On June 6, 2024, representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church, including the Chairman of the Missionary Department of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa, Priest Georgy Maximov, and the Chairman of the Department for Work with Foreign Students of the Exarchate, Konstantin Gorditsa, visited Douala, Cameroon.

During this visit, Father Georgy conducted the rite of reception into the Orthodox Church for 15 individuals, including three former "priests" and one nun from a non-canonical Orthodox church in Cameroon. These believers joined the Russian Orthodox Church along with their former "bishop," now Priest Herman Mbarga of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Initially, Priest Herman was received into Orthodoxy as a layman and, after preparation and training, was ordained by the Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, Metropolitan Konstantin of Zaraisk, in Moscow. Along with him, six parishes from his former diocese, located in various parts of Cameroon, also joined the Russian Orthodox Church.

After the reception rite, Priests Georgy and Herman conducted the first Divine Liturgy at the new parish, attended by more than 100 people. The community members expressed their joy at joining the Russian Orthodox Church and thanked for the ordination of their rector, Father Herman. "The believers were very well prepared for the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, and the singers and readers performed excellently," noted Priest Georgy Maximov.

After the service, Father Georgy and Konstantin Gorditsa held an interview with a seminary candidate and the leaders of the newly joined parishes. A meeting was also held with two "clerics" from another non-canonical group that expressed a desire to join Orthodoxy.

Photo: Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa / exarchate-africa.ru