Moscow church ordered to stop feeding homeless people

On May 20, 2011, it became known that the Moscow authorities told the volunteers of the temple of Cosmas and Damian in Shubin that they should stop feeding the homeless. This requirement was motivated by the need to maintain cleanliness in the center of the city (the temple is located opposite the Moscow City Hall).

Parishioners of the temple feed the homeless twice a week for several years hot lunches. Several hundred people receive food each time.

While the parish continues to feed the homeless.

On May 27, 2011, Bishop Panteleimon (Shatov), ​​Chairman of the Synodal Department of the Russian Orthodox Church for Church Affairs charity, sent an official letter Sergei Sobyanin with a request to provide the Church with an indefinite and free lease space to help people in need within the Central Administrative District, but away from the major streets, where the temple [of Cosmas and Damian in Shubin] could transfer his ministry on feeding the homeless and social assistance to them .

Sources

• Zakharchenko A. Feeding cannot be driven away // Mercy.ru. 2011. May 20. http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/1500623.html The Chairman of the Synodal Department for Social Service turned to the Mayor of Moscow with a request to provide the Church with a special room for feeding the homeless // Official website of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church. 2011. May 31.