Alexandria warns of canonical punishments for Russian priests serving in Africa

Cairo, February 14, 2022

Fr. Andrei Novikov with priests in Tanzania. Photo: Facebook Fr. Andrei Novikov with priests in Tanzania. Photo: Facebook     

If the Russian priests who are currently visiting and serving in Africa as part of the Russian Church’s African Exarchate don’t stop serving, they will be subject to canonical sanctions, warns the Patriarch of Alexandria.

Following the consecration of Archimandrite Nectarios (Kabuye) as the Bishop of Gulu and Northern Uganda at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Cairo on Saturday, Patriarch Theodoros convened a meeting of the hierarchs present to discuss the activity of the Russian Exarchate, reports Romfea.

The Alexandrian primate appealed “for the last time” to all the priests who have switched to the Moscow Patriarchate, and especially to Archpriest George Maximov and Archpriest Andrei Novikov, the Russian priests who have been serving in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, to return to good ecclesiastical order, to respect canon law, and to cease serving on the territory of the Alexandrian Patriarchate.

“Otherwise the sanctions provided by the canons will be applied immediately,” the statement reads. The Patriarch pointed to a number of canons: Canon 15 of the First Ecumenical Council, 18 of the Fourth Council, 35 of the Quinisext Council, 6 of the Council of Gangra, 10, 53, and 62 of the Council of Carthage, 10, 11, 15, and 31 of the Holy Apostles, and 2, 3, and 5 of the Council of Antioch, etc.

“Finally, the Patriarch calls on all African clergy who are carried away by the material promises of the aforementioned clergy, to return to the arms of their Mother Church, which never cultivated ethnocentrism, but only worked with self-sacrifice for the spread of Orthodoxy in afflicted Africa,” the statement concludes.

Fr. Andrei responded: “Any sanctions from Theodoros of Alexandria have about as much canonical consequence as sanctions from the Lutheran bishop of Stockholm.”

According to Exarchate statements, it currently includes more than 150 priests from 12 countries, including 95 from Kenya alone.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Vkontakte, Telegram, WhatsApp, MeWe, and Gab!

2/14/2022

See also
Deprive Russian Church of autocephaly for 5 years, Greek bishop-canonist proposes Deprive Russian Church of autocephaly for 5 years, Greek bishop-canonist proposes Deprive Russian Church of autocephaly for 5 years, Greek bishop-canonist proposes Deprive Russian Church of autocephaly for 5 years, Greek bishop-canonist proposes
Likewise, against the background of the Russian Church’s rejection of Constantinople’s interference in Ukraine, Archbishop Job (Getcha) of the Patriarchate of Constantinople stated in 2018 that Constantinople has the authority to simply rescind the autocephaly of any Church that arose after the period of the Ecumenical Councils. Another 15 Kenyan priests join Russian Exarchate Another 15 Kenyan priests join Russian Exarchate Another 15 Kenyan priests join Russian Exarchate Another 15 Kenyan priests join Russian Exarchate
According to the priests, Bishop Neofitos of Nyeri visited them on Sunday, appealing to them not to join the Russian Exarchate, which would bring certain consequences. However, they informed him that the majority of priests of both deaneries had made up their minds, and during the meeting with Fr. George, 15 priests signed oaths and were accepted into the Russian Church. Stern warning to Madagascar priests: those who join ROC are out of the Church and in danger of hell Stern warning to Madagascar priests: those who join ROC are out of the Church and in danger of hell Stern warning to Madagascar priests: those who join ROC are out of the Church and in danger of hell Stern warning to Madagascar priests: those who join ROC are out of the Church and in danger of hell
Archbishop Ignatios of Antananarivo and North Madagascar of the Patriarchate of Alexandria has issued a very strong warning to his priests about the consequences of joining the Russian Orthodox Church’s African Exarchate. 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. A Timeline of the Moscow-Alexandria Schism A Timeline of the Moscow-Alexandria Schism A Timeline of the Moscow-Alexandria Schism A Timeline of the Moscow-Alexandria Schism
Jesse Dominick
In late 2019, Patriarch Theodoros entered into communion with the Ukrainian schismatics, setting off a chain reaction that culminated in the Russian Synod’s decision to create an African Exarchate, beginning with the reception of 102 African priests. OrthoChristian presents here a brief timeline of the major events of the Moscow-Alexandria conflict and a more detailed timeline, including various statements and smaller events. Russian Church reps explain creation of African Exarchate Russian Church reps explain creation of African Exarchate Russian Church reps explain creation of African Exarchate Russian Church reps explain creation of African Exarchate
In various interviews and statements since late December, hierarchs and clergy of the Russian Church involved in the creation of the Exarchate have explained the Russian Synod’s reasoning for establishing its presence in Africa.
Comments
Troy Jenkins2/19/2022 1:43 am
Alexander Leitner: "Nonexistent"? Lol. His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria is still commemorated by the other primates in Anatolia, Syria, Palestine, Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Cyprus, Greece, Poland, Albania, Czech Lands and Slovakia, and Ukraine. The Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa is still thriving and faithfully evangelizing the continent. I’ve never seen someone espouse so much hatred and arrogance as you have in the comments sections of these articles. You sound like you need to register with an Old Calendarist parish with your "true Orthodoxy" spiel.
Alexander Leitner2/17/2022 5:25 pm
@David: "Who gave the Moscow Patriarchate the right to unilaterally declare Alexandria non-existent?" It is non existent because it fell into schism. Like Constantinople and Athens. They do not exist anymore in Holy Orthodoxy. They are apostates. And by the way who gave Constantinople, Alexandria, Athens....the right to unilaterally declare the Ukrainian Orthodox Church non-existent? Metropolitan Onuphri non-existing? The ONE AND ONLY CANONICAL HEAD OF THE UKRAINIAN CHURCH!
David2/16/2022 3:07 am
Who gave the Moscow Patriarchate the right to unilaterally declare Alexandria non-existent?
Alex2/15/2022 4:32 am
“Any sanctions from Theodoros of Alexandria have about as much canonical consequence as sanctions from the Lutheran bishop of Stockholm.” That is exactly correct!
Alexander Leitner2/14/2022 2:50 pm
Funny! Now Patriarch Theodoros starts quoting Holy Canons! Why did he not quote Canons when they entered communion with schismatics? He is appealing? And when the Russian Orthodox Patriarch was appealing? Niw lets go to Greece and Constantinople and establish true orthodox parishes.
Here you can leave your comment on the present article, not exceeding 4000 characters. All comments will be read by the editors of OrthoChristian.Com.
Enter through FaceBook
Your name:
Your e-mail:
Enter the digits, seen on picture:

Characters remaining: 4000

Subscribe
to our mailing list

* indicates required
×