Alexandrian Church bishop сalls on Russian Church to leave Africa
Bishop Chrysostomos of Bukoba accused the Moscow Patriarchate of causing schism, seizing parishes and bribing local clergy.
Bishop Chrysostomos of Bukoba and Western Tanzania has called on the Russian Orthodox Church to leave Africa. The hierarch of the Alexandrian Church accused the Moscow Patriarchate of schism and of bribing clergy, Orthodoxia News Agency reports.
The bishop expressed deep respect for Russian saints and for the faith of Orthodox Christians in Russia who endured 70 years of an atheistic regime. At the same time, Bishop Chrysostomos said he completely disagreed with the position of the Moscow Church leadership. According to him, representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church challenge the decisions of the Ecumenical Councils and slander the Fathers of the Church.
“They boast that only the Russians have understood the faith of Christ,” Bishop Chrysostomos said. “They boast that Russian piety is true Christian piety.”
In the bishop’s view, it is precisely because of pride and arrogance that Moscow rejects the authority of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and does not commemorate Patriarch Bartholomew.
He noted that representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church likewise refuse to commemorate Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria. The hierarch also said that Moscow blesses military action in Ukraine with weapons while at the same time invading Africa with money.
“They have no teaching, they do no catechesis and engage in no missionary work,” the Alexandrian Church bishop said. “They only hand out rubles. They buy consciences. They seize priests, Christians, churches and property.”
Bishop Chrysostomos said representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church are tearing clergy and laypeople away from their native Mother Church, where they received baptism and ordination. According to him, Moscow is cynically exploiting the poverty and lack of awareness of local people.
“Is it really possible to build your strength in Africa on your rubles?” the bishop appealed to Orthodox believers in Russia. “Is it really possible to build the Church on your rubles? Why do you use the methods of the enemies of Christ, handing out rubles and creating new Judases?”
The hierarch expressed confidence that the Russian Orthodox Church would not gain a lasting foothold on the continent or steal the faith of local people through money. He recalled that Orthodox Africa – the land of apostles, great Fathers of the Church, venerable saints and martyrs – continues to resist actively.
“It is not we, poor Africans, who stand against you,” Bishop Chrysostomos concluded. “Our faith stands against you. Our saints stand against you. Do not wage war against the saints! Leave Africa! You will achieve nothing!”
As the UOJ reported, an Alexandrian hierarch previously accused the Russian Church’s Exarchate in Africa of carrying out a “genocide of Orthodox Christians.”
