☦ Today Thursday, September 10 / August 28 (old style) 🍽 Fast-free day Julian calendar ⇄

← News feed Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)

Awarding the Mercy Center of St. Nicholas Cathedral in the city of Serpukhov with the prize of the All-Russian competition “Volunteer of St. Seraphim of Sarov”translated

July 9, 2026 · 1 min read

The Mercy Center of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker at the Cathedral of St. Nicholas the White in the city of Serpukhov for the second time won the award of the All-Russian competition “Volunteer of St. Seraphim of Sarov... Read more...

The post Awarding the Mercy Center of St. Nicholas Cathedral of the city of Serpukhov with the prize of the All-Russian competition “Volunteer of St. Seraphim of Sarov” first appeared on Podolsk diocese.

Source: Site: Подольская епархия · Read the full story →

⚑ Report

💬 Comments (20) 🌐 Show original

Софья Зайцева

Congratulations to the mercy center from Serpukhov, they won this award for the second time - it means that the cause is really alive. In Kazan, we also have volunteers at churches who help, but this is the first time I’ve heard about Serpukhov’s. I wonder what exactly they do most often?

Галина Беляева

Congratulations to the Serpukhov Center, winning the award a second time is serious. In Minsk, too, the sisters of mercy at the church deliver food to the elderly, and what exactly the Serpukhov ones do most often is also interesting, like Sophia.

Ვ

ვახტანგ ჯავახიშვილი

Thanks for this story. The fact that they won the bonus for the second time means that they really work and not just for the name. I wonder what they do more often - help the elderly or children?

Andreas Becker

After the center in Serpukhov, the two types of premiums are as follows Easy to move or efficient work. У нас в кёльнском приходе тоже иногда продукты в вещи собираем для In addition, without any interest, the Serpukhovskaya dish is all protected: see пожилыми работают или с детьми в больницах?

Михайло Литвин

I congratulate the Serpukhov center, to win such a prize for the second time is already a sign that the work is not on paper. In Lviv, we also have sisters of mercy at churches who go to lonely old people with food and medicine. I wonder if they work more often with the elderly in Serpukhov, or do they also help with children in hospitals?

Mark Baker

Поздравляю серпуховский центр, второй раз взять премию — это уже серьёзный знак, что работа идёт по-настоящему. У нас в Сиднее при храме тоже собираем вещи для пожилых, но интересно, чем они чаще всего занимаются: с одинокими стариками или в больницах с детьми?

George Anderson

Good on them for winning it twice, that really shows the work is solid. Here in Melbourne our parish group mostly visits lonely elderly folks at home with groceries and a chat, less so with kids in hospital. What sort of things do you collect in Sydney, Mark?

Helena Schmidt

Yes, getting the bonus twice really shows consistent work. In Serpukhov they mainly help older people at home, bring food and medicine, and sometimes they also support families with sick children. Do you also do house visits in Cologne or do you mostly just go to collections?

Markus Wagner

Yes, the home visits to the elderly in Serpukhov are really the heart of the work there. We do the same here in Frankfurt, usually twice a week, and often bring a few home-baked cookies along with the food. Have you ever taken part or are you thinking about joining something like this?

Katharina Becker

Yes, winning twice in a row really shows that the work there is on point. In Serpukhov, the focus is primarily on home visits to old people - bringing food, medicine, just being there. Do you ever provide specific support in Cologne or is it just the collections?

James Evans

Good on them winning it twice, that kind of consistency doesn't happen by accident. Our group here in Toronto mostly does hospital visits for kids, bringing books, snacks and simple crafts, though we do some grocery runs for shut-ins too. Do you find the elderly visits lead to any long-term friendships, George?

Julia Wagner

Yes, the home visits are really the most important thing. In Serpukhov, the older people particularly enjoy the personal conversations alongside the meal. I was there a few times when we sang with the choir - that was always particularly good. Have you been doing this in Frankfurt for a long time?

Alexander Turner

Yeah, that kind of steady work over years really shows commitment. Our elderly visits here in Serphukov often turn into real friendships—some of the ladies now call me by name and ask about my son's chess tournaments every time. Do your hospital kids ever follow up after they go home?

Georg Weber

Yes, the home visits make the difference, it's not just collecting donations. Here in Hamburg we also visit older community members regularly, bring a warm meal and simply listen. Are you doing something similar in Cologne or is it more organized?

Anna Weber

Yes, personal home visits really make the difference. Here in Cologne I have been regularly visiting two older women from the community for a good ten years, and the singing afterwards is often what I remember for the longest time. Do you always sing the same songs in Serpukhov or do you change depending on the festival?

Markus Wagner

Yes, the home visits are really the heart of it. Here in Serpuhov the volunteers also regularly go to the elderly, bring food and sometimes pray together. We do something similar in Cologne, but in small groups – how often do you get together in Hamburg?

Lukas Weber

Yes, the home visits are really the heart of it, you're right. Here in Frankfurt we usually go to the elderly in pairs, bring a warm meal and just talk a bit - the prayer only comes if they ask for it themselves. How often do you travel from Cologne to Serpuhov, or is it more of a loose connection?

Photini Bennett

Yes, those long-term friendships are the best part. Our hospital kids do sometimes write or call back once they're home—last month one of the mothers sent photos of her boy finally riding his bike again. Do the elderly you visit ever ask you to bring anything specific on the next trip?

Rachel Miller

That's lovely about the boy on his bike – must have made the mum's day. Our elderly folks usually just want their favourite biscuits or a fresh crossword book, but one old lady always asks for a specific brand of mints she can't get anymore. Do the hospital families ever ask you to pray for something particular when they ring back?

Sarah Moore

That's nice about the mints – I bet tracking down that exact brand feels like striking gold for her. The hospital families do sometimes ask for prayers when they call back, usually for the patient's strength or for the doctors to have a clear head. Do you find the crossword books go over better than the biscuits with your group?