The Patriarchal Exarch for Africa, Metropolitan Constantine of Cairo and North Africa, is currently visiting Kenya, according to the website of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa. During the current trip, the hierarch visited the Meru deanery this week, where he consecrated the cornerstone stones for two planned churches, toured a clinic under construction, and baptized local residents.

On August 12, Metropolitan Constantine visited the parish of the Martyr Sophia in the village of Gitima. Before the service, eight local residents were baptized, while five others became Orthodox through the sacrament of chrismation. Afterward, the bishop consecrated the site for the future Church of Saint Sophia.

The following day, he conducted the Divine Liturgy at the parish of Saint Gregory the Theologian in the village of Ngarendare and blessed the cornerstone of a new church dedicated to the saint. The exarch also visited two additional parishes—Gitongo and Kiambogo—and met with local clergy and parishioners.

Alongside the church-building efforts, the exarchate is expanding the region’s social infrastructure. Metropolitan Constantine inspected the construction of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa’s clinic. The project is being carried out with support from the Foundation for Support of Christian Culture and Heritage and, as stated by the exarchate, is expected to be the first initiative of the Russian Orthodox Church in the healthcare sector on the African continent.

The trip also focused on practical needs facing priests. With support from Russian donors, Kenyan clergy received motorcycles to help them travel between distant parishes and carry out missionary work. In addition, church representatives handed over cows for pastoral and family needs.

During the visit, the exarch met with clergy and catechists to discuss the development of parish life and Orthodox mission in the country.

The journey comes amid a broader expansion of the Russian Orthodox presence in Africa. The Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa was established in 2021 and today brings together parishes across the continent. One of its priorities includes forming new communities and preparing local clergy.

Kenya is also currently visited by a film crew from the Ekaterinodar Diocese. The team is producing a documentary about Orthodoxy in Africa with support from a grant from the Regional Film Support Foundation of the Union of Cinematographers of Russia.