The Russian Orthodoxy in Africa: Spatial Strategies of the Patriarchal Exarchate

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Abstract

The presence of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) in Africa has been traditionally limited to supporting the Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria and Non-Chalcedonian Churches and providing spiritual guidance to the Russian population. This position was radically changed by the actions of the Patriarchate of Alexandria (AP), which in 2019 recognized the autocephaly of the schismatic Orthodox Church of Ukraine. The authors conclude that AP planned to start the recognition earlier, but had to prepare for the event. Immediately after the rupture of Eucharistic communion between the ROC and the CP in 2018, the AP carried out the largest administrative reform in its modern history, implying the fragmentation of existing and thus the formation of new dioceses and metropolises in order to strengthen control over local clergy. The strategy of the Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church in these conditions should include a revision of the configuration of borders of the existing dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church in Africa by changing the “cutting” of borders of the dioceses of AP; creation of new dioceses taking into account the interests of pre-Chalcedonian African churches; appointment of bishops from Russia to the new dioceses in Africa at the first stage, and subsequently transfer of the departments under the management of people from the continent who have been trained in the seminaries and academies of the Russian Orthodox Church.

About the authors

S. A. Gorokhov

Institute for African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences

Author for correspondence.
Email: stgorohov@yandex.ru
Moscow, Russia

R. V. Dmitriev

Institute for African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: dmitrievrv@yandex.ru
Moscow, Russia

M. M. Agafoshin

Institute for African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: agafoshinmm@gmail.com
Moscow, Russia

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