Orthodox Missionary Priest Receives Leadership in Nigeria

In Nigeria, a ceremony of initiation of Priest Georgy Maksimov, Chairman of the Missionary Department of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa, to the high leader of the Igbo people was held. The ceremony was conducted by King Igwe Nnamchi Emmanuel.

The priest was presented with the traditional robe of the leader and signs of power, among which is a bone scepter. He was also given an African name: he now bears the title of high chief of the land Igbo Ozurumba I. Father George said this in his social networks.

According to the priest, the dedication became a sign of respect and trust, but this gesture is not addressed to him personally — it is addressed to the entire Russian Orthodox Church. Father George noted that during the ceremony the king spoke “in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Ygwe Nnamchi Emmanuel himself is a Christian and on the day of initiation was among the congregations, together with them mastering Orthodox baptism.

The reason for this honor was a large-scale missionary work. According to the representative of the exarchate, a large group of people has formed among the Igbo people who want to convert to Orthodoxy. Catechization of this community has already begun and will continue. The photos shared by the priest show part of the community, not all of it, as other parishes were visited in previous days.

The story of Father George is not the only example of how Orthodoxy resonates in Africa. The Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa was created to serve parishes that fall under the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church, and missionary activity on the continent is expanding. The dedication of a Russian priest to the leaders of the local land is a clear confirmation that this work is supported by local communities.