Bishop Konstantin of Zaraysk, head of the African Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, performed the sacrament of baptism for the first time on African soil during his visit to Tanzania, priest Georgy Maximov, chairman of the missionary department of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa, told Sputnik.
The pastoral visit of the head of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa to Tanzania took place from March 1 to March 8.
During the trip, Bishop Konstantin conducted baptisms at the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, which is under construction in the village of Kimamba in Tanzania's Kilosa district, at the parish of Sts. Peter and Paul the Apostles in the village of Bugaza and in the city of Bukoba on Lake Victoria.
"If we are talking about the bishop level, yes [the sacraments of baptism were administered for the first time by the head of the exarchate]. Of course, local priests used to perform them before," Maximov said.
According to the exarchate's website, 67 local residents were baptized during the trip.
During his visit to Tanzania, the head of the exarchate also spoke at the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Dar es Salaam, known as the Russian House, at the conference "Africa's Place in the World in the Past and Present," organized by the center together with the Institute of Africa of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
He also visited the Kisarawe Orphanage Center, and with the help of the Russian House, he delivered humanitarian aid to its students and held liturgies. In addition, the bishop met with local clergy and members of the Russian diplomatic community in Tanzania.