UOC KP launched new social service and charity department
On July 8, a new department of social service and charity of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate was presented at St. Michael's Cathedral. This entity now deals with the issues of assistance to the needy, primarily military servicemen and refugees from the East.
Priest Serhiy Dmitriev, who has previously worked in the UOC-MP Kherson diocese, chairs the new department. On Sunday, he officially joined the Kyiv Patriarchate and now manages the issues of humanitarian and other assistance.
“The work of the Department in the near future will focus on the training of priests, social service organizations and social initiatives in support of the Church, including the creation of religious social institutions to ensure system functioning. Partnerships with relevant government agencies and NGOs also play important roles, so we urge all parties to the partnership that are interested in solving social problems”, said Fr. Serhiy.
In addition, the meeting presented the Board of Trustees, which includes: the brothers Kapranov brothers, pastor of “New Life” Church Bishop Anatoly Kalyuzhniy, Head of Social Affairs Department of the UGCC Patriarchal Curia Andriy Nahirnyak, president of Caritas Ukraine Andriy Vaskovych, Advisor to the Minister of Health Lesya Bratsyun, Chairman of Patients of Ukraine Association Dmitry Sherembey and others. The chairman emphasized ecumenism of the department’s future cooperation with other churches.
The event was attended by 35 children of the refugees from the East, who are currently under the guardianship of the initiative group ‘Kyiv East Children’. They had the opportunity to make a tour of St. Michael’ Cathedral and had meals the dining hall of the seminary.
The new department will work in cooperation with the monastery. It invites everyone who wants to help and those who need. The first meeting of Trustees is scheduled for tomorrow, and today the first lot of humanitarian aid was sent by Caritas to East Ukraine.
