republic and the Republic of Angola. It was the His Eminence’s first visit to Angola.
Accompanying the Exarch were Priest George Maximov, Chairman of the Missionary Department of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa, and his personal secretary, Reader V.V. Dendyuk.
During his trip, Metropolitan Konstantin met with Russian diplomats, visited the Russian Orthodox Church’s parishes in Gabon and Angola, celebrated divine services and met with local clergy and parishioners, who received Orthodox Christian literature in the French and Portuguese languages prepared by the Apostle Mark Centre of Spiritual Education of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa. At the conclusion of his trip, while in Luanda, the hierarch met with the Minister of Culture of Angola to discuss various issues pertaining to the presence of the Russian Orthodox Church in the country.
On 16th May, Metropolitan Konstantin arrived in Libreville, capital of Gabon. While there, he met with Mr D.G. Korepanov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Gabonese Republic.
On 17th May, 6th Sunday after Pascha, of the Blind Man, His Eminence celebrated the Divine Liturgy and performed the rite of the blessing of water in the Church of “The Sign” Icon of the Mother of God in the town of Ntoum. Concelebrating with him were Rev. George Maximov and the parish rector, Priest Athanase Ebelebele. After the Liturgy, Orthodox literature in French was distributed among the parishioners.
On 19th May, the Exarch arrived in Luanda, capital of Angola, wh ere he met with Mr A.Ye. Bryantsev, Russia’s Chargé d’Affaires ad interim in Angola.
On the day of the Leavetaking of Pascha, Metropolitan Konstantin celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Parish of Blessed Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, in Luanda. Rev. George Maximov and the parish rector, Priest Seraphim Toni Lumanadio, were his concelebrants. Members of the local community received Orthodox Christian literature in the Portuguese language.
On 21st May, Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, the Patriarchal Exarch of Africa officiated at the Divine Liturgy on school premises at the Russian Embassy in Angola and performed the rite of the blessing of water. Among those who attended the divine service were Mr A.Ye. Bryantsev, Russia’s Chargé d’Affaires ad interim in Angola; Mr Miloš Perišić, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Serbia to the Republic of Angola; Mr Florin Tudorie, Romania’s Chargé d'Affaires a.i in Angola; as well as the Embassy officials, Russian compatriots and local residents.
As the website of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa reports, at the conclusion of his trip, Metropolitan Konstantin met with the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Angola, Mr. Filipe Sivino de Pina Zau. They were joined in the meeting by Mr A.Ye. Bryantsev, Russia’s Chargé d’Affaires ad interim in Angola, Priest George Maximov, Priest Seraphim Toni and the Ministry officials.
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