Caring for God's Children

Aid to the Church in Need has worked with the Russian Orthodox Church for around 30 years. In this time we have collaborated on many worthy projects. Today we look at one of these projects; Russia’s first children’s hospice.

By ACN Staff

Mother and sick child. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)

And an argument arose among then as to which of them was the greatest. But when Jesus perceived the thought of their hearts, he took a child and put him by his side, and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me and whoever receives me receives him who sent me; for he who is least among you all is the one who is great.” Lk 9:46-48

In February 2016 Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church met in Havana Cuba. This was the first ever meeting between the Pope and the Patriarch of Moscow. Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has worked extensively with the Russian Orthodox Church for around 30 years. The closeness of the work between ACN and the Russian Orthodox Church has only increased since the meeting of Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill in Cuba. Together with the Russian Orthodox Church ACN has been able to help with evangelisation, provision of the sacraments and charitable activities in Russian.

Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill in Cuba. (Credit: Igor Palkin)

Without doubt one of the most successful and moving of these collaborative projects has been the Orthodox children’s’ hospice in St. Petersburg. The hospice was founded in 2003 by Fr. Aleksandr Tkachenko. Fr. Aleksandr had previously studied in the United States as a hospital chaplain. Before the hospice was founded terminally ill children were often sent home and the families were left to cope by themselves.  Fr. Aleksandr initially started helping by delivering supplies to family homes.

Fr. Aleksandr Tkachenko. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)

Realising the situation was inadequate for both the children and the families involved, Fr Aleksandr founded Russia’s first ever children’s hospice and has received support from ACN. At the hospice, the children and their families are given the necessary medical, emotional, and spiritual support. One of the main aims of the hospice is to allow the terminally ill children to still be children. Every effort is made to help the children to experience love and joy. The hospice has been a success. Patriarch Kirill has visited the hospice recently and when asked in an interview about incidents in his life that moved him, the patriarch discussed his visit to the hospice. Patriarch Kirill frequently publicly praises the hospice and Fr. Aleksandr’s work.

Patriarch Kirill visiting the St. Petersburg hospice. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)

A children’s hospice has now also been opened in Moscow. Fr. Aleksandr is recognised as one of the foremost experts in Russia on hospice care. Despite all that has been achieved there is more work that needs to be done. The hospice building in St. Petersburg is in need of extensive renovations. ACN is proposing to help Fr. Aleksandr to continue his ministry with a donation of €30,000 for the building renovations. The hospice is an excellent example of how ACN facilitates the Catholic Church and Russian Orthodox Church collaborating in executing our Gospel mission to care for God’s children and the sick. This work is only possible because of the generous donations made by our benefactors and prayers of all our supporters.