Bishop Neophyte of Nyeri, from the Patriarchate of Alexandria, did not allow the “emissary of Moscow” Priest Georgy Maksimov, who came at the invitation of a local priest, to enter the church.
In turn, the clergy of St. vmch. Catherine in the capital of Kenya, Nairobi, refused to serve with Metropolitan Macarius of Nairobi, who had come to the temple, announcing her transfer to the Russian Orthodox Church. The Metropolitan was forced to leave the temple.
At the same time, note that in both cases there were no pogroms, militants and bodily injuries, as, for example, in Ukraine.
It would seem a draw 1:1. But everything is not so simple.
According to open sources, only TWO clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church are operating behind enemy lines: in Kenya, Priest Georgy Maximov, and in Tanzania, Archpriest Andrei Novikov. They are opposed by the entire Patriarchate of Alexandria with many years of mission experience in Africa. Despite this, already 150 African clergy have come under the omophorion of the Moscow Patriarch.
One can, of course, assume that the Russian Orthodox Church owes its successes on the Black Continent to the Russian state. But can anyone really believe that no one is helping the Patriarchate of Alexandria – neither the Greek state, nor the rich Greek diaspora scattered all over the world?
Another example. In Ukraine, after the emergence of the OCU, the authorities created serious problems for the canonical Church. The militants of the “Right Sector” seized churches and beat the parishioners. It would seem that in these circumstances it would be more profitable to go over to the “correct” Church. However, not only the episcopate and ordinary clergy, but also ordinary believers in their mass remained loyal to the UOC and its primate, Metropolitan Onufry. But the Patriarchate of Alexandria, just look, can “fade away” at the sight of two priests of the Russian Orthodox Church.
There is something to think about.
