Days of Russian Spiritual Culture in Ethiopia open in Addis Ababa with the participation of the Church

DECR Communication service, 22.09.2026.

On September 22, 2026, events of a spiritual and religious nature were held in Addis Ababa as part of the Days of Russia project in foreign countries. The Days of Russia project has been implemented since 2018 jointly by the Department for External Church Relations, the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, with the support of the Russian Seasons project.

With the blessing of Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, the events were attended by DECR Secretary for the Affairs of the Far AbroadArchpriest Sergiy Zvonaryov and DECR Secretary for Inter-Christian Affairs Hieromonk Stefan (Igumnov). Among the Russian Church representatives taking part were Abbess Elisaveta (Pozdnyakova), Abbess of the Martha and Mary Convent of Mercy in Moscow; Hegumen Luka (Stepanov), Abbot of the Transfiguration of the Savior Pronsky Monastery and Head of the Department of Theology at Ryazan State University named after S.A. Yesenin; and P.V. Lebedev, Head of the Department for Relations with Government Bodies of the Synodal Department for Church Relations with Society and the Mass Media.

The Days of Russian Spiritual Culture in Ethiopia opened with a presentation of the photo exhibition “For the Peace of the Whole World,” dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the birth of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’. The exhibition is being held at the School of Humanities and Design of Addis Ababa University. The opening ceremony was attended by V.V. Golovachev, Director of the Russian Centre for Science and Culture in Addis Ababa; A.A. Obukhov, Director of the Russian Red Cross Hospital named after Dejazmatch Balcha in the Ethiopian capital; and I.Yu. Bezugladova, Deputy Director of the Russian Seasons project.

The programme continued with a panel discussion entitled “Mercy and Charity as a Religious, Cultural and Humanitarian Mission.” The discussion was moderated by Hieromonk Stefan (Igumnov). Presentations were delivered by representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ethiopian Church, including Priest Daniel Seifemichael Feleke, Head of the Media Department of the Ethiopian Church and Press Secretary of its Holy Synod, as well as representatives of the Russian and Ethiopian museum, academic and medical communities and charitable foundations. The presentations addressed various aspects of Russian-Ethiopian contacts in the ecclesiastical, cultural and broader humanitarian spheres.

The programme of the Days of Russia in Addis Ababa also includes performances by the brotherhood choir of the Transfiguration of the Savior Solovetsky Stavropegic Monastery.

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Days of Russian Spiritual Culture in Ethiopia open in Addis Ababa with the participation of the Church

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons