During the meeting of the delegation of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on August 27, 2025, Metropolitan Konstantin of Cairo and North Africa thanked the leadership of the Department for External Church Relations The Moscow Patriarchate and the Foundation for the Support of Christian Culture and Heritage, with the assistance of which 71 seminarians from Africa study at nine theological schools of the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as many other initiatives are being implemented.
Then the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church answered the questions of the African clergy in detail.
At the end of the conversation, the clerics of the Patriarchal Exarchate presented His Holiness with memorable gifts, including a staff made by wood carvers from Uganda and an icon of the Mother of God "Passion", made in the technique of intarsia by craftsmen from the island of Mauritius.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill handed over his book "Freedom and Responsibility" in English to the African clergy. Commemorative medals were also awarded to the clergy.
The Primate honored the clergy of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa with church awards.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill presented the icon of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious to the Executive Director of the Foundation, Egor Skopenko.
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With the blessing of Patriarch Kirill, thirty clerics – deans of church districts and senior priests representing 22 African countries – are making a pilgrimage to Russia from August 21 to 29.