In December 2023, a delegation of Old Believer parishes of Uganda visited Moscow at the invitation of Metropolitan Korniliy. Five Ugandan Christians, led by the rector of the Church of Saints Joachim and Anne in Mpererwe Joachim Walusimbi arrived at the III International Old Believer Forum. For Ugandan Old Believers, it was a great opportunity to practice their liturgical skills, get to know traditional Russian culture, and have conversations with the Primate of the Church and with Russian parishioners. An extensive one-and-a-half month program was prepared for them in Russia, and their every day was filled with various events.
Moscow greeted the Africans with minus twenty degree Celsius frosts. At Domodedovo airport, the delegation was met by the rector of the Intercession-Dormition Church in Moscow, the dean of the Uganda parishes Priest Nikola Bobkov and his assistants. They brought warm clothes for the guests, which they had lacked due to understandable reasons. In the Moscow Church of St. Nichola at the Tver Gate, the guests were offered to add even more clothes taking into account the frosty winter weather. Then the delegation set off to the International Old Believer Forum at the Pashkov House (Russian State Library).
The appearance of unusual Old Believers from Africa aroused great interest among the participants of the forum, and their speeches at the forum drew very special attention. Priest Nikola Bobkov acquainted the audience with the history of Orthodoxy in Uganda and the history of Ugandans becoming Old Believers. Mother Margarita, the widow of the first Ugandan Old Believer priest, Archpriest Joachim Kiimba, told the forum participants about the community’s search for the true faith, about the first trip of Fr. Joachim to Moscow, and about the first years of the formation of parishes in Uganda after joining the Old Believer Church in 2013. The rector of the church in Mpererwe, Fr. Joachim Walusimbi, spoke about the current situation in the parishes. There are currently four Old Believer communities in Uganda. The only church building is situated in the suburbs of Kampala, in the village of Mpererwe. The other three communities are still hoping to find their own prayer space. A pre- and primary education school is now being organized at the existing church. The confirmation of the registration of this educational institution came soon after the return of the delegation from Moscow.
After the forum, Ugandan Christians set off to the spiritual center of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church at Rogozhskoye, which became their place of residence for a month and a half. With great interest the guests visited churches, participated in Divine services, and socialized with believers. In addition to the churches of Rogozhskoye, the guests also took part in the Divine services in three other churches of Moscow. The community of the Church of St. Nichola at the Tver Gate led by its rector, Priest Alexei and Mother Irina Lopatins, has already been actively participating in supporting brothers and sisters from this distant country for 11 years. The singers of the community have even learned some chants in Luganda language and sang them during the service to give guests a warm welcome and homely feeling. The Ugandan delegation also attended services at the Intercession-Dormition Church on Maly Gavrikov Lane and at the Church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God on Ostozhenka Street.
At the request of the Ugandan communities, Metropolitan Korniliy ordained three Ugandan Old Believers at the Intercession Cathedral at Rogozhskoye. Korniliy Muhwezifrom Kisojo (Mubende district) was ordained a deacon on December 15, 2023, on the day of commemoration of Hieromartyr Avvakum. On January 8, 2024, in the same cathedral, he was ordained a priest for the church in the name of St. Spyridon, which is being constructed now in his hometown. Nikola Mirima was ordained a deacon on December 24, 2023, the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers. On December 31, 2023, the Sunday of the Holy Fathers, he was ordained to the priesthood to serve as the second priest in Mpererwe and to be an assistant to Fr. Joachim. On December 19, on the feast of St. Nichola the Wonderworker, Alexander Mukisa was ordained a candle-bearer. For his accomplishments in serving the congregations in Uganda, Priest Joachim Walusimbi was elevated to the rank of archpriest at the Liturgy on the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers, December 24, 2023.
Besides liturgical traditions, the guests also studied Russian language and went on an excursion to the SPKB “Tekhno” cable plant, where they discussed the possibility of labour migration of Ugandan Old Believers to Russia.
The parishes of Uganda still consist a part of the Moscow diocese. At a meeting of the diocese on December 25, the guests spoke about the situation in their parishes. The meeting decided that the next Metropolis Council should discuss the possibility of bringing forward to the Consecrated Council of the Church the issue of creating a separate diocese in Uganda. Deacon Korniliy Mukhwezi told about the difficult situation of his community and asked for help and allocating funds to purchase land for the construction of the Church of St. Spyridon. Father Joachim told about the school that the community in Mpererwe is creating at their church.
On the second day of Christmas the Rogozhskoye community invited guests from Africa to a children’s party. Inspired by the caring attitude of the Rogozhskoye parishioners towards the younger generation, the guests promised to make every effort to also involve children of their homeland to participate in the service and teach them to pray from the first years of life. After the celebration, Metropolitan Korniliy received the delegation at his office, since the next day Priest Nikola Mirima and Mother Margarita Kiimba were flying to their homeland. During the meal the guests shared their impressions. Everyone was especially impressed by skiing.
After the feast of the Epiphany, a farewell tea party was organized for the remaining part of the delegation. It was decided to devote the final day in Russia to excursions to the Kremlin, Red Square, and the Cathedral of the Intercession on the Moat. After receiving the blessing of Metropolitan Korniliy and his promise to make every effort to visit the parishes of Uganda on a pastoral visit in the summer of 2024, Fr. Joachim, Fr. Korniliy and candle-bearer Alexander flew to Uganda on the evening of January 23.
The hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church and the Ugandan guests express their heartfelt gratitude to everyone who helped make this trip: the Presidential Grants Foundation and the “Pravda Russkaya” Foundation, that provided finances to make it happen, as well as to everyone who warmly welcomed and accompanied the guests on their trips around the capital of Russia. O Lord, You Yourself know them all by name, may they receive mercy from the Lord Himself, both in the present and in the future age.
Priest Nikola Bobkov
