The spiritual presence of the Russian Orthodox Church in Africa: recent situation, current risks and potential threats

Abstract

The phenomenon of the growing complex jurisdictional and dogmatic contradictions between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Patriarchate of Alexandria, which at the same time is making increasingly persistent efforts to solve the problem of torpedoing the missionary activity of the ROC in Africa is the object of research. In this context, Alexandria relies on attracting influential external players from among representatives of not only other faiths, but also secular authorities of different countries, especially the United States. Author strives to conduct a retrospective review of the situation around the spiritual presence of the Moscow Patriarchate in Africa, as well as an analysis of the current legislative and institutional framework underlying such an element of US foreign policy as the promotion of "freedom of religion in the world." The study is based on the documents available on the Internet from the archives of the Alexandria Orthodox Church and US government agencies (Congress, State Department) aimed at consolidating the sphere of "freedom of religion in the world" as one of the current international priorities of Washington's policy. A comprehensive study of the prehistory of the conflicts between the APC and the ROC was carried out, as well as an analysis of the multidirectional arsenal of tools available to Washington for potentially exerting pressure on the Moscow Patriarchate in the context of the current spiritual presence of the ROC on the African continent. A holistic picture has been formed of the options for interaction between the Patriarchate of Alexandria and the US administration in the framework of joint attempts to restrain Moscow's activities in Africa. The research materials can be used in educational activities in order to counter the anti-Russian propaganda of the United States and other Western countries, which is increasingly affecting the church-religious "dossier".