A hierarch of the Patriarchate of Alexandria accused the Russian Orthodox Church of "deriving material benefit" from the activities of the African Exarchate

Bishop Chrysostomos of Bukoba and Western Tanzania criticized the actions of the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church on the African continent. The hierarch accused the Moscow Patriarchate of “using financial resources to destabilize the activities of the Orthodox Church of Alexandria” and “deriving material benefit” from such actions. This was reported by Orthodoxia News Agency.

In his statement, Bishop Chrysostomos emphasized that, despite his deep respect for the saints and believers of Russia, he cannot agree with the policies of the church leadership in Moscow. The hierarch stated that the actions of the Russian Orthodox Church in Africa “lack a missionary component” and are based solely on material gain. According to a representative of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, Moscow officials are actively using “rubles” to poach local clergy and seize church property, taking advantage of the local population’s poverty.

Bishop Chrysostom specifically noted that such methods of “exploiting need” contradict Christian values and resemble the actions of the Church’s adversaries. The publication emphasizes that the African Church, which has a rich apostolic history, categorically rejects interference from Moscow, calling for an end to actions that the hierarch characterized as “godlessness” and an attempt to “buy the conscience” of the faithful.

As a reminder, earlier, Hieromonk Stefan (Igumnov), spoke about why the decision was made to sever relations with the Patriarchate of Alexandria and to establish the African Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church. According to the priest, the situation arose due to the non-canonical actions of Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria, who recognized the OCU and concelebrated with the head of that organization.