A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY
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| Volume 6 Number 36 - Tuesday, September 7th, 2004 |
A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY |
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The Orthodox Christian News Service |
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Day of Mercy and Charity observedANCIENT MUROM CENTER OF CELEBRATION OF DAY OF MERCY AND CHARITY Mir religii, 23 August 2004 - The ancient Transfiguration of the Savior monastery yesterday became the center of ceremonies devoted to the Day of Mercy and Charity, which was observed for the first time in Russia, ITAR-TASS reports. A solemn divine liturgy in honor of the 400th anniversary of the death of Iuliania of Murom was performed here. She was an ascetic who was made famous for her sacrificial service to neighbors. The liturgy was celebrated by the chancellor of the Moscow patriarchate, Metropolitan Kliment, archbishop of Vladimir and Suzdal Evlogy, and other bishops. Those present in the church included the chairman of the Accounting Chamber of the Russian federation, Sergei Stepashin, representatives of the Russian Ministry of Culture, and the governor of Vladimir province, Nikolai Vinogradov. More than 2,000 persons assembled in the monastery. Hundreds of pilgrims came from other cities of Russia, for whom tents had been set up on the bank of the Oka river. In all, around 5,000 persons gathered at the monastery and thus the concluding prayer service was conducted in the square under the open sky. Addressing believers, Metropolitan Kliment called them to remember more often her life in order to be strengthened for the work of help to neighbors. In the name of Patriarch Alexis II of Moscow and all-Rus he awarded church medals to the head of the administration of Murom, Valentin Kochevan and an auditor of the Accounting Chamber, Sergei Riabukhin. It was the Accounting Chamber that facilitated the rebirth of the Transfiguration of the Savior monastery by arranging all of the construction work. Recently the first stage of restoration was completed. Sergei Stepashin presented to the monastery the Tikhvin icon of the Mother of God. The divine liturgy was attended by residents of church orphanages of Vladimir province. The largest of these are the "Hope" orphanage in the Murom Trinity convent and the shelter for boys and girls in the St. Stephen of Makhra monastery. The Annunciation monastery in Viazniki is also prepared to receive orphans. In the city of Murom itself a charity event was conducted for aid to invalids, orphans, families with many children, and gifted children from poor families. The Transfiguration of the Savior monastery is the oldest monastic cloister of Russia, founded in the eleventh century. From 1918 to 1995 barracks were located in it. The monastery, which itself is still not completely ready for occupancy, tries to help the needy. It provides services to support homeless people, former prisoners, and others who have fallen into hard times. In the cathedral donations are collected for restoring the Serbian monastery on Mount Athos, which recently was damaged by fire. The cloister has a bakery which produces 5,000 tons of bread and buns daily, including kalatch, the traditional product of Murom, whose image reflects the town's coat of arms. (tr. by PDS, posted 23 August 2004) Russia inaugurates Day of CharityDAY OF MERCY AND CHARITY CONDUCTED IN RUSSIA FOR FIRST TIME Russkaia liniia, 20 August 2004 - On 21 August 2004, the celebration of the Day of Mercy and Charity will be conducted for the first time in Russia. The center of the celebrations will be Murom. This year marks the 400th anniversary of the death of the righteous Iuliania of Murom. St. Iuliania spent all of her substance in providing aid to the helpless and orphans. During a fierce famine she shared her last with starving people and she herself baked bread and distributed it to the needy. In Russia the righteous Iuliania is honored as the patroness of those who give charity. People have directed prayers to her so that she would point out those who are in need of aid and mercy. By the time of the celebration of the memory of the righteous Iuliania of Murom, the basic part of the restoration work will be completed on the Murom Transfiguration of the Savior monastery, in particular, gas service will be provided for the monastery, heating equipment will be turned on, and the destroyed walls will be restored. The church in the village of Lazarevsk has been restored, which is the place of righteous Iuliania's birth. During the celebration at the Transfiguration monastery, the divine liturgy will be celebrated and the consecration of the St. Nicholas altar of the church in Lazarevsk will be performed. Participants in the celebrations also will visit a number of medical institutions in the city, OVTsS reports. (tr. by PDS, posted 22 August 2004)
CHURCH HIERARCHS
AND GOVERNMENT FIGURES TO PARTICIPATE IN CHARITY
HOLIDAY Mir religii, 20 August 2004 - This weekend the holiday of Mercy and Charity will be observed on the all-Russian level for the first time. The city of Murom in Vladimir province was chosen as its center this year. Ceremonies will be conducted there devoted to the 400th anniversary of the day of the death of St. Juliania of Murom, who was famous for her great love for children and the helpless, ITAR-TASS reports. Widowed early, she herself raised eight children and gave generously to all needy people, especially orphans, and selflessly cared for the sick. Her righteous prayer performed miracles: she never suffered any diseases and the bread made from bitter herbs during famines was always tasty. "She showed by her life how one must love neighbors, and the holiday recalls how important it is for us to take notice of and see those who need our help," said Metropolitan Kliment, the chancellor of the Moscow patriarchate, in a pre-holiday press conference in the House of Journalists. He also recalled the significant charitable activity of Grand Duchess Elizabeth Fedorovna, the founder of the Martha and Mary convent of mercy. State figures and church hierarchs will participate in the holiday. A charity event for the purpose of collecting contributions for aid to orphans, invalids, and gifted children from poor families will be conducted in Murom. The main celebrations will be concentrated at the Transfiguration of the Savior monastery, the oldest monastic cloister in Russia, founded at the beginning of the tenth century. It was restored from ruins in eighteen months with the help of specialists of the Accounting Chamber, who contracted the construction work with resources from sponsors. As a representative of the Accounting Chamber, Alexander Usanov, reported, "the first stage of the work is now completed, the monks' and pilgrims' buildings have been restored, the church has been restored, and the bakery has been furnished." Now the monastery itself feeds the city, baking daily five tons of bread and buns. The cloister also helps people who have been released from prisons and have no place to live. (tr. by POD, posted 22 August 2004) APPEAL OF HIS HOLINESS PATRIARCH ALEXIS TO PARTICIPANTS IN CEREMONIES IN MUROM AND VLADIMIR Sedmitza.ru, 21 August 2004 - His Holiness Patriarch Alexis II of Moscow and all-Rus sent a congratulatory address to participants in the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the blessed death of the holy righteous Iuliania Lazarevskaia, an ascetic of Murom, and the consecration of the church of the Nativity of the Holy Theotokos in the Nativity of the Theotokos convent of Vladimir, the 790th anniversary of the independent existence of the Vladimir diocese, and the 260th anniversary of its restoration as a full-fledged church administrative structure. Most reverend archpastors, reverend fathers, monks and nuns, dear brothers and sisters! Prayerfully sharing with you the joy of the present celebrations and raising thanks to the Lord, the Author and Finisher of our salvation for his liberal mercies, I heartily greet all of you on these significant events in the life of our church. Throughout its historic existence the Vladimir diocese and its people have survived all the difficulties and trials which have fallen to the fate of this territory. Many archpastors and pastors have labored earnestly here for the benefit and strengthening of Orthodoxy. The Vladimir land is glorified by the names of many champions of the faith and piety. Among them is also the holy righteous Iuliania Lazarevskaia, the ascetic of Murom, the 400th anniversary of the day of whose death we prayerfully celebrate now. With every year the significance of the diocese in the ecclesiastical and public life of Russia has been growing. But after the revolutionary events of 1917 there began the ubiquitous destruction of the life of the ecclesiastical heritage that had been created over centuries. The Vladimir Suzdal diocese did not escape this fate. Many of its churches, monasteries, and sacred places were destroyed and desecrated. However, despite the persecutions, repressions, and restrictions, the Orthodox people maintained a living faith. The ranks of the saints were expanded by new martyrs and confessors. Many of them ended their earthly journey here. Now with love and effort the sacred places that were destroyed in the past have been restored, church life in all of its diversity has been regenerated, and people have returned to their spiritual roots. It causes joy that in recent years the number of parishes in Vladimir diocese has grown substantially, monastic life has been reborn in the monasteries, and dozens of Sunday schools have been opened. Periodical and other literature of spiritual and ethical contents are being published in the diocese, social service is being conducted in hospitals, homes for the elderly, and prisons, and spiritual ministry is being conducted with military service personnel. We recall the contribution of clergy and believers in the great work of defending the holy Orthodox faith. The courage, patience, and loyalty to the holy mother church in many way facilitated the preservation of the unity of the church in the years of persecution and trials. It is a joy that even now you continue to maintain your faithfulness to God and the church. I recall my visit to Vladimir in 1992 when on the site of the church of the Nativity of the Theotokos that was destroyed in the 1930s, which once had been the place of the repose of the sacred relics of Saint Great Prince Alexander Nevsky, we together consecrated the cornerstone of the future church. And now it has not only been reconstructed, but also consecrated. I believe that, as in past centuries, a common church prayer will be raised here and everyone coming to the House of God will receive by faith everything needed for a worthy and righteous life. I would like to address words of special support to families, because in Murom, in the Vladimir diocese, their sacred ministry was performed by the holy faithful Prince Peter (as a monk, David) and Fevronia (as a nun, Evfrosinia), the miracle workers of Murom. Their sacred relics are now revered in the Trinity convent of this ancient city. Today, when for many the traditional family structures have crumbled, when the family, a small domestic church, has become for many only a short-term partnership, the church cannot fail to speak about this nationwide problem. How can the present and future Russia survive if the institution of marriage crumbles before our eyes? Can society be spiritually strong and morally healthy if its basic component, the family, does not pass the durability test? Where can we draw strength, if all around us is the propaganda of sin, moral deprivation, and permissiveness? The church responds to all these questions with the words of sacred scripture, the examples of the lives of the saints, and with traditional spiritual and moral training. Only by living according to the law of God, fulfilling the evangelical commandments, maintaining loyalty to the Orthodox traditions entrusted to us by the centuries, training our children in faith and piety, and giving them a personal example of Christian life can we, with God's help, maintain the integrity of the family, and that means also the future of our country. I express the hope that the Vladimir diocese in the future as well will with honor and dignity carry out the high mission ordained by God and that fruitful cooperation between church and secular leadership in the city of Vladimir and the province, who are called to show common concern for the moral health of society, will develop successfully, and that all of you will be guided in your life by eternal spiritual truths, recalling the high calling and responsibility of Orthodox Christians. Relying on the intercession of saints who were resplendent in Vladimir land by their achievement of faith and piety, martyrdom and confession, and the venerated miracle working icons and other sacred shrines, churches, and monasteries, with faith, hope, and love, continue to testify worthily to the unsurpassable beauty and truth of Orthodoxy. May the Lord bless the labors of each of you in your place of service and may he bestow on our motherland harmony, prosperity, and well-being.
Alexis, Patriarch
of Moscow and all-Rus
WE ARE NOT
GREEDY, WE ARE MISTRUSTFUL Izvestiia, 21 August 2004 - On Saturday, 21 August, for the first time in Russia the Day of Mercy and Charity will be observed. The basic celebrations will be conducted in Murom, in the home territory of St. Iuliania Lazarevskaia of Murom, a benefactress who lived 400 years ago. The organizers of the holiday complain that Russians have lost the tradition of charity. We beg to differ with them. Metropolitan of Kaluga and Borovsk Kliment placed responsibility for the loss of the traditions of charity on the soviet regime. Supposedly, the state took the care of the poor and needy upon itself, disabusing people of the thought that somebody needs their help. And now, without the church supervising help, the people do not know how to properly distribute their good intentions and finances. "Although in soviet times people were taught to do good, for example, the Pioneers were told to visit the elderly, bring them water and chop wood, there was no spiritual basis for this," the metropolitan said. "This was an obligation. But the attempt to do good should be formed within a person and he should consider this the purpose of his life. Our fellow countrymen are by nature not greedy people. They still do not realize the necessity to perform charitable acts. They have been trained this way." However experience shows that our fellow countrymen are not so callous and inattentive. For example, on the Internet several sites exist where money is collected for the needy, as well as clothing and even donated blood. These sites are supported by noncommercial organizations or just groups of private philanthropists. For example, the web page at www.dobrodel-site.ru is a coordination point for the efforts of several teams of volunteers. "Originally our site was conceived as a site for one team," Ekaterina Voronova explains. "Then people began coming to us who also wanted to get involved in charity but did not know how to begin. At first they went to children's homes with us and then they started in their own direction." Ekaterina is 38 years old and the single mother of two children. By profession she is a technology editor. Along with her colleagues, she took things to children's homes beginning four years ago. Their group comprises ten regular participants. These are people from 22 to 40 years of age. Ekaterina defines their social status as: "not secure, just working folk." Very many people participate in single events. Now, for example, the "Dobrodelites" are preparing housewares for youths who are released from children's homes; after leaving a children's home they are supposed to live independently, but they do not have anything for this. "You cannot imagine how many people have responded," Ekaterina exclaims. "It was simply a miracle. For example, there was a man who brought ten place settings and an enormous number of boxes of glasses. Another sent money from Tiumen specifically for dishes for children. Many simply donated their old plates and sauce pans. I myself went to five homes, but I am not at all the only one doing this. Ekaterina's associates say not to ask people for help. It seems that now such calls are heard less often than earlier. Whoever has a need will find us himself. But Voronova is convinced otherwise. Many want to help but they simply do not know how to start. The "Dobrodelites" take care of two children's homes, in Tver and Rybinsk. According to Katy, children in the homes need absolutely everything. For example, girls often cannot wear skirts because they simply do not have any underwear. The twenty-five-year-old manager of a telecommunications company, Sveta Vysotova, organized her own team of five persons. They range in age from 22 to 26 and consider themselves middle class. Sveta's team took under their care a children's home in Bykov. Their way of working is just like the "Dobrodelites": collect things, take them to the children's home, and buy some things themselves. They all have specialties by virtue of which they can buy at discount. Sveta's resume shows her as an office worker. She receives up to 100 dollars per academic term. The web site http://deti.msk.ru helps collect money for treatment of seriously ill children in the Republic Children's Clinical Hospital. According to the president of the charity fund at the hospital, Lina Saltikova, thanks to these contributions they have already managed to save 100 children. Among the contributors, both organizations and private individuals (the majority do not even give their names, the size of contributions is from 100 rubles to several thousands of dollars. "Our problem is not with people who wish to contribute but with those who can dispose of these contributions," Saltikova thinks. "Russians have not forgotten about contributing; people simply want to donate their money into honest hands, but there are few funds that we trust. Thus many are trying to help the needy without intermediaries. There are in fact very many people who want to contribute. They are ready to give to the last. An 83-year-old grandmother came to my place and brought 1,000 rubles. I wasn't about to take this money from her. But she said, 'Take it. I do not need very much.'" An Izvestiia correspondent has often had occasion to become persuaded of the sympathy of fellow citizens. The newpaper's readers often call the editorial office and ask how they can help the needy people who figure in Izvestiia's articles. We dare to hope that this is not under coercion.
Information:
Russians place their greatest hopes for charity
work on business. According to an investigation
conducted by the ROMIR Monitoring company, 81
percent think that it is necessary to contribute.
However 58 percent of those asked have not heard
about charitable enterprises in their region, 22
percent think that they exist, while 13 percent
are convinced they do not. As to the spheres in
which business' voluntary material aid is most
needed, those surveyed named health care (58%),
housing construction (333%), school education and
development of the communal living sector (27 and
26%), and environmental protection (18%).
Regarding preschool institutions and the
development of culture, eleven percent of Russians
mentions them, while ten percent mentioned
transportation and sports and entertainment
institutions. (tr. by PDS, posted 22 August 2004) |
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