REASONS OF BUILDING THE ORTHODOX CHURCH IN THE NAME OF ST. NICHOLAS THE WONDERWORKER WITH TEACHING AND EDUCATIONAL COMPLEX IN BIRULEVO (Moscow)

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Updated 1 December
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REASONS OF BUILDING THE ORTHODOX CHURCH
IN THE NAME OF ST. NICHOLAS THE WONDERWORKER
WITH TEACHING AND EDUCATIONAL COMPLEX IN BIRULEVO
(Moscow)

Alternative project of the new church
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An excerpt from the letter of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II to Yury Luzhkov, Mayor of Moscow:
"There is no doubt, that this church will take certain part in building up a good and vital morality for people of this district, especially for growing generation in our difficult and crucial time."

Our church is situated in very south suburb of Moscow near the ring road and railway yard "Birulevo", far from cultural and educational centers of the capital. The inhabitants of blocks of flats surrounded by this smoked industrial area feel lack of breathable air, not to mention the insufficient green space and ponds. Social-economic state of the population is extremely scant. Alcohol and TV, where violence and depravity reign, became almost only kind of leisure available for the families.

More than a half of district's over 200 thousands population are disabled. A third of all are pensioners and invalids - unnecessary for anybody. 23 thousand children study in 20 overcrowded schools. Less than 4 thousands of them are engaged in different hobby groups 1-2 days a week, that means that other 19 thousands are loitering their time away on the streets. No wonder that there are so many young lawbreakers among children at school age.

There are incomplete families, where mothers bring up their children alone receiving scanty, sometimes casual wages.

Children "in ward", that means children of alcoholics or parents disabled in parents rights, often don't go to school at all - they just don't have enough food and clothing.

Teenagers of 14-17 that don't study or work are easy prey for vice.
Idleness and unclaimed way of living impel them to aggression. We all face this misfortune every day.

It's quite obvious that we should better make a prophylactic rather than fight against juvenile delinquency - that means develop the children's spirituality at an early age. Orthodox kindergarten, orthodox gymnasia and Sunday school will undertake this function.

Certainly all the orthodox social services helping children to find themselves in this life, to get initial professional skills and promising professions by getting working education in orthodox workshops should be also welcomed.

In the church complex the following workshops are planned:
1. Sewing (sewing of vestments…)
2. Musical (reading music, singing, choreography, bearing, grace)
3. Fine arts (drawing)
4. Restoration
5. Icon-painting
6. Binding
7. Gold-embroidery (beading, facings embroidery…)
8. Jewellery (galvanic, embossing, pressing, repair of girandoles and candlesticks…)
9. Joiner's workshop (wood engraving, repair of icon cases)
10. Publishing (computer workshop)
11. Photo- and film cutting, montage workshop
12. Mechanic (turnery, electrician, sanitary technician, repair of lamps and relays)

Why should there be orthodox workshops first of all?

Because children receiving professional skills from orthodox tutors think that this job will maintain not only themselves, but also their future families and aged parents. And by need it will give an opportunity to support those who need help with the heart's generosity. An ability to live not only for themselves, to care not only for themselves and their property - this is the very spirituality, which will be supported and become established by the church service…

One third of the population consists of the old, pensioners and invalids. Most of them belong to the generation devoid of faith. Everyone of them to their life's end become to realize idleness of life without God and somehow or other aim to the church. They are mostly attracted by ritual side of divine service - lighting out candles, giving petitions for health or for the peace of someone's soul, taking holy water - but concern about their own souls stays unknown for them. Certainly the old need very serious help in this matter - recomprehension of past and future life. And every day will be filled with sense and care about their own soul and the soul of neighbour, near-living person.

And they are no more forsaken, they are not ignored, no one waits for their death to receive their flat, things and belongings.
They are loved and protected.
They feel that someone needs them.

Church services and their explanation, lectures, discussions, videofilms, libraries, reading-halls, pilgrimages to holy places… all that will give an opportunity to widen the mental outlook, to understand their own attitude to life, to grow spiritually and strengthen faith.

But there are also people called life outcasts, who have no flat, no documents, no job; ill people, disabled, hectics from prisons, refugees etc, who need food, clothes, medicines… They go to the church and hope to get help…
Their hopes can't be betrayed.

For this purpose we need public canteens, aid stations, storehouses of clothing, footwear and food, sanitization stations, doss-houses, hospice.

Somehow or other, "it's time to combine efforts of those who feel sharp anxiety for growing generation. If we won't immediately begin to work hard together as teachers and tutors of youth, if we won't find new efficient approaches to upbringing, we can lose the country…"
"Along with receiving education and professional skills, youth should be brought up at moral, spiritual christian foundations…""Education and upbringing are two wings that create personality of a young man - and you see, just youth will build our earthly fatherland in the 21th century…"
That's why "there is no more important and crucial task now than missionary and spiritual - elucidative work" (His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II)