Russian Orthodox Church receives official legal status in Cameroon

The Russian Orthodox Church has received official legal status in the Republic of Cameroon. The corresponding decree was signed by President Paul Biya on January 23, which is a significant step for the activities of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa and establishes its right to carry out liturgical, missionary and social work in the legal field of the African state.

According to the website of the African Exarchate, this decision of the President of Cameroon, Paul Biya, is of key importance. The Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa was established by the decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in December 2021. It includes the North African and South African dioceses, and its pastoral responsibility extends to more than ten states on the continent, including Cameroon, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and a number of other countries.

In Cameroon, the Exarchate is actively developing a parish network and conducting missionary activities. In recent years, new parishes have been opened in the country, and mass baptisms of local residents have been performed, particularly in regions where there were no Orthodox communities before. These efforts contribute to the spread of Orthodoxy and the formation of new communities.

In addition to church life, the Patriarchal Exarchate is involved in social initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life of the local population. In the northern regions of Cameroon, with the support of the Russian Orthodox Church, drinking water wells were drilled, which made it possible to provide clean water to more than 1,500 people. The parishes also provide regular assistance to children from needy families and schoolchildren, emphasizing the humanitarian mission of the Church.

According to the Moscow Patriarchate, obtaining official status creates favorable conditions for the further development of the Orthodox presence in Cameroon and a significant expansion of the Church’s social and charitable activities in the country, which will allow for more effective implementation of pastoral and humanitarian tasks.

Earlier, Hieromonk Stefan (Igumnov), Secretary of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate for Inter-Christian Relations, spoke about why it was decided 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 developed in this way because of the non-canonical actions of Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria, who recognized the OCU and concelebrated with the head of this organization.