The Russian patriarch’s exarch in Africa, Metropolitan Leonid of Klin, announced plans to construct schools, hospitals and a religious center in Uganda on Sunday. “In the nearest future, Uganda will become one of our strongholds, where the religious and administrative center of the exarchate will be built,” Metropolitan Leonid said during a service in Morocco, where he traveled to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Holy Resurrection Church, the oldest of the three functioning Russian Orthodox churches in the African country.
The Morocco trip was Metropolitan Leonid’s third visit to Africa as exarch. Previously, he visited Uganda in May this year and then Egypt in June. Notably, during his visit to Morocco, Metropolitan Leonid ordained two African clergymen from Uganda and the Central African Republic at a liturgy for the first time in Russian Orthodox Church history.
In late November 2022, Abigail Jepchirchir from Kenya – a first African novice entered the Orthodox Monastery of the Nativity of God’s Mother Convent in Moscow. Meanwhile, Moscow’s Convent of the Conception Monastry also expressed a desire to accept novices from Africa. According to Metropolitan Leonid, newcomers from Tanzania, Uganda, and Nigeria are now expected to arrive in Moscow’s monasteries.
It brings much happiness in my heart and appreciation to those Frs. who have endervour to visit the Russian Orthodox Church wherever it was and be established in Uganda. Note that if given chance, I will elaborate more nevertheless to join you.
Rev. Fr. Noah Pasha Kasule