Mauritius welcomes its first Russian Orthodox church (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Local parishioners, officials, and religious leaders have gathered to mark the occasion

The first Russian Orthodox church in Mauritius was consecrated on Sunday, on Epiphany Eve, the press service of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa has said. 

Speaking to RT on Monday, the exarchate, part of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, stated that Metropolitan Konstantin of Cairo and North Africa, who is temporarily overseeing the South African Diocese, performed the rite and led the Divine Liturgy. 

At the end of the service, Metropolitan Konstantin performed the great blessing of the waters. The ceremony drew Mauritian government officials, including Mauritius Deputy Foreign Minister Rajen Narsinghen, as well as local parishioners and visiting guests. 

The Russian Orthodox Church has been active in the African island nation for over two years. Archpriest Dmitry Matienko was assigned in 2023 to organize church life, according to the exarchate.  

Metropolitan Konstantin noted that it was “truly a miracle” that Orthodox Christians, Russians, and local residents of various nationalities had come together, and that a dedicated shepherd had established a real church life with regular services on the island. He added that this achievement served as “an example for many.” 

The consecration of the church follows broader activity by the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa since its establishment in December 2021. Since then, it has opened parishes and missions in multiple African countries and now oversees more than 350 parishes in 36 nations, with permanent clergy in 25 of them. 

A new Orthodox church will also be built in the village of Tenke in Lualaba Province in the south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa said in January. In addition, the exarchate announced in November that it had begun building its first church in Nigeria.

READ MORE: African Orthodox clergy complete historic visit to Russia (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

In August, a delegation of 30 Orthodox priests from 22 African countries visited Russia, meeting Patriarch Kirill and attending services at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and the Trinity Sergius Lavra, the largest male monastery and the most important Russian Orthodox Church spiritual center, located not far from Moscow.