The Russian Orthodox Church's Cathedral of St. Sergius of Radonezh has become a minster in the South African diocese, according to a statement of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa.
"On October 6, the Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, Metropolitan Constantine of Zaraysk, led the patronal feast at the Cathedral of St. Sergius of Radonezh of the South African diocese in the city of Johannesburg. After the Liturgy, a prayer service and a religious procession took place. Then Metropolitan Constantine read out the decree of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' on assigning the Church of St. Sergius the status of a cathedral of the South African diocese of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa," the statement read.
In late August, the Russian Orthodox Church reported that the number of priests who identify themselves as members of Moscow's patriarchate in Africa has already reached 236, with more than 100 of them located in Kenya.
Of that number, only five preachers are Russian-speaking, Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, Metropolitan Konstantin Zaraysky stated. Moreover, most of them serve in Kenya, where there are 10 deaneries.
During the trip that month, the metropolitan also baptized Kenyans who wanted to convert to Orthodoxy. And in the village of Bukura in the Kakamega deanery, clerics placed the traditional clothes of the African leader, made from animal skins, on the metropolitan.