2 October 2011 Charity. Orphanage in The Village of Molnytsia

Patriarch Kirill Pays Visit to Orphanage at Bancheny Holy Ascension Monastery

On October 2, 2011, His Holiness Kirill Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia visited an orphanage at Bancheny Holy Ascension Monastery based in the village of Molnytsia (Chernivtsi region). This visit followed the Divine Liturgy completion in a newly-consecrated Holy Trinity Cathedral of the Monastery.
 
The orphanage inmates met His Holiness dressed in Ukrainian and Moldovan national costumes and presented a traditional bread-and-salt and flowers to him. Mr. Dmitry Firtash – a donor to the orphanage at the Holy Ascension Monastery – joined the Patriarch for this visit.
 
Patriarch Kirill walked the orphanage premises, including the rooms housing HIV-infected children. In honor of His Holiness, the inmates performed in a concert. The Head of Russian Orthodox Church addressed all those present at the event with a Primatial word: “Indeed, I am having one of the happiest days of my life today as I have met with you, I have seen your enlightened faces, your remarkable eyes, I have heard words spoken to me, your lovely verses and songs.”
 

NOTE

Over the years of its existence, the orphanage housed by the Holy Ascension Monastery in Molnytsia has been home for the total of 265 children. At the moment, there are over 170 inmates at the orphanage, quite a few of them are boys and girls with limited abilities, including patients with children’s cerebral palsy, cancer, HIV infection. They are continuously being looked after by lay-sisters from a nunnery in a neighboring village of Bayany, as well as by teachers with professional pedagogical backgrounds. The children enjoy all the necessary essentials, the orphanage boasts medical rooms furnished with the most modern equipment, playrooms, gym, swimming-pool. The orphanage was established upon an initiative of the Dean of the Holy Ascension Monastery, Rev. Longuin having adopted 29 inmates and becoming a guardian for the rest of them. In 2008, Archimandrite Longuin was awarded the supreme title of the Hero of Ukraine.
 
The orphanage was established due to donations of the Orthodox parish and the charity endowment from Mr. Dmitry Firtash.