In Moscow, 17-19 October will be held the VIII Congress on the Church’s social Ministry, said Diakoniai.
The Congress will take part more than 2 thousand people from Russia and other countries: heads of social projects, the head of the diocesan Department for charity, the Orthodox volunteers and sisters of mercy. The work of the Congress, headed by his Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill. On 19 October he will address the delegates and answer their questions. Among the honorary guests of the Congress expected the Minister of labour and social protection RF Maxim Topilin, Deputy Minister of health of Russia Oleg Salagay, and others. For those who cannot come to Moscow, from 17 to 19 will be held a series of webinars on Church social work and online broadcasts of major events and sections of the Congress.
“In the Church more than 4,500 charitable projects, and they were organized as a living response of people to the call of Christ to serve the neighbor, – said the Chairman of the Synodal Department for charity Bishop of Orekhovo-Zuevo Panteleimon. – We are accountable before God for every person who turned to us for help, so our help needs to be very high quality and efficient. How to achieve what modern technology and practice of social work is especially in demand today – these are all questions we will discuss this at our Church-wide Convention.”
A key theme of the Congress will be the coordination of social Ministry in the diocese. The forum will discuss the prevention of abortions and support of large families, the issues of addicted, the disabled, the homeless. The Congress participants will share best practices of creating volunteer services helping people in difficult life situations.
Today in the Russian Orthodox Church more than 4,500 Church social projects, more than 8 thousand social workers, more than 350 of the sisterhoods of mercy. Every year the Church opens more than 100 new social projects, including 6-7 shelters for moms, 8-10 projects of addicted people, dozens of humanitarian aid. With the participation of the Russian Orthodox Church organized over 400 projects for the disabled, 95 shelters for the homeless, 57 shelters for women in crisis, 169 humanitarian aid.
Detailed programme is available on the website of the VIII Congress of the Church social service: http://congress.diaconia.ru/2018/
The Congress will start on October 17 with a Liturgy in the Martha and Mary Convent. After the Liturgy, the main events of the Congress on 17 and 18 October will be held at the Russian state social University (RSSU).
The final plenary session of the Congress with the participation of his Holiness Patriarch Kirill will start at 12.00 on October 19 in the Hall of Church Cathedrals of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
The Congress will be organized the online broadcast of major events and sections. On October 17 at a meeting of the Bishop of Orekhovo-Zuevo Panteleimon with members of Congress, everyone will be able in live to ask questions to the Chairman of the Synodal Department for charity using text chat. October 19 will take place online broadcast of the plenary session, which was headed by Patriarch Kirill. To participate in webinars to the Congress and to receive alerts by email about upcoming broadcasts, you must register on the page: http://www.diaconia.ru/congress-online2018
Media accreditation for the event of the Congress on 17 and 18 October to 16.00 on 16 October at [email protected].
The accreditation of media representatives at the final plenary session of the Congress with the participation of his Holiness Patriarch Kirill 19 October – 18.00 17 October at: [email protected]. The application for accreditation is made on the official letterhead of the media signed and seal of the head of the organization. The application must specify the name and position of employee, media, and contact phone number.