African Orthodox Autonomous Church South of the Sahara

The African Greek Orthodox Church, also known as the African Orthodox Autonomous Church South of the Sahara, is a religious movement in East Africa. It emerged from a desire for a more authentically African expression of Christianity than the mission-based forms introduced from overseas.1

The movement began in Uganda in 1929 when Reuben Spartas founded his own African Orthodox Church, inspired by an independent, all-black church in the United States. After discovering that the U.S. church was considered heterodox, the group added "Greek" to its name and later affiliated with the Greek Orthodox Church's patriarchate in Alexandria.1

In 1966, tensions led to a secession, forming the African Orthodox Autonomous Church South of the Sahara. This group sought greater autonomy and incorporated African customs while maintaining ties to Eastern Orthodoxy. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria is the historical successor to St. Mark the Evangelist and heads the Orthodox Church in Africa.12