Nairobi, Kenya, February 13, 2025
The future Met. Makarios of Nairobi (left) and the future Pat. Kirill of Moscow (right). Photo: Romfea
“It is time to … restore the spirit of brotherhood that once united us,” says Metropolitan Makarios of Nairobi of the Patriarchate of Alexandria in a new statement concerning his personal history with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and the history of their respective Local Churches.
His statement comes in the aftermath of Syndesmos Day: The World Day of Orthodox Youth, which gathered more than 1,200 young Orthodox Christians at the Makarios III Patriarchal Seminary in Nairobi, Kenya, on February 2.
Met. Makarios recalls that he first met the future Russian Patriarch at a meeting of Syndesmos, the World Fellowship of Orthodox Youth, in Boston in 1971. His history with Pat. Kirill speaks to the deep historical ties of the Russian and Alexandrian Patriarchates, and “it is time to rekindle this bond,” the Metropolitan rites.
An Unforgotten History.
Since its creation, the international Orthodox youth movement SYNDESMOS has been a bridge of unity among Orthodox Christians worldwide.
In 1971, during its assembly in Boston, two historic patriarchates met: the Patriarchate of Moscow, represented by a young Kyrill—now Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, attending for the first time, and the Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa, represented by a young seminarian, Andreas—now Metropolitan Makarios of Nairobi.
This moment of unity, forged in youth, reminds us of the deep connections that have always existed between our two ancient Churches.
Years later, this bond was reaffirmed when Dr. Andreas Tillyrides, now Metropolitan Makarios of Nairobi, authored a book celebrating 1,000 years of Orthodoxy in Russia, which he presented in Moscow while Kyrill was already a bishop.
It is time to rekindle this bond and restore the spirit of brotherhood that once united us.
The future hierarchs in Boston, 1971. Photo: Romfea
Met. Makarios is referring to the rift that has existed between the Russian and Alexandrian Patriarchates ever since Patriarch Theodoros changed his stance on the Ukrainian ecclesiastical issue and decided to enter into communion with the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” in November 2019.
Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria commemorates schismatic Epiphany Dumenko (+ VIDEO)His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa commemorated Epiphany Dumenko, the primate of the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” during the Divine Liturgy today at the Church of the Archangels in Daher in the Cairo Governorate.A month later, Pat. Kirill ceased commemoration of Pat. Theodoros in the Divine services.
Russian Synod removes Russian parishes in Africa from jurisdiction of Patriarchate of AlexandriaThe hierarchs considered and responded to the decision of Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria to recognize the Ukrainian schismatics, expressing their deep sorrow at his decision that makes it impossible to maintain Eucharistic communion with him.In August 2021, Pat. Theodoros concelebrated with “Metropolitan” Epiphany Dumenko, the primate of the schismatic OCU, which the Moscow Patriarchate took as a point of no return. In response to this concelebration and the appeals of dozens of African clerics, the Russian Holy Synod created the African Exarchate in December of that year, establishing two dioceses covering the entirety of the Patriarchate of Alexandria’s territory.
Russian Synod announces reception of 102 African priests into its jurisdiction, creation of African diocesesThe Synod officially resolved “to accept 102 clerics of the Patriarchate of Alexandria from eight African countries into the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church, according to the petitions submitted.”Initially, 102 African priests from various countries were received into the new Exarchate, which has considerably grown since then through active missionary work by Russian hierarchs, clergy, and lay missionaries. More than 100 Kenyan priests have joined the Exarchate, for which they have been declared suspended by the Alexandrian hierarchs.
Kenyan hierarchs suspend priests who joined Russian ExarchateThe decree signed by the aforementioned hierarchs and priests shows that part of their plans moving forward is to deal with the priests who have joined the Russian Exarchate.The Holy Synod of Alexandria has ruled to defrock several hierarchs and clerics of the Russian Church who are or have been active on Alexandria’s territory throughout Africa, and in November 2022, Pat. Theodoros ceased commemoration of Pat. Kirill in the Divine services due to the Exarchate’s continued activity.
Patriarchate of Alexandria defrocks second Russian Exarch of AfricaBp. Konstantin commented simply: “The fact of the matter is that I am a bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church. I am subordinate to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia as his vicar and to the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church as any of its bishops.”
Patriarch Theodoros stops commemorating Patriarch Kirill, Russian Exarch declared defrocked by AlexandriaToday’s decision from Alexandria marks the first time another primate has ceased commemorating Pat. Kirill.Pat. Theodoros, who was once seen as a strong ally of canonical Orthodoxy in Ukraine, and Pat. Kirill have been out of communion with each other for more than 5 years now.
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