His Holiness Patriarch Alexy awards a homeless rescue team

On May 29, Archbishop Arseny of Istra presented awards to the staff of the Commission for church social activities caring for the homeless on behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia. The ceremony took lace in the Church of St. Dimitry at the First City Hospital. The head of the ‘Miloserdie’ (’Mercy’) bus service I.Kuskov was awarded with the Order of St. Sergius, 3^rd class; and the head of social work with the homeless Ms. N.Kuznetsova was awarded the Medal of St.Sergius, 1^st class. Staff of the ‘Miloserdie’ service and a homeless rescue team were awarded with Patriarch’s certificates of merit.

The service to the homeless has recently extended its activities. A day bus was added to the night bus, which has become popular last winter with its freezing cold weather. From November through February the night bus did 100 runs. 1047 people were taken care for, and 50 of them were fetched home to their relatives. The Commission uses work theraphy: the homeless tidy the Moscow parks, are fed, provided with clothes and shelter. In the period from November to April the Commission helped 1800 people; 81 were brought to their relatives.