Moscow, February 1, 2018
As has become a tradition for him, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has again called on people to donate funds for the Central Clinical Hospital of St. Alexis, which is under the auspices of the Synodal Department for Charity and Social Services, in lieu of the flowers that are traditionally given to bishops for memorable dates and events. Specifically, the funds will be used for the purchase of a new ambulance, Patriarchal Press Secretary Fr. Alexander Volkov reported to TASS yesterday.
“According to the already-established tradition of recent years, the patriarch blesses Moscow clergy to transfer funds to the Church Hospital of St. Alexis instead of the bouquet of flowers they used to give. This year the patriarch has blessed to collect money for purchasing an ambulance, because the hospital needs to update its fleet,” Fr. Alexander said.
A sum of $38,500 was transferred to the hospital in November 2016 for the patriarch’s name’s day, which was used to purchase necessary medical equipment. In May of last year, he asked parishes to direct funds towards Syrian relief in honor of his May name’s day.
His Holiness was elected to the Moscow patriarchal throne by the January 28, 2009 Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church and was enthroned on February 1 in Christ the Savior Cathedral. In 2017, he celebrated more than 200 Divine Liturgies, consecrated 20 churches, and visited 23 dioceses within Russia, as well as Romania, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.
The patriarch received the congratulations of over 200 bishops at Christ the Savior Cathedral today, as well President Vladimir Putin and President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus.
The Central Clinical Hospital of St. Alexis the Metropolitan of Moscow is a multi-discipline medical institution that can serve up to 275 people. It is the largest medical institution of the Russian Orthodox Church. Examinations and treatment for all patients, of any religious affiliation, are free of charge.
