04:42Metropolitan Konstantin of Zaraisk, Patriarchal Exarch of the Russian Orthodox Church in Africa was filmed conducting a baptismal ceremony for the villagers of Nambazo in Malawi on Friday.
Footage shows hundreds of locals singing prayers before taking a dip in a consecrated lake, as well as a priest performing a baptism.
"The Patriarchal Exarch performed the rite of consecration of the lake, which will be able to be used by 2,000 residents of 12 nearby villages," the press office of the exarchate wrote.
According to Metropolitan Konstantin, despite cultural differences, the rite of baptism is similar because the faith is the same.
"We baptise our brothers because they are people like us. The fact that they have a different culture does not in any way invalidate us having the same rite of baptism. And these people, it's very nice to see that they are schooled in the Orthodox faith. You can see that they are not strangers in the liturgy, so any local differences, they are settled by a quick brotherly decision," Konstantin said.
The Metropolitan added that Africa is a historically Orthodox continent, with the faith present 'since the apostolic times'.
"There has been Orthodoxy on the whole continent for a long, long time, and so it is historically a faith inherent to the continent. And now, you know, I'm not in favour of big words, I'm in favour of just working, praying, doing God's work. And also hope that through our labours more people will learn about Orthodoxy. Not just learn about it, but they will start to live according to Orthodoxy - that's the most important thing," he said.
For additional content on Malawian baptisms into the Russian Orthodox Church, please also see:
https://viory.video/en/videos/a3014_12042024/dozens-baptised-by-russian-orthodox-clergy-in-malawi
Metropolitan Konstantin also mentioned the religious split in Ukraine, noting that many African priests reacted by saying they wanted 'to be in the true church'.
"The tragedy of what happened in Ukraine remains a tragedy. And the fact that the Greek Church supported this split is, of course, a tragedy. And we hope that someday this drama will come to an end. And at the same time, this terrible event that took place, and the fact that many African priests were outraged and wanted to still be in the true Church, gives the Russian Church great opportunities - opportunities to serve, opportunities to help our brothers," he said.
The press office of the African Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church also reported that the church official planned to hold divine services in Orthodox parishes in Malawi and talk to the parishioners, as well as meet with officials to discuss relevant issues.
The UOC (Ukrainian Orthodox Church) is a self-governing church within the Moscow Patriarchate. After the start of Russia's military offensive in Ukraine, the UOC declared its complete independence, including from the Russian Orthodox Church.
In 2018, the Kiev-backed Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) was created, with Ukraine attempting to transfer parishes affiliated with the UOC into its jurisdiction. The Russian Orthodox Church and the UOC do not recognise the canonical status of that new group.
Hundreds of Malawian Christians come together for mass baptism in lake
Metropolitan Konstantin of Zaraisk, Patriarchal Exarch of the Russian Orthodox Church in Africa was filmed conducting a baptismal ceremony for the villagers of Nambazo in Malawi on Friday.
Footage shows hundreds of locals singing prayers before taking a dip in a consecrated lake, as well as a priest performing a baptism.
"The Patriarchal Exarch performed the rite of consecration of the lake, which will be able to be used by 2,000 residents of 12 nearby villages," the press office of the exarchate wrote.
According to Metropolitan Konstantin, despite cultural differences, the rite of baptism is similar because the faith is the same.
"We baptise our brothers because they are people like us. The fact that they have a different culture does not in any way invalidate us having the same rite of baptism. And these people, it's very nice to see that they are schooled in the Orthodox faith. You can see that they are not strangers in the liturgy, so any local differences, they are settled by a quick brotherly decision," Konstantin said.
The Metropolitan added that Africa is a historically Orthodox continent, with the faith present 'since the apostolic times'.
"There has been Orthodoxy on the whole continent for a long, long time, and so it is historically a faith inherent to the continent. And now, you know, I'm not in favour of big words, I'm in favour of just working, praying, doing God's work. And also hope that through our labours more people will learn about Orthodoxy. Not just learn about it, but they will start to live according to Orthodoxy - that's the most important thing," he said.
For additional content on Malawian baptisms into the Russian Orthodox Church, please also see:
https://viory.video/en/videos/a3014_12042024/dozens-baptised-by-russian-orthodox-clergy-in-malawi
Metropolitan Konstantin also mentioned the religious split in Ukraine, noting that many African priests reacted by saying they wanted 'to be in the true church'.
"The tragedy of what happened in Ukraine remains a tragedy. And the fact that the Greek Church supported this split is, of course, a tragedy. And we hope that someday this drama will come to an end. And at the same time, this terrible event that took place, and the fact that many African priests were outraged and wanted to still be in the true Church, gives the Russian Church great opportunities - opportunities to serve, opportunities to help our brothers," he said.
The press office of the African Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church also reported that the church official planned to hold divine services in Orthodox parishes in Malawi and talk to the parishioners, as well as meet with officials to discuss relevant issues.
The UOC (Ukrainian Orthodox Church) is a self-governing church within the Moscow Patriarchate. After the start of Russia's military offensive in Ukraine, the UOC declared its complete independence, including from the Russian Orthodox Church.
In 2018, the Kiev-backed Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) was created, with Ukraine attempting to transfer parishes affiliated with the UOC into its jurisdiction. The Russian Orthodox Church and the UOC do not recognise the canonical status of that new group.
Metropolitan Konstantin of Zaraisk, Patriarchal Exarch of the Russian Orthodox Church in Africa was filmed conducting a baptismal ceremony for the villagers of Nambazo in Malawi on Friday.
Footage shows hundreds of locals singing prayers before taking a dip in a consecrated lake, as well as a priest performing a baptism.
"The Patriarchal Exarch performed the rite of consecration of the lake, which will be able to be used by 2,000 residents of 12 nearby villages," the press office of the exarchate wrote.
According to Metropolitan Konstantin, despite cultural differences, the rite of baptism is similar because the faith is the same.
"We baptise our brothers because they are people like us. The fact that they have a different culture does not in any way invalidate us having the same rite of baptism. And these people, it's very nice to see that they are schooled in the Orthodox faith. You can see that they are not strangers in the liturgy, so any local differences, they are settled by a quick brotherly decision," Konstantin said.
The Metropolitan added that Africa is a historically Orthodox continent, with the faith present 'since the apostolic times'.
"There has been Orthodoxy on the whole continent for a long, long time, and so it is historically a faith inherent to the continent. And now, you know, I'm not in favour of big words, I'm in favour of just working, praying, doing God's work. And also hope that through our labours more people will learn about Orthodoxy. Not just learn about it, but they will start to live according to Orthodoxy - that's the most important thing," he said.
For additional content on Malawian baptisms into the Russian Orthodox Church, please also see:
https://viory.video/en/videos/a3014_12042024/dozens-baptised-by-russian-orthodox-clergy-in-malawi
Metropolitan Konstantin also mentioned the religious split in Ukraine, noting that many African priests reacted by saying they wanted 'to be in the true church'.
"The tragedy of what happened in Ukraine remains a tragedy. And the fact that the Greek Church supported this split is, of course, a tragedy. And we hope that someday this drama will come to an end. And at the same time, this terrible event that took place, and the fact that many African priests were outraged and wanted to still be in the true Church, gives the Russian Church great opportunities - opportunities to serve, opportunities to help our brothers," he said.
The press office of the African Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church also reported that the church official planned to hold divine services in Orthodox parishes in Malawi and talk to the parishioners, as well as meet with officials to discuss relevant issues.
The UOC (Ukrainian Orthodox Church) is a self-governing church within the Moscow Patriarchate. After the start of Russia's military offensive in Ukraine, the UOC declared its complete independence, including from the Russian Orthodox Church.
In 2018, the Kiev-backed Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) was created, with Ukraine attempting to transfer parishes affiliated with the UOC into its jurisdiction. The Russian Orthodox Church and the UOC do not recognise the canonical status of that new group.