Arkhangelsk, Russia, February 12, 2020
Photo: arh-eparhia.ru
Mothers’ Landing, one of the largest centers for the protection of family, motherhood, and childhood in all of Russia, was officially opened on Monday, February 10 in Arkhangelsk.
The red ribbon was cut by Mayor Igor Godzish and His Eminence Metropolitan Cornelius of Arkhangelsk and Kholmogory, who addressed the participants saying: “I heartily congratulate everyone on today’s event for our Arkhangelsk land. Today we are opening a very important social project, we are opening a road here for mothers with their children to receive the blessing of God, shelter, and comfort here,” reports the press service of the Arkhangelsk Diocese.
Photo: arh-eparhia.ru
Met. Cornelius presented a copy of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God as a gift for the new center. “Let the Most Pure Virgin be a guiding star for this social project,” he said. “May the Heavenly Queen protect you in this good, great, and heroic ministry!”
Mayor Godzish thanked the Metropolitan for the Church’s support, saying: “People who will come here will need spiritual support, among other things. They will need to talk to someone, get spiritual advice, and it is the Church that will be able to give such advice."
The new center has 11 rooms and will be able to accommodate up to 30 women at a time. The shelter also provides necessary items to those who don’t necessarily need shelter.
Photo: arh-eparhia.ru
The shelter is funded by donations from concerned citizens, as well as grant competitions, including the Orthodox Initiative, which has led to the creation and expansion of such centers throughout the country.
Archpriest Alexei Denisov, the spiritual father for the center, noted that the project was developed by believers.
“The main difficulty is working with wards in crisis situations. We must treat them as human beings, not as the dregs of society,” Fr. Alexei emphasized.
“To maintain a good attitude and avoid professional strain, you need spiritual support and prayer. Naturally, we will not drag anyone to the faith by force, but it is very important to help people and support them. Other representatives of the clergy will be involved in this as well, besides me,” the priest concluded.
