On December 23, 2024, the Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, Metropolitan Konstantin of Zaraisk, visited the parish of St. John of Shanghai in Chiboga, Uganda, where he celebrated the Divine Liturgy.
His Eminence was co-served by the chairman of the missionary Department of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa, Priest Georgy Maximov, the dean of the Central Church District, Priest Pavel Balleku, the dean of the Eastern Church District, rector of the parish, Hieromonk Silouan (Brown), and the clergy of the Central Deanery.
Before the divine service, Vladyka baptized four people.
At the end of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Konstantin addressed the audience with an archpastoral address and presented the parish with an icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. Icons and crosses were presented to all believers.
After the service, the bishop consecrated the foundation stone of the future church in honor of St. John.
Then the hierarch headed the general meeting of the clergy of the Central Deanery. After discussing current issues, the archpastor handed over memorable gifts to the clergy.
On the same day, Bishop Konstantin received another cleric from the Patriarchate of Alexandria into the Russian Orthodox Church. I also talked to the candidates for admission to the seminary.
In the evening, Metropolitan Konstantin met with V.S. Semivolos, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Uganda and the Republic of South Sudan concurrently. The meeting was attended by Priest Georgy Maksimov and the personal secretary of the Metropolitan, reader V.V. Dendyuk.
During the conversation, the parties noted and highly appreciated the good relations between the peoples of Russia and Uganda, as well as the intensive development of the mission of the Russian Orthodox Church in this African country, where the movement towards Orthodoxy originated more than 120 years ago.