Kiev, February 14, 2018
Photo: http://pravlife.org/ Tomorrow, on the great feast of the Meeting of the Lord and International Childhood Cancer Day, churches of the Central Vicariate of Kiev and other churches will hold a one-day charity event called “The Meeting Candle,” to raise funds for the treatment of children with cancer, reports Orthodox Life.
On the day of the event, anyone who wishes to participate, can purchase a candle in Orthodox churches throughout Kiev, and light it not only for the health and repose of their loved ones, but also for the health of children who are suffering from cancer. Funds from candle purchases for the day will be used to treat young patients of the oncology department of the Kiev Province Clinical Hospital and the oncology department of the National Children’s Specialized Hospital known as “Okhmatdet,” which is an abbreviation standing for “the protection of motherhood and childhood.”
This is the second year in a row that the charitable event will be held, with the blessing of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine, and the support of His Grace Bishop Theodosius of Boyarka.
The theme of the event is appropriate, as candles are traditionally blessed after the Divine Liturgy on the feast of the Meeting of the Lord.
The event will continue on Sunday at the educational-cultural center “Kievan Jerusalem” with the opening of an exhibition-auction of artistic works of child cancer patients, and also a charity concert.
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According to the website for International Childhood Cancer Day:
International Childhood Cancer Day is a global collaborative campaign to raise awareness about childhood cancer, and to express support for children and adolescents with cancer, the survivors and their families. The day promotes increased appreciation and deeper understanding of issues and challenges relevant to childhood cancer and impacting on children/adolescents with cancer, the survivors, their families and the society as a whole. It also spotlights the need for more equitable and better access to treatment and care for all children with cancer, everywhere.
