The first Liturgy was celebrated in the Western Kenya Deanery of the Diocese of South Africa. In the church of St. Panteleimon of the village of Ebuyangu gathered 24 African priests of the Russian Orthodox Church from the districts of Kakamega and Vihiga. The Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, Metropolitan Leonid of Klin wrote about this in his Telegram channel.

“Together with Priest Georgy Maximov, they celebrated the Liturgy at the new antimension of the Russian Orthodox Church. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, Metropolitan Leonid of Klin were commemorated during the service. A new translation of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom in Swahili, made in compliance with the Russian tradition of worship and correcting many imperfections of the previous translation.

After the service, Priest George donated icons to the temple, and also handed over to priests and believers home icons, pectoral crosses, and specially published Orthodox prayer books in Swahili. The conversation continued over the meal.

Further about. George held a general meeting of the clergy. Numerous questions related to the organization of church life were discussed. Priests and believers expressed their heartfelt gratitude to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church for the creation of the African Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church,” wrote Metropolitan Leonid.