The Russian Orthodox Church reported mass baptisms in Africa and the Philippines

The Russian Orthodox Church continues to actively expand its presence around the world, recording significant growth in the number of believers. According to published data, in July 2026, mass baptism ceremonies took place in various regions of Africa and the Philippines, marking the conversion of dozens of people to Orthodoxy. This was reported by OrthoChristian.

In the village of Ngosi (Burundi), 21 people received the sacrament of baptism, administered by Father Dimitri Ntakhoski of the African Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church. Following the ceremony, the new converts received Holy Communion for the first time during the Divine Liturgy. Large-scale missionary work is also continuing in Mozambique, where dozens of people have been baptized over the past month. Specifically, on July 5, in the village of Nahoma, Father Christos Sitoe performed the sacrament for 12 believers, and two days later, six more were baptized in Maputo. Previously, other similar events were reported, including the baptism of 45 people on June 28.

The mission’s reach is expanding beyond the African continent: On July 10, in the city of Talisa in the Philippines, Hieromonk John from the Church of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God in Manila baptized eight members of the Zamudio family. Representatives of the mission in Daeta expressed their gratitude to the Lord for this joyful event, noting the importance of welcoming new believers into the life of the Holy Church.

As a reminder, we previously reported that in Mozambique , 38 local residents were received into the Orthodox Church at a new parish of the African Exarchate of the Moscow Patriarchate in the village of Tomboe, Nyasa Province. The baptisms were performed by Priest Christos Sitoe during a pastoral visit to Orthodox communities in the north of the country.