The head of the Orthodox service of assistance “Mercy” Bishop Panteleimon addressed to its subscribers in social networks on the eve of the day of birth, asking as a gift to support the Church of Tsarevich Demetrius.
“Our temple of the Holy blessed Tsarevich Dimitry at the First City hospital is now in a difficult position, – said in the appeal of Bishop Panteleimon, which he published today on his page in Facebook. – September 18 is my birthday, and I want to ask you about the help as a gift.”
The Bishop noted that in the care of the Church of Prince Dimitri there are 9 small temples in the Moscow children’s hospitals, social institutions and the projects of the Orthodox service “Mercy”.
“The parishioners there, hospital patients, children and adults with developmental delays. They are especially important to obtain comfort in the temple, but they themselves pay the costs of the temple can not, – says Bishop Panteleimon – we do it at the expense of the Church of Prince Dimitri”.
The temple of the Holy blessed Tsarevich Dimitry at the First City hospital
Community Church of Tsarevich Dimitry consists mainly of large poor families, so funds that the parishioners donate, is not enough to support the Church of Prince Dimitri and the attached temples.
Last year, Bishop Panteleimon also asked not to give gifts, but instead to support the Orthodox service of assistance “Mercy”. In three days thanks to this appeal were collected 2 995 415 rubles, according to Diakonia.
To maintain the temple and to congratulate Bishop Panteleimon birthday can be a special “Hooray! Event.” The website is designed to use it was to mark an important event and also to attract the attention of friends and acquaintances to charity.
Today, the Orthodox service “Mercy” is among the ten largest charity organizations of Russia. Here in a year receive a one-time assistance to approximately 30,000 people. Constant care services, about 2 000 of lonely elderly people, children and adults with disabilities, orphans, the poor. Among the service projects “Mercy”: the crisis center “Home for mom”, St. Sophia’s social house, the Holy Spiridonievsky hospice, rehabilitation Centre for children with cerebral palsy and others. More than 80% of the “Charity” exists on donations.