January 27, 2022
Recipients of Church aid in Moldova. Photo: mitropolia.md
As OrthoChristian regularly reports, the Local Orthodox Churches are actively involved in helping the poor, large families, the disabled, those affected by war, and all those in need.
Several such stories from throughout the Orthodox world have been published recently:
Finland
The Finnish Church’s Center for International Social and Missionary Activities raised $22,385 (20,000 euros) throughout the Nativity Fast to help Syrian mothers with young children who suffer from the effects of war.
More than 100 young women will be trained in hairdressing, and many will receive necessary medical, psychological, and social assistance.
Russia
Four parishes of the Kazan Diocese received a total of $41,000 (3,222,800 rubles) in Presidential grants to feed the poor, rehabilitate addicts, offer complex assistance to those in difficult situations, and to offer educational materials for the deaf and hard of hearing.
The Kazan Convent in Yaroslavl provided food, medicine, hygiene products, clothing, and urgent financial assistance to 1,720 petitioners throughout 2021.
Theophany charity fairs throughout the Tver Diocese raised $6,350 (500,000 rubles) for the needy, in particular a widow raising 6 children and various social organizations.
In 2021, the Synodal Department for Church Charity and Social Service received $546,530 (43 million rubles) from Norilsk Nickel to support Church shelters for mother and humanitarian aid centers. Assistance was received by 12,749 families with 46,208 children. Altogether, 256 tons of humanitarian aid was distributed.
His Eminence Metropolitan Nikodim of Novosibirsk consecrated a palliative care hospital in Novosibirsk and visited the patients on Monday. The hospital will be spiritually cared for by diocesan clergy and Sisters of Mercy and other Orthodox volunteers.
Romania
The Archdiocese of Roman and Bacău is providing food, clothing, medicine, and supplies to approximately 200 disadvantaged families from 7 villages.
Dozens of people, including His Eminence Metropolitan Ioan of Banat, took blankets, pillows, and electric beds to the Oncology Clinic in Timișoara on Monday, where patients are hospitalized in the cold. The municipality has been facing eating problems since autumn.
Volunteers from the Cathedral of the People’s Salvation delivered food packages to 30 needy families in various villages on Saturday. 8,700 families in 22 counties have been helped since the start of the pandemic.
Moldova
Philanthropic events were held in several churches, providing Christmas entertainment and gifts and food to the poor and needy and those with severe mental disabilities.
Ukraine
All funds from candle sales in Kiev churches on February 15, the feast of the Meeting of the Lord, and also International Childhood Cancer Day, will be donated towards the treatment of children suffering from cancer. This event has been held annually since 2017.
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