Africa: Dozens of Russian Exarchate priests summoned to court and arrested, says Exarch

Kisumu, Kenya, April 4, 2022

Photo: coingeek.com Photo: coingeek.com     

Priests of the Russian Church’s African Exarchate have become the targets of legal harassment, according to the head of the structure.

On Saturday, Metropolitan Leonid of Klin, who was appointed as Patriarchal Exarch in Africa when the Russian Holy Synod created the Exarchate to operate on the territory of the Patriarchate of Alexandria on December 29, reported that 28 Kenyan priests have been summoned to court, while two others have been arrested in Madagascar.

He writes:

Meanwhile, in some countries of the African Exarchate courts and police have gotten involved.

In Kenya, 28 of our priests have been summoned to appear in court. We are looking into the charges. A petition against our fathers was filed by a bishop of the Greek Church of Alexandria, Markos of Kisumu.

In Madagascar, two of our clerics have been arrested today on preliminary charges of using Greek liturgical utensils during the church service. Bishop Prodromos of the Greek Church of Alexandria filed a complaint against his former priests.

Now that I look at all this, I realize what was the reason why you all were gathered there. Schismatic Patriarch, unscrupulous litigious bishops. Of course we will not forsake our people and provide them with legal assistance and in the near future with all the necessary church utensils – hundreds of Eucharistic sets and all the liturgical necessities are already being manufactured at the Sofrino factory.

But the very principle of it! Probably, time has come indeed. It is time the African clergy saw who was in charge of them, who was humiliating them, treating them like dirt, and who is reporting them to the police now. Look, fathers, brothers and sisters! Be all eyes and remember. This is all these people can do. And WHO are now “jackals and bears from the North”, Your Beatitude the Patriarch of Alexandria?

In February, OrthoChristian reported that the overwhelming majority of priests of the Kisumu Diocese have joined the Russian Church’s Exarchate.

The mentioned Bishop Prodromos is the Patriarchate of Alexandria’s Bishop of Tollaras and South Madagascar. In February, the Bishop of North Madagascar, Ignatios, issued a stern warning, that any priests who join the Russian Exarchate cease to be priests and place themselves outside of the Church and in danger of Hell.

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4/4/2022

See also
Patriarch Theodoros threatens to defrock Russian Exarch of Africa Patriarch Theodoros threatens to defrock Russian Exarch of Africa Patriarch Theodoros threatens to defrock Russian Exarch of Africa Patriarch Theodoros threatens to defrock Russian Exarch of Africa
Patriarch Kirill must revoke Metropolitan Leonid of Klin’s status as Patriarchal Exarch of Africa or the Patriarchate of Alexandria will defrock him, the Alexandrian primate warns. Fr. George Maximov’s Answer to Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria Fr. George Maximov’s Answer to Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria
Priest George Maximov Fr. George Maximov’s Answer to Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria Fr. George Maximov’s Answer to Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria
Priest George Maximov
I believe in African priests and I know that they are able to understand Church issues no less than Russians and Greeks. Between Constantinople and Russia Between Constantinople and Russia
Metropolitan Isaac of Germany and Central Europe Between Constantinople and Russia Between Constantinople and Russia
Metropolitan Isaac of Germany and Central Europe
As a hierarch who lives in a concise Orthodox part of the so-called Orthodox World, that is in Europe, I would like to express my opinion on this crisis which is growing daily and affecting our existence and continuance. Lowered Expectations? On the Proposed Council of the Pentarchy Lowered Expectations? On the Proposed Council of the Pentarchy
Jesse Dominick Lowered Expectations? On the Proposed Council of the Pentarchy Lowered Expectations? On the Proposed Council of the Pentarchy
Jesse Dominick
Based on the Antiochian statements, it can be reasonably suggested that Constantinople has lowered its initial expectations for a council of a revived Pentarchy that will bring the hammer down upon the Russian Church. Alexandria warns of canonical punishments for Russian priests serving in Africa Alexandria warns of canonical punishments for Russian priests serving in Africa Alexandria warns of canonical punishments for Russian priests serving in Africa Alexandria warns of canonical punishments for Russian priests serving in Africa
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. Kenya: Alexandria bishops confront ROC Exarchate priests in church, suspend them from serving Kenya: Alexandria bishops confront ROC Exarchate priests in church, suspend them from serving Kenya: Alexandria bishops confront ROC Exarchate priests in church, suspend them from serving Kenya: Alexandria bishops confront ROC Exarchate priests in church, suspend them from serving
In two separate incidents over the weekend, hierarchs of the Patriarchate of Alexandria confronted clerics of the new Russian Exarchate in Africa in churches in Kenya, informing them that they weren’t blessed to serve in their diocesan churches.
Comments
Rdr Daniel4/4/2022 6:01 pm
"Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!"
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