Russian language and orthodoxy in Russia and Africa: spiritual and cultural foundations of cooperation between Russia and African countries

The African direction is becoming increasingly important in the modern Russian foreign policy, which necessitates the search for new socio-cultural bases of cooperation between Russia and African countries. Orthodoxy and the Russian language as the most important factors in the spiritual life of both Russian and African peoples can become such a basis for building a solid foundation of intercultural interaction. The article examines the history of the Orthodox presence on the African continent and its current state, assesses the place of the Orthodox mission in the dissemination and popularization of Russian culture, as well as the role of the Russian language in the formation of the Russian Orthodox Church in Africa. The author concludes that, despite the importance of the Russian Orthodox Church as a conduit of Russian cultural and spiritual values, the potential of Orthodox missions on the African continent has not been fully realized; this area can and should become one of the priorities of Russian foreign policy in the African direction.