Metropolitan Mercurius of Rostov: “The Church is doing its best to help the refugees”

Rostov-on-Don, July 9, 2014

    

The Rostov region in Russia has declared a state of emergency regarding aid to refugees from the Ukraine, and the Church is doing its best to support the arriving people, to help free them of there “stupor and fear”, reported Metropolitan Mercurius of Rostov and Novocherkassk on Wednesday to RIA-Novosti at the press conference, dedicated to celebrations of the 700th anniversary the birth of St. Sergius of Radonezh.

“The situation with refugees from the Ukraine is very tense. They keep arriving to the Rostov region and are currently accommodated in camps. From there some of them are then sent to other regions. The region has declared a state of emergency regarding aid to the refugees. This refers to state agencies, the Church, and public organizations. Now we are doing our best,” said Metropolitan Mercurius.

    

According to him, the Church is taking part in all aid programs for refugees carried out by the state. As far as the Church is concerned, these are mainly issues of spiritual guidance, because people are coming, in very low spirits, crossing the borders in some cases by hidden paths and under shelling, and so it is necessary to strengthen them spiritually. The clergy regularly watch at refugee camps, supplicatory prayer and prayers for the dead are served; people are given help getting to churches in order to pray – this is very important. Priests talk to the people and their fear and stupor disappear little by little,” related the hierarch.

The dioceses’ social departments are working very actively on rendering humanitarian aid and fundraising, added Metropolitan Mercurius.

    

“We are, of course, are not distributing money, but with the funds raised we purchase the main necessities, food and clothes. A priest has called me recently and reported the need of a refrigerator and washing machine for one center of accommodation. They were delivered on the same day. But all in all, the situation in the region is difficult,” noted the metropolitan.

As was reported earlier, 25,343 Ukrainian citizens were accommodated on the territory of the Rostov region, including 9,259 children.

Pravoslavie.ru

7/11/2014

See also
Church raises over 97 million rubles to help Ukrainian civilians Church raises over 97 million rubles to help Ukrainian civilians Church raises over 97 million rubles to help Ukrainian civilians Church raises over 97 million rubles to help Ukrainian civilians
The second fundraising was announced because nearly all the funds raised by the Church earlier – more than 59 million rubles – had been spent by the end of February on food, clothes, transportation, health services, rental and other targeted support for refugees. Archbishop Theophylact visits refugees in Yessentuki Archbishop Theophylact visits refugees in Yessentuki Archbishop Theophylact visits refugees in Yessentuki Archbishop Theophylact visits refugees in Yessentuki
“For us you are not mere guests, but friends and relatives,” stressed the hierarch, addressing to the refugees. People from Mariupol, Sloviansk, Yasynuvata were present at the meeting. Valaam dependency in Priozersk shelters 116 refugees from Donbass Valaam dependency in Priozersk shelters 116 refugees from Donbass Valaam dependency in Priozersk shelters 116 refugees from Donbass Valaam dependency in Priozersk shelters 116 refugees from Donbass
The first refugees from the Eastern Ukraine appeared in Priozersk early in June. These were women and children. Monks of the Valaam Monastery’s dependency and Voluntary group activists collected aid for them. Church gives over 2 tons of food to refugees from the Ukraine Church gives over 2 tons of food to refugees from the Ukraine Church gives over 2 tons of food to refugees from the Ukraine Church gives over 2 tons of food to refugees from the Ukraine
According to the government, 271 centers of temporary accommodation are open in border areas of Russia, where over 27,000 displaced people are staying Students of the Don Seminary help with refugees from the Ukraine Students of the Don Seminary help with refugees from the Ukraine Students of the Don Seminary help with refugees from the Ukraine Students of the Don Seminary help with refugees from the Ukraine
Students of the Don Theological Seminary started assisting involuntary refugees from the Ukraine on June 19, 2014, when the first bus with refugees arrived to Rostov-on-the-Don. City camp for refugees from the Ukraine blessed in the Rostov region City camp for refugees from the Ukraine blessed in the Rostov region City camp for refugees from the Ukraine blessed in the Rostov region City camp for refugees from the Ukraine blessed in the Rostov region
The archpriest wished the rescuers physical and spiritual strength, courage and fortitude in their difficult work.
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