The rector of the Church of the Resurrection in Rabat, Archpriest Maksim Massalitin, spoke at a conference hosted by the Russian House in the Moroccan capital, focusing on the legacy of the Russian diaspora in the Maghreb. The event was part of a scholarly and cultural project titled "Russians in the Maghreb: Memory and Heritage", initiated by the Solzhenitsyn House of Russia Abroad with support from the Russian Diaspora Heritage Foundation. The project spans Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria, according to the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa.

In his address, Fr. Maksim shared the history of the “Russian Orthodox Church in Morocco” association—one of the earliest organizations of Russian compatriots in the country, which will mark its 100th anniversary in 2027. He also spoke about the Church of the Resurrection in Rabat, the oldest Russian Orthodox church on the African continent, built with the efforts and donations of the local Orthodox community.

Fr. Maksim emphasized the parish’s commitment to preserving the memory of Russian émigrés in Morocco, including ongoing work to identify and commemorate Orthodox compatriots buried in cemeteries across the country.

On October 2, the project team—together with the director of the Russian House in Rabat, Vladimir Sokolov, and Fr. Maksim—visited the Resurrection Church as well as Christian cemeteries in Rabat and Casablanca. The delegation also toured the Church of the Dormition in Casablanca.

The Church of the Resurrection in Rabat stands as a significant monument of Russian émigré history. Its construction began in 1931, driven by the initiative of Russian Orthodox immigrants, and the church was consecrated in November 1932. The land for the church was gifted by Moulay Ahmed Jebli, a Moroccan Muslim married to a Russian noblewoman, who donated the plot after reportedly experiencing a miraculous healing through the prayers of Fr. Varsonofy Tolstukhin.

Architecturally, the church blends Byzantine and Moorish styles, featuring a unique "petal-shaped" dome and gilded eight-pointed Orthodox crosses. Throughout the 20th century, the parish endured the trials of émigré life, internal divisions, and periods of decline but maintained worship services and a sense of community.

In 1972, the church was officially placed under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate. In 2021, it became part of the North African Diocese of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa. In the 21st century, the church underwent full restoration, including the painting of new frescoes and the renewal of its iconostasis, ushering in a new chapter of spiritual and cultural life.