The Russian Orthodox Church has received official state registration in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), formally establishing its legal presence in the Central African country.

The registration certificate was presented to representatives of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa by Congolese Justice Minister Guy Ngefa Atondoko in the capital, Kinshasa, on October 16, according to the exarchate’s official website.

The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Russian Embassy and clergy serving Orthodox communities in the country. The registration provides a legal basis for the Russian Orthodox Church’s activities in the DRC.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo, whose capital is Kinshasa, is the second-largest country in Africa by area, covering more than 2.3 million square kilometers. Its population exceeds 110 million. The country takes its name from the Congo River, which runs along its territory. In 2026, the Russian Orthodox Church also received registration in the neighboring Republic of the Congo, whose capital is Brazzaville. The two countries share a border along the Congo River.

According to the African Exarchate’s Telegram channel, the Archangel Raphael parish operates in Kinshasa. In 2026, the community completed the main phase of preparations for its temporary church, including repairing the walls, laying the floor and installing the altar and iconostasis.

Alongside its pastoral activities, the exarchate has been developing humanitarian initiatives to support vulnerable communities.

In July, priests visited the Oran la Force orphanage, which cares for 30 children. With support from donors in Russia, the institution received food, household appliances, mattresses, bed linen and hygiene products. A new building at the orphanage had also been blessed in May.

The exarchate has additionally provided assistance to Orthodox families facing food shortages amid armed conflicts and difficult socioeconomic conditions. As part of a humanitarian initiative, food supplies and hygiene products were distributed to parishioners in several towns and villages. According to the exarchate, the program aimed to assist approximately 400 people across nine settlements.

The Russian Orthodox Church’s missionary work extends beyond the country’s major urban centers.

In May, Priest Ambrose Bukasa traveled to Haut-Katanga Province in the south of the country. The journey took more than two days each way. During his visit, he conducted services, spoke with local residents and baptized ten people who had converted to Orthodoxy from other Christian communities.

The official registration in the Democratic Republic of the Congo marks another step in the Russian Orthodox Church’s expansion of its institutional, pastoral and humanitarian activities in Central Africa. Its work in the country encompasses parish development, missionary outreach and practical assistance to children and families affected by poverty and conflict.