Moscow, May 6, 2019
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia visited the Morozov Children’s Clinical Hospital in Moscow on holy Pascha to share the joy of the bright Resurrection of Christ with all present, reports the site of the Russian Orthodox Church.
The Patriarch visited all 13 wards of the Department of Palliative Care where he congratulated the ailing children, their parents, and the hospital staff. His Holiness was also briefed on the palliative care work at the hospital by the chief doctor and visited the hospital’s Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “It is Truly Meet,” where he was greeted by the church’s clergy and His Grace Bishop Panteleimon of Orekhovo-Zuevsk, the head of the Synodal Department for Charity and Social Services.
His Holiness addressed those present with a primatial word, saying: “The Resurrection is the greatest event in human history. And when you see the suffering of children and their parents, then you understand that the most important thing for us is to be resurrected in spirit, if the spirit starts to fade. Because a strong human spirit is like a sail that can save us even in the most terrible storm, if this sail is properly set. And our most important task is to be able to set the sail of our lives so it would catch the grace of God.”
“When we are moved by the power of God's grace along the path of life and do everything to receive this grace, then this synergy of the Divine and the human will transform our lives, making us strong and able to truly work miracles,” the Russian primate added.
And reflecting upon the meaning of suffering, he continued: “When you see suffering, visiting such places, when you see the grief through which people pass, you understand that these sufferings are truly able to heal the sicknesses of the human race, spiritual diseases. Therefore, I think that our seminarians and clergy should be led through such departments not only to learn to provide spiritual support, but also to learn lessons for their own lives.”
Then, on the square in front of the central hospital building, Pat. Kirill congratulated the children being treated, saying he believes the best way to spend the Feast of Feasts is precisely to visit such people, “Because if anything I say, meeting with sick children, with their parents, can help at least to some degree, it is a thanksgiving to the Lord. But I thank God also for the lesson I learn communicating with you.”
“I would like to wish all of you, my dear ones, healing and recovery. Of course, I would also like to wish that you maintain the presence of mind that I have just witnessed in the wards of very seriously ill children and their parents. A strong spirit gives us the opportunity to overcome the most difficult challenges in life. And as a clergyman I can say that the source of spirit is not matter, spirit is not a material concept. The source of the spirit is God,” the Patriarch continued, inspiring the children and their parents.
“When we turn to God with prayer, our spirit is strengthened and there is hope for healing. Therefore, on the first day of Pascha, I want to wish that you all strengthened spiritually and physically,” His Holiness said warmly.
He then distributed Paschal icons, kuliches, and candy to the patients and spoke with the children and their parents.
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