Moscow Patriarchate Seeking Immediate Political Gains Rather than Mass Evangelization in Africa, ‘Nezavisimaya Gazeta’ Says

Paul Goble

            Staunton, Feb. 20 – Most of the world’s Christian denominations are now focusing on Africa, seeing that continent’s growing population as key to their futures. But the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Federation is the odd man out in that it is seeking political alliances rather than promoting evangelization of Africa’s peoples, Nezavisimaya gazeta says.

            Those who fail to see that distinction are also failing to recognize how superficial the gains the Moscow church claims in fact are, the editors of the Moscow paper say in a lead article – and how quickly these gains the ROC MP is trumpeting and getting support from the Kremlin may be swept aside (ru/editorial/2023-02-19/2_8664_red.html).

            The Roman Catholic Church and many Protestant denominations meanwhile are putting down deep roots, attracting many Africans to their flocks and setting the stage for the expansion of Christianity in sub-Saharan Africa. Their actions will only help the West to expand its influence there. What the Russian church is doing won’t help Russia do the same.