In South Africa celebrated the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Russian Orthodox parish

    

6-8 October 2018 in Johannesburg celebrated the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Russian Orthodox parish in the South of the African continent. With the blessing of his Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill festive event was headed by the Archbishop of Vienna and Budapest Anthony, head of the Moscow Patriarchate office for institutions abroad, reports the website of the parish.

6 October in Johannesburg, the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church headed by the Archbishop of Vienna and Budapest Antony. International airport name O. R. Tambo, his Eminence was met by the Archbishop of Johannesburg and Pretoria Damaskin and employees of the Russian Embassy.

A day in the administrative capital of Pretoria, held a meeting of His Eminence with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Russian Federation to South Africa, Mikhail Ivanovich by Petrakova. At the meeting also participated the Deputy Chairman Department for external Church relations of the Moscow Patriarchate Archimandrite Philaret (Bulekov), Secretary of the Korsun diocese, priest Maxim Politov, the Abbot of the temple venerable. Sergius of Radonezh in Johannesburg, priest Daniel Lugovoi and employee of the Department of Moscow Patriarchate for foreign institutions of deacon Sergei Kalashnikov. During the meeting, in particular, discussed issues related to cooperation of the Russian Embassy and the Russian Orthodox parish in Johannesburg. In conclusion, Archbishop Anthony gave a prayer in memory of the head of the Russian diplomatic mission icon of St. blgv. kN. Alexander Nevsky.

    

The evening of the same day Archbishop Anthony celebrated the all-night vigil in the temple of the PDP. Sergius Of Radonezh. After the service, the Archpastor inspected the parish center, the library, Sunday school classes, a multimedia exhibition of icons from the State Tretyakov gallery, “Window to eternity”, an exhibition dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the martyrdom of the Holy Royal martyrs, and the exposition about the main stages of construction of the temple.

October 7, the Archbishop of Vienna and Budapest Antony and Archbishop of Johannesburg and Pretoria Damaskin celebrated the divine Liturgy and prayer of the PDP. Sergius of Radonezh with a procession led by clergy from the Russian Church delegation and the clergy of the Johannesburg diocese, including priors Serbian and Bulgarian parishes. Sang at the divine service the bishops choir of Holy Trinity Alexander Svirsky monastery, who visited South Africa in the framework of international activities of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.

    

Bishop Damascene and Archbishop Antony warmly welcomed the worshippers and congratulated on the remarkable date in the life of the parish. The Archbishop of Vienna and Budapest Antony gave all those present the blessing of his Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill, who 15 years ago made a great consecration of the temple venerable. Sergius of Radonezh in Johannesburg. His Eminence extended in prayerful memory of the arrival of the image of the Resurrection, and the Abbot presented a pectoral cross. On behalf of all the parishioners, FR Daniel Lugovoy with words of gratitude and presented the archpastors elaborately decorated ostrich eggs depicting scenes from the life of the PDP. Sergius Of Radonezh. Also parishioners welcomed Archimandrite Philaret (Bulekov), who was the Abbot of the temple venerable. Sergius from 2000 to 2004, and was donated to the parish the icon of the Savior.

After the service the guests made in colorful Russian folk costumes pupils of the school at the Russian Embassy in South Africa and the Sunday school.

    

Then in a marquee in the grounds of the temple, held a common festive meal.

The celebration was attended by about 200 people: heads and representatives of diplomatic missions of Russia, Belarus, Serbia and Bulgaria, business and political circles of South Africa, and numerous parishioners and guests of the parish.

On 8 October at the invitation of Archbishop of Johannesburg and Pretoria Damaskin, Archbishop of Vienna and Budapest Anthony and members of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church visited the Johannesburg Metropolitan. The archpastors prayed at the Holy Trinity Church, and then during the fraternal talks summed up the visit of the delegation of the Moscow Patriarchate in South Africa.

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