Moscow, October 21, 2024
Photo: ria.ru
A letter from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia in support of childbirth will be given to pregnant women in women’s clinics in various regions across Russia.
The Patriarch’s letter is part of the federal project “Hello, Mom!,” which is aimed at preventing abortions, so that a woman, even before making the relevant decision, “feels support and makes the right choice in favor of life,” project head Natalia Moskvitina told RIA-Novosti.
The project was initially presented in 2022, and a pilot run saw abortions decreasing by 42% in the Mordovia region. The project then received broader approval President Putin and other government officials, as well as Pat. Kirill.
The project now spans 16 regions of Russia, where pregnant women visiting state clinics receive a “help folder” during their first appointment. This folder contains a congratulatory letter from local authorities and religious leaders, along with a booklet detailing various support services available from government, NGOs, the Russian Orthodox Church, and businesses.
Soon, these folders will also include a personal letter from Pat. Kirill. In his message, the Russian primate blesses the expectant mother and her child, offering wishes for their health, peace of mind, and blessings from Christ.
The Patriarch writes:
You are now experiencing a special time when a great Divine miracle is taking place: a new person is preparing to come into the world. I heartily congratulate you on this fateful event in your life. Expecting the birth of a child is always filled with both anxiety and joy. But as our Lord Jesus Christ calls, Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (Jn. 14:27). May these encouraging words of the Savior, His generous help and love strengthen you on the responsible path to motherhood. Remember that you’re not alone—there are people around you ready to support, show care, and participate. I hope that soon, through the efforts and will of their relatives, the infant will join Christ in the Sacrament of Baptism and will have the opportunity to grow spiritually in the saving grace of God.
The project trains doctors to distribute “help packages” and show embryo models to pregnant women, while scientists educate biology teachers and medical students about life beginning at conception.
Additionally, the initiative advocates for regional laws prohibiting the encouragement of abortions, targeting family members, employers, and coworkers who might pressure women to terminate pregnancies. These laws, already adopted in 12 regions, aim to protect women from being advised or coerced into having abortions, whether by family or in the workplace.
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