Cornerstone Laid for First Romanian Orthodox Church in Africa

In what seems to be an increasingly rare act of inter-Orthodox cooperation on its part, a bishop of the Bucharest Patriarchate has laid the cornerstone for a church to serve Romanian immigrants in metropolitan Johannesburg, South Africa, with the blessing of Pope Theodore II (Horeftakis) of Alexandria and All Africa. The cornerstone was laid this past Saturday in Midrand, a suburn of Joburg, by Metropolitan Damascene (Papandreou) of Johannesburg, the local ruling hierarch, and Bishop Petronius (Florea) of Zalau, a suffragan bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolitanate of Cluj in Transylvania. A full account of the day with pictures of the service can be found here.

It is unclear whether the church will function as a representation of the Bucharest Patriarchate to the Church of Alexandria or as a Romanian-speaking parish of the Metropolis of Johannesburg.

Romanian Orthodox Bishop Meets with Department for Romanians Abroad

Bishop Cyprian of Campineanca, an auxiliary of the Bucharest Patriarchate, has met with representatives of the Romanian government's Department for Romanians Abroad to discuss ways in which the department and the Romanian Orthodox Church can cooperate in caring for the Romanian Diaspora. Bishop Cyprian discussed the recent expansion of the Bucharest Patriarchate in the Diaspora and into the canonical territories of its sister Orthodox Churches during the course of the meeting, also noting that the Patriarchate is now preparing to open a church on the canonical territory of the Alexandrian Orthodox Church in South Africa. More in Romanian here.

Georgia Encouraging Afrikaner Immigration

As part of its efforts to rebuild the Georgian economy the government of President Mikheil Saakashvili is encouraging disgruntled Afrikaner farmers from South Africa to immigrate to Georgia and start new lives there. There are already some Afrikaners who have moved to the country and even received citizenship. More here.

Metropolitan Mar Timothy Visiting Southern and Eastern Africa

Metropolitan Mathews Mar Thimothios of London has begun a pastoral visit to the southernmost reaches of his diocese, which encompasses the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in Europe and Africa, in South Africa. In addition to South Africa Metropolitan Mar Thimothios will also visit the Malankara Orthodox faithful in Botswana and Tanzania before concluding his travels by celebrating Holy Week and Pascha in the United Arab Emirates. More here.

Services for Peace in Jo'burg Church

Part of the representation of the Russian Orthodox Church to the Church of Alexandria, St. Sergius of Radonezh's Church in Johannesburg, has held a supplication for an end to the troubles besetting Egypt. More here.

Pictured is St. Sergius' Church.

Johannesburg Metropolitan Serves in Russian Orthodox Church

This past Saturday the newly enthroned Metropolitan Damascene of Johannesburg celebrated the festal Divine Liturgy for St. Seraphim's day in St. Sergius' Church in Johannesburg, which is a representation of the Moscow Patriarchate in South Africa. More here.