Russian Orthodox Church sets up Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa

MOSCOW. Dec 29 (Interfax) - The Moscow Patriarchate is establishing a Patriarchal Exarchate in Africa following the decision by Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria to recognize the new Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) founded by Constantinople.

The decision to set up an African exarchate was made at a Synod meeting in Moscow on Wednesday. The exarchate is expected to include 102 clerics of the Orthodox Church of Alexandria from eight African countries who have expressed a desire to transfer to the Russian Orthodox Church and have been admitted to it. The reason for the move was their disagreement with the establishment of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

The head of the "Russian" Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa will have the title "Klinsky", Russian Orthodox Church spokesperson Vladimir Legoida said in his Telegram channel.

Archbishop Leonid of Yerevan and Armenia was appointed Metropolitan Klinsky and patriarchal exarch of Africa on Wednesday. He was entrusted to administer the North African Diocese and temporarily administer the Diocese of South Africa.

At the same time, Archbishop Leonid was relieved of his post of deputy chairman of the External Church Relations Department of the Russian Orthodox Church, but retained for himself interim administration of the Yerevan-Armenian Diocese.