RUSSIA
Concrete steps in the spirit of ecumenism
The pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has been working to further the dialogue between the Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches for 25 years. The director of the foundation’s British national office describes a new joint initiative in Stavropol that assists women with pregnancy problems and in other emergency situations with the support of ACN
Aid to the Church in Need is helping vulnerable women and their unborn children in Russia – fulfilling Church teaching that each and every human life has inherent dignity. Remembering that Christ reached out to those in distress irrespective of their need or status, Russia’s Catholic and Orthodox Churches are helping up to 42 destitute women and their families with accommodation until they find a stable address.
The National Director of ACN’s UK Office Neville Kyrke-Smith described the charity’s help for this ecumenical project. During his autumn visit, Mr Kyrke-Smith joined His Eminence Russian Orthodox Metropolitan Kirill of Stavropol and Nevinnomysk to open a shelter for young mothers in Stavropol – a town whose name means the City of the Cross. The dignitaries met with those families receiving practical assistance, including a Muslim family in need.
Mr Kyrke-Smith said: “This project is absolutely vital, as it supports pregnant women who are often left without any assistance from their families. The centre was founded by the Orthodox Church – and we are delighted to be able to support this important ecumenical project, helping women in a very difficult situation.” ACN has given more than £20,000 to the centre’s sheltered accommodation, offering alternatives to abortion. It also supports women with telephone counselling, advice and information. Thanking the charity’s supporters Metropolitan Kirill told Mr Kyrke-Smith: “Thank you and may God bless our dear friends at Aid to the Church in Need. We pray for them.”
Members of both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches attended the international protection of life seminar held by the Moscow Patriarchate in 2017. The seminar developed the call to “respect the inalienable right to life” in Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill’s joint declaration. ACN’s Russia expert Peter Humeniuk described the conference as taking “concrete steps in the spirit of ecumenism. The seminar focused on analysing the situation, but also – and particularly – on finding solutions.” Delegates meet with a Catholic group from Milan that offers pregnancy counselling and has already saved almost 20,000 children.
Speaking of the impact of abortion on Russia’s population as well as its global effect, Mr Humeniuk said: “Unfortunately, abortion is very prevalent in Russia. This can be traced back to Soviet times… the Russian people are beginning to become aware of this problem because if nothing else, the demographic development in Russia – and that of the Western world – has now become a wake-up call for many people.”
ACN is also supporting other projects in Russia that reflect the hope of Jesus Christ’s message of healing for all people suffering difficulties and hardships: including an intensive year-long drug rehabilitation course using with success rates as high as 80 percent. And a new chapel in Stavropol – previously the Catholic community gathered in a farmer’s workshop. Fr Mitrzak is the first Catholic priest residing permanently there since the Revolution and Metropolitan Kyrill is helping the chapel with registration requirements.
Speaking of the charity’s work helping vulnerable people Mr Kyrke-Smith said: “We are greatly encouraged by the Russian Orthodox and Catholic churches cooperation, particularly on social projects and protecting the right to family and life. ACN is inspired by our Saviour’s own words ‘as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me’ [Matt 25:40] developing initiatives between churches helping Christ’s body – our brothers and sisters in need.”
The pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need has been working to further the dialogue between the Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches for 25 years as requested by St. Pope John Paul II and his successors to the Petrine office.
During their historic meeting in Havana in February 2016, Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow identified important areas requiring even more intense cooperation between the two churches. In response to their appeal, new opportunities for cooperation between Catholic and Orthodox Christians have in the meantime emerged. An ecumenical working group has been founded in which Aid to the Church in Need is significantly involved. This working group coordinates and organises initiatives, events and conferences for the protection of human life and the family as well as to support persecuted Christians in the Middle East. The crisis centre for women in Stavropol is one example of a joint initiative that has been developed.
