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The Russians are depriving the Greek Orthodox Church of priests. It’s about influence, money and the Ukraine conflict.
“The apostates only did it for the money,” says Bishop Panaretos. The Kenyan churchman is outraged: “Judas already betrayed Jesus for a few chunks.”
The apostates are those priests of the Greek Orthodox Church who have switched to the Russian Orthodox Church. Around a fifth of all clergy in Bishop Panaretos’ church defected.
Over 200 new Russian parishes
The Russian Orthodox Church has poached around a hundred priests in Kenya. Entire church communities converted in this way – a hard blow for the Greeks.
Legend:
Bishop Paneretos of Nyeri is convinced: The Russians took advantage of the plight of the Africans.
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Kenya is not the only African country where Russia’s church is expanding. “In the last year and a half, we have opened more than 200 parishes in 25 African countries,” said Russian Patriarch Kirill I at the Russia-Africa summit this summer. The Russian Church speaks of tens to hundreds of thousands of new believers in Africa.
Weather against the West
Religion is used as an instrument of power. The Russian patriarch is a close confidant of Vladimir Putin. In his speech to African leaders, Kyrill also emphasized that Africa and Russia share the same conservative values - for example in condemning homosexuality.
And the church leader rails against the West: “We Russians have never viewed Africa as an object for profit and colonization.” Russia does not feel superior to Africa’s states.
Roots in the Ukraine conflict
But of course Russia is concerned with power, influence and geopolitics. The church dispute is rooted in the Ukraine conflict. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church has separated from the Russian one. The Greek Orthodox Church recognizes the independence of Ukrainians.
Legend:
Great joy after the installation of the new bishop (left). The Greek Orthodox Church of Kenya celebrates.
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Now the Russians are building their own church in Africa. At the end of 2021, Moscow decided to establish two dioceses in Africa.
Defectors receive money
The poaching of pastors and parishes is primarily driven by financial means. In Kenya, for example, a defector says that the Russians promised him around 800 francs a month – five times more than the Greeks paid. But the promised money ultimately didn’t flow. Another pastor says he is now receiving higher compensation.
The statements from clergy are similar, but are difficult to verify. SRF’s inquiries to the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church in Kenya and Russia remained unanswered.
Influence with church and mercenaries
At the ordination of a bishop in Kenya, the Greek Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria said he was very bitter about Russian expansion: “The Russian Church is doing everything to expand its dominance in the world. And with a few hundred dollars you can buy anyone.”
Legend:
Greek Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria (right) is concerned about the expansion of the Russian Church.
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The accusation: Nowhere is it as cheap as in Africa to buy a priest. That is why Russia is deliberately aiming for Africa. Bishop Panaretos adds: “The Russians are using the plight of poor Africans to their own advantage.”
It is a parallel to the presence of Russian Wagner mercenaries in African countries. Here, too, Russia manages to influence entire states and get them on its side in international organizations with relatively little effort. World politics can be felt even in the villages and churches of Africa.
Samuel Burri
Africa correspondent