Metropolitan Constantine of Cairo and North Africa, the Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, has wrapped up a 12-day pastoral visit to Kenya.
During his visit, he baptised 40 people, consecrated new churches, met clergy and faithful across ten deaneries and offered support to children’s institutions under the Orthodox Church.
The bishop, who was accompanied by the chairman of the Missionary Department of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa, Priest George Maximov, and his personal secretary, Reader V.V. Dendyuk, arrived in Nairobi on September 8.
His program ran from September 7 to 19, covering both central and western regions of the country.
Building churches and growing faith
In Nyeri, Metropolitan Constantine consecrated a church in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and blessed foundation stones for future churches dedicated to Archangel Michael, Great Martyr Anastasia the Deliverer, St. Basil the Great, and Venerable Zosima of Solovki.
He also presented the clergy with liturgical vessels and granted parish priests new honours in recognition of their service.
On September 11, during the Feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist, the bishop celebrated the Divine Liturgy in Meru before moving on to consecrate the foundation stone of a new church in Kaongo.
He later toured parishes in Nyeri, where he prayed with the faithful and visited a hospital to pray for the sick daughter of a local priest.
At St. John the Baptist parish in Nginyang, Baringo County, an arid region where Orthodoxy was introduced only recently, the bishop celebrated liturgy with the growing community.
While dozens have already been baptised there, about 300 catechumens are undergoing preparation to join the faith.
Metropolitan Constantine of Cairo and North Africa, the
Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, with Orthodox Church members during his visit
to Kenya from September 8 to 19, 2025/HANDOUTSocial outreach and education
The Patriarchal Exarch also inspected schools, hospitals and orphanages operated by parishes.
In Migori, he visited churches that run shelters for orphaned children and donated towards the construction of a kitchen at one of the orphanages.
In Homa Bay, he inspected a parish kindergarten and a school still under construction.
In Vihiga County, he visited St. Nektarios parish in Buyangu, which hosts a children’s aid centre and consecrated a new tent for worship services in Siakuti.
At Njabini, the bishop toured the Orthodox educational centre named after the Apostle Barnabas.
Baptism in Nairobi
On September 18, the Exarch returned to Nairobi, where he baptised 40 people at the parish of the Great Martyr Panteleimon.
He also met clergy from Homa Bay deanery and interviewed candidates for the priesthood, a task he repeated throughout his pastoral tour.
Meeting with the Russian envoy
The trip ended with a courtesy call on Russia’s Ambassador to Kenya, V.I. Tkachenko.
The meeting, attended by clergy and embassy staff, focused on the church’s ongoing missionary work in the country.
Throughout his stay, Metropolitan Constantine emphasised the importance of strengthening the Orthodox presence in Kenya, encouraging priests and believers alike and expanding church infrastructure to support the growing number of faithful.
