21 February 2025. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey V. Lavrov visited the Cathedral of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Johannesburg after the conclusion of the official events of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Council.
Sergey Viktorovich, accompanied by the rector, toured the cathedral and its shrines. Archpriest Daniel Lugovoi spoke about the life of the Russian Orthodox parish, its role in the spiritual unification of the diaspora in the south of the African continent, the preservation of the Russian language among compatriots and the promotion of Russian culture in the far abroad. They discussed the activities of the Patriarchal Exarchate on the African continent and the role of the Cathedral in strengthening the Orthodox mission in the spirit of Christian love and mutual understanding.