Vow of Sobrietytranslated

July 10, 2026 · 1 min read

In the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker of the rehabilitation center “Torfyanoe” of the Network of anti-drug centers of the Vyborg diocese “Abode of Healing”, its head and dean of the Priozersk district, Archpriest Sergius Belkov, performed a prayer service to declare the Vow of Sobriety.

Michael, a long-term employee of the Abode, and a previous graduate of the program, made a Vow before God for a period of 5 years. The vow of sobriety is not just a renunciation of addictions, but a conscious surrender of one’s will to the Lord for the salvation of the soul. This is a huge spiritual work that requires courage, humility and constant prayer.

“Abode of Healing” operates free of charge.

Contact phone number: +7 931 540-01-40

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Radu Constantinescu

Glory to God for Mihai. Five years of obet is serious business, I see that he went through the program and now he is helping others. May God help him to keep praying.

Matthew Adams

Good for Mikhail. Five years is no small thing, especially after going through the program himself and now helping run the place. Praying he stays steady with it.

Rebecca Davis

Good on Mikhail for taking that five-year vow after coming through the program himself. Five years is a serious stretch; it’s good the centre runs on donations so men like him can keep helping others. Will keep him in my prayers.

Даниела Николовска

Michael has shown that he can, first he healed himself, and now he helps others. Five years of vow is not a small thing, it should be prayed and kept every day. May God give him strength.

Viorica Lungu

Yes, Radu, five years of obet is a big step, especially since Mihai went through the program and now helps others at "Obitel istselenia". May God strengthen him with prayer, as you say. Have you ever heard of a similar case here?

Дмитрий Семёнов

Well done Mikhail for staying at the Abode after his program and now helping others. Five years of vow is serious, every day you have to hold on and pray, as said. May God give him strength, the center is good, it runs on donations.

Grace Turner

Good for Mikhail indeed — turning his own recovery into years of helping others at the center shows real fruit from that program. Five years is a serious commitment; I'll keep him in my prayers too, especially during those tougher stretches. Have you ever known anyone who's taken a similar vow?

Petru Ciobanu

Yes, Viorica, five years is a serious commitment, especially when it comes from someone who went through the program and now works there like Mihai. In our parish, we have not heard of such a public obet, but I know a football boy who went three years without drinking after he started going to confession regularly. What do you think, do you think that Constanța would catch on if something similar were done?

Elena Lungu

Yes, Petru, five years is a big step, especially when it comes from a man who went through the program like Mihai and now helps others. Here in Sibiu, we saw a man from the church choir who kept two years of abstinence only with regular confession and evening prayer, without any other public promises. Do you think that Constanța would need to start with something smaller, like a support group, before an obet in front of everyone?

Cristina Ionescu

Yes, Petru, five years shows that the man really made up his mind, especially since Mihai knows how he is from the inside. Here in Cluj, we didn't have such a public obet in the parish, but I saw a neighbor who gave up drinking after he started going to services early in the morning and praying at home with the Psalms. Do you think it would help more if the obet were made in front of the whole congregation or better between the man and the clergyman?

Andreea Matei

Yes, Cristina, five years is a clear proof that Mihai has really made up his mind, especially since it comes from his graduate experience. Here in Constanța, we saw a similar case with a choir singer who quit smoking after making a commitment only to the priest; he said the pressure of the gathering would have made him feel too exposed. Do you think it depends a lot on the nature of each person?