The first Orthodox Easter services were held in Zimbabwe and in Zambia with the blessing of Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church.
The service in Zimbabwe was attended by employees of the Russian Embassy, Russian citizens permanently residing in Zimbabwe and citizens of the southern African country and some other countries, Russian media reported.
In Zambia, the service was held in the capital, Harare, and was reportedly attended by about 50 Orthodox Christians.
Easter services were also held at the Russian Orthodox Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Johannesburg, South Africa; at St. Catherine's Church in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya; and in the city of Cotonou, Benin.
The liturgy in Kenya began with a procession and continued with a service in two languages: Russian and Swahili.
About 50 parishioners attended the service, including representatives of the Russian Embassy in Kenya, Russian citizens living in the country, and Orthodox Kenyans.
In January, the first Orthodox Christmas service was held in Zimbabwe, with the liturgy served by the Chairman of the Missionary Department of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa, Priest Georgy Maksimov.
The Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa with two dioceses in its composition, North African and South African, was established on December 29, 2021, by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.