The Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, Metropolitan Konstantin of Zaraisk, arrived in Ivory Coast on October 19, 2024.
The next day, in the Week of the 17th after Pentecost, the hierarch celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the parish of the Resurrection of Christ in the city of Bingerville. He was co-served by the chairman of the Missionary Department of the Exarchate, Priest Georgy Maximov, the dean of the parishes of the Exarchate in Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Benin and Togo, Priest Parthenius Dansou, the rector of the parish, Priest Daniel Bru and Priest Alexander Ebre.
The divine service was attended by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Ivory Coast A.E. Saltykov, the website of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa reports.
At the end of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Constantine pronounced the archpastoral word and presented the parish with an icon of the Savior. In memory of the service, the faithful were presented with icons and crosses.
On the same day, Vladyka visited the city of Bonua, where he performed the rite of consecration of the foundation stone of the future church in the name of the Apostle Thomas. Ambassador of Russia A.E. Saltykov participated in the ceremony of laying the temple. Local residents were also present.
In the evening, Metropolitan Konstantin performed a holy water prayer and a requiem mass at the Russian Embassy in Abidjan, after which he talked with compatriots.