Odessa, Ukraine, November 12, 2019
Photo: eparhiya.od.ua
A number of priests from the Odessa Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church visited and provided assistance to disabled and sick children in a number of orphanages on Sunday, November 10.
The visits came with the blessing of Metropolitan Agafangel of Odessa and Izmail as part of the “All-Ukrainian Day of Prayer for Orphans,” reports the press service of the Odessa Diocese.
Archpriest Andrei Poleshchuk, an employee of the Social Department of the Odessa Diocese, visited children affected by cerebral palsy and the effects of polio at boarding school No. 7 in Odessa.
Archpriest Vyacheslav Minaev, rector of the Church of the Great Martyr Elizabeth, visited children with hearing problems at boarding school number 91 in Odessa.
Archpriest John Brovarнy, cleric of the Church of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God, together with students of the Odessa Theological Academy visited children with developmental disabilities at an Odessan orphanage.
Teachers of the Odessa Seminary Hieromonk Onuphry (Sonkin) and Archpriest Andrei Gavrilenko visited the “Pearl” Specialized Children’s Home No. 1 in Odessa.
Archpriest Maximian Pogorelovsky, cleric of the Church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, visited the “Sunshine” kindergarten in Odessa.
Archpriest Igor Rodin, rector of the Annunciation Church in Odessa, visited the orphanage No. 1 of the children’s service of the Odessa city Council, where he has served as the pastor for 10 years.
Archpriest John Goria, rector of the Church of Joy of All Who Sorrow Icon of the Mother of God has also taken care of orphans in a boarding school built at his church for about 10 years now.
Archpriest John Skalozub, rector of the St. Alexander Svir Church of Sovinon, visited the Mikhailovsky special boarding school of the Saratsky District.
On September 9, the Dnipro Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church held an event for over 4,000 children, including 500 foster families, children’s shelters, and orphanages, complete with football competitions, creative contests, concerts, talent shows, animation games, family relay races, and arts and crafts workshops for participants and guests of the festival.
