Kenya: Overwhelming majority of Kisumu Diocese priests join Russian Church

Kisumu, Kenya, February 2, 2022

Bp. Marcos of Kisumu and Western Kenya and Bp. Makarios of Nairobi with African priests and seminarians. Photo: orthodoxdiocesekisumu.gr Bp. Marcos of Kisumu and Western Kenya and Bp. Makarios of Nairobi with African priests and seminarians. Photo: orthodoxdiocesekisumu.gr     

According to the Russian Patriarchal Exarch in Africa, Metropolitan Leonid of Klin, the number of African priests who joined the Exarchate had already grown to 150 from the initial 102 as of early last week. And that number continues to steadily grow, the Metropolitan has said.

According to sources in Africa, a large number of those priests come from the Kisumu Diocese (Kenya) of the Patriarchate of Alexandria.

OrthoChristian was initially informed that 53 of the diocese’s 71 priests have joined the Moscow Patriarchate. While that exact number is unconfirmed, several other sources on the ground have confirmed that an overwhelming majority of Kisumu priests have switched.

“Almost all the priests will switch to Moscow. Very many priests are asking for the oath to sign,” writes one priest.

Another source reports: “I don't know how many, but yes, almost the entire diocese of Kisumu.”

During the writing of this article, another Kenyan priest told OrthoChristian that more than 60 Kisumu priests have joined the Russian Church.

OrthoChristian reported last month that in order to join the Russian Exarchate, Russian priests sign an oath testifying that they are switching jurisdictions voluntarily, because Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria has entered into communion with the Ukrainian schismatics, and that they will remain loyal to the Russian Church for life.

At the same time, it was reported that certain Alexandrian hierarchs, including Bishop Marcos of Kisumu, were sending letters to their clergy, calling on them to remain loyal to the Alexandrian Patriarchate.

Bishop Marcos is the successor to the Bishop Athanasius, who reposed in the Lord on January 4, 2019. He was elected nine months later, on September 9, 2019. The local clergy were frustrated that a greatly beloved African hierarch was replaced by a Greek bishop who took four months to visit the diocese.

During this period, Pat. Theodoros entered into communion with the graceless schismatics of the “Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” and having been practically without a bishop for a year, the Kisumu priests began to look elsewhere and make contacts in the Russian Church.

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2/2/2022

See also
Dozens of African priests serve first Liturgy of Russian Exarchate (+VIDEO) Dozens of African priests serve first Liturgy of Russian Exarchate (+VIDEO) Dozens of African priests serve first Liturgy of Russian Exarchate (+VIDEO) Dozens of African priests serve first Liturgy of Russian Exarchate (+VIDEO)
The Liturgy was celebrated at the Church of the Great Martyr Panteleimon in the village of Ebuyangu, with priests from the surrounding districts. 100+ antimens signed for African priests of Russian Exarchate 100+ antimens signed for African priests of Russian Exarchate 100+ antimens signed for African priests of Russian Exarchate 100+ antimens signed for African priests of Russian Exarchate
A priest cannot celebrate the Divine Liturgy without an antimens signed by his ruling hierarch. This liturgical necessity is a rectangular piece of cloth, placed on the holy altar table, typically with an icon of the Descent of Christ from the Cross and inscriptions related to the Passion. A small relic of a martyr is usually sewn into it. African diocese calls on clergy to renounce decision to join Russian Church African diocese calls on clergy to renounce decision to join Russian Church African diocese calls on clergy to renounce decision to join Russian Church African diocese calls on clergy to renounce decision to join Russian Church
Bishop Marcos of Kisumu and Western Kenya has sent a letter to the relevant priests from his diocese, calling on them to recant and pledge their loyalty to the Alexandrian Patriarchate. Remaining affiliated with the Russian African Exarchate “will endanger their priesthood,” he writes.
Comments
Joel kimeu2/7/2022 7:40 pm
This is a very welcome idea
Mikhail2/4/2022 8:12 am
Wrong once again, David. Both issues are at play here...neglectful Alexandrian/Greek Bishops AND recognition of the OCU schismatics.
David2/3/2022 10:57 am
"The local clergy were frustrated that a greatly beloved African hierarch was replaced by a Greek bishop who took four months to visit the diocese." Here is the pertinent information in this article. Contrary to Moscow's claims to the contrary, what is actually happening, is that disgruntled clergy with grievances against Alexandria (their Bishops in particular) are moving to this Russian Exarchate to get "a better deal." Doesn't pack quite the same rhetorical punch as a "principled stand against the EP's 'uncanonical acts'" Uncanonical acts are not washed away by more uncanonical acts. That oath the MP is touting isn't worth the paper it is printed on. That isn't to say the African priests are grifters---the issue here, is that priests just scorning their Bishop and going somewhere else because of disagreement is not how the Church does things. The sad story of Indonesia is an example of this at work.
Cat2/2/2022 9:03 pm
May you all have the peace of God. We are living in very disturbing times.
Wanjala Emmanuel2/2/2022 9:02 pm
More priests are coming to join Russian. Glory to God who wants all men to be saved.
Peter 2/2/2022 3:21 pm
It’s a shame that Archbishop Makarios of Nairobi hasn’t been more outspoken against Theodoros and the OCU schismatics. He has been outspoken against the vax
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