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	Earthquake in Chile: “It seemed like all were Orthodox…” a letter from Fr. Alexei Aedo March, 17 Concepcion - At daybreak on Saturday February 27, the city was still asleep, although you could still hear scattered sounds of music from the distance: the last of the summer celebrations, before the beginning of academic activities in schools and universities the following week. All this was violently interrupted: the earth began to shake, electricity was cut off, darkness made it even more difficult to realize what was going on…. An awful noise, all inside the house was crashing down, the ground moved so violently, that it was impossible to keep standing, impossible to walk down the stairs to the ground floor.... Read more...

	Please support the Haiti mission! A message from +Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad March, 16 Click to play video...

	Chile Situation Update - a letter from Fr. Alexi Aedo March, 11 Santiago -"An affectionate greeting from Santiago. We are well into the midst of a major disaster, the Lord has saved our family. We already celebrated Divine Liturgy in our Community of St. Nectarios, it was very intimate and beautiful and we felt a strong spiritual communion. The Lord’s words, human and spiritual closeness has been a great comfort to us and has brought to my feelings of relief and gratitude. I felt very strong love for my dear church." Read more...

	Haiti: Clergy Teaches as a Means of Supporting the Church March, 11 Moscow -“If you are a priest, and walk along the street in your cassock, then you must always be prepared for the fact that someone may turn to you for help. You must always have something, which you may give away to someone in need.” ~ As told by Father Gregoire Legoute, on Orthodox life in Haiti. Being one of the poorest places on earth, it is difficult for a parishioner in a country like Haiti to support a priest, his family and his parish. For this reason, a priest is required to go outside of the church, in order to feed his family, and in turn, support parishioners in need. Haiti currently has two priests: Father Gregoire Legoute, and Father Jean Chenier-Dumais. They are both schoolteachers. Read more...

	“We Are Back, but Our Hearts Remain in St Petersburg” *A youth group from the US receives the honorary medal of St Tatiana* March, 9 New York - A youth group of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia returned from St Petersburg after participating in the International St Tatiana Youth Meetings held on January 22-26, coinciding with the feast day of that saint. The Deputy Chairman of the Synodal Youth Department, Protopriest Andrei Sommer, shared his impressions of the event. - Fr Andrei, the foundation for this event was a “telebridge” held on May 2 of last year, when the leaders of the youth organization “Pokrov” invited you and a group of young Americans to a symposium to discuss youth programs during St Tatiana’s Day in St Petersburg. The trip promised to be interesting from the spiritual-education point of view and in terms of learning about Russia. Were these expectation met? Read more...

	"Water and food will last till the weekend..." a letter from Chile March, 2 Santiago -To the Most Reverend Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad: Very respected and beloved Vladika Hilarion: With hearts full of gratitude to our Lord and to our Hierarchs, we want to share with you the latest news from our distressed country: Fr. Alexei is alive and well, and so is Matushka Brenda and all the family! Read more...

	Haitians pray to St. Seraphim of Sarov www.miloserdie.ru March, 2 Moscow -The Haitian Orthodox mission became widely known only after the devastating earthquake in January of this year. Haiti is not only the poorest country in the Western hemisphere and but also in the world. About nine million people live in this Caribbean island nation. Some 3000 of them are members of five ROCOR parishes led by two priests: Fr. Gregoire Legoute and Fr. Jean Chenier-Dumais. Miloserdie.ru asked the Executive Director of the Fund for Assistance to ROCOR and Development Manager Alena Plavsic how the mission is being helped after the quake, and how Orthodoxy came to be in Haiti. Read more...

	Fr. Alexis Aedo alive and well March, 1 New York - Priest Fr. Alexis Aedo Vilugron reported missing since the earthquake in Chile early on Saturday, February 27, survived the earthquake. According to Bishop John of Caracas and South America, Fr. Alexis and his family are alright, "their house was not destroyed, but everything breakable was." Their main concerns at this time are looters and lack of provisions in Concepcion.

	ROCOR priest in Chile missing after earthquake March, 1 New York - Priest Fr. Alexis Aedo Vilugron is missing after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck Chile early on Saturday, February 27. Fr. Alexis lives in Concepcion, which sustained most damage. He oversees the parishes of St. Silouan of Mt. Athos in Concepcion and the parish of St. Nectarios in Santiago. Santiago which is around 500 km North of Concepcion, was also affected by aftershocks, but according to deacon Roberto Leon in Santiago, ROCOR parishioners in that city are "safe and sound." Elizabeth Jurlow, secretary of St. Nectarios parish in Santiago, wrote in an email that parishioners of Annunciation of the Theotokos Mission in Valdivia (480 km South of Concepcion), are also doing well. Read more...

	Statement by the Primate of the Russian Church Abroad On the Earthquake In Chile February, 27 2010 New York -Beloved in the Lord brothers and sisters, I wish you peace and Divine blessing! It is with horror that I follow the events in Chile, I suffer for all those “who sorrow and grieve and look for the comfort of Christ,” praying that the Lord pour His mercy upon all the victims of the earthquake in the country, the parishioners of our churches, and all those who suffer. I pray for the repose of the souls of those who died in this tragedy. May the Lord send His heavenly aid to those in power, to the rescue workers and their helpers, the doctors and clergymen, and grand them wisdom, courage, zeal and Christian love. Read more...

	Haitian Orthodox Priest to Speak in Washington, DC February, 25 Washington - On Friday, March 5, 2010 at 8:00 PM at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Washington, DC, Fr. Gregoire Legouté of Port-au-Prince and his wife Rose will give eyewitness accounts of the hardships Orthodox Christians in Haiti are facing as a result of the violentearthquake that devastated their poor Caribbean nation. Read more...

	Fund for Аssistance distributes Aid to Haiti, overcomes difficulties February, 12 New York, NY - The Fund for Assistance to ROCOR continues disbursing aid to our mission in Haiti one month after a series of earthquakes devastated the island nation. To date, FFA has collected over $90,000 and disbursed $30,000. The earthquakes destroyed the local infrastructure, making it practically impossible to disburse collected aid in the wake of the disaster. The first sums of money which provided medical supplies and financial aid to the mission were sent through the deacon of St. John Chrysostom church in House Springs, MO, Fr. Matthew Williams, who travelled to Haiti to support the faithful after the quake. While there, Fr. Matthew and an associate provided medical assistance, as well as moral and spiritual support to the parishioners, and arranged access to food and water and other supplies for the mission. Read more...

	A Letter from Haiti Haiti ROCOR mission clergy send a letter of thanks to Metropolitan Hilarion February, 12 Port-au-Prince - Your Eminence Vladika Hilarion, We ask your blessings while kissing your right hand. We salute you in the Name of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ. Three weeks after the violent earthquake that devastated Haiti and, according to the latest bulletin from the Haitian Government, caused 212,000 deaths and injured more than 194,000, 4,000 people have become amputees of one or more limbs and a million have become homeless. We of the Orthodox Mission in Haiti are expressing our gratitude for your active solidarity to the victims of the earthquake on Jan 12, 2010. Read more...

	"Members of the Haiti Mission are afraid of the future..." an interview with Deacon Matthew Williams February, 1 New York, NY - Less than 24 hours after the first devastating earthquake in Haiti, former administrator of the mission, ROCOR deacon Fr. Matthew Williams of House Springs, MO was on his way there, intending to find out the fate of the ROCOR mission, the priests and parishioners. The Fund for Assistance, which sponsored the trip, and provided aid for the suffering church members in Haiti through Fr. Matthew, asked him to relive his experience in Haiti for our supporters. Read more...

	Haiti Mission's Most Pressing Needs by Deacon Matthew Williams January, 27 House Springs, MO - I have just returned from a week in Haiti following the disastrous earthquake on Jan 12. The condition of the mission in Haiti, along with the population at large, is dire beyond all imagination. While there, I visited three parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church, meeting with the faithful and assessing their needs. I travelled with a paramedic/medical officer from Belfast, Ireland (Lars Stuewe) who was able to treat approximately 50 sick and wounded, including many of our parishioners. There are so many concerns that I hardly know where to begin, but I will mention a few of the issues I believe to be most pressing. Read more...

	Haiti Mission Parish Situation January, 26 New York Port-au-Prince Church of the Nativity of the Virgin is still standing but damaged. One reader, Vladimir, is missing and cannot be located. There are no confirmed casualties in the parish. The school operated by Fr. Jean Chenier Dumais was completely destroyed, along with his home and vehicle. Fontamara Fr GregoireLegoute`s home withstood both quakes, but the chapel of St Moses sustained some damage. The school operated by Fr Gregoire is damaged as well. Jacmel The house where services are held is standing without damage. About thirty of the parishioners are injured, with three admitted to the hospital. Leogane The Church of Sts Peter and Paul and many houses were destroyed, but no details regarding the situation of the faithful is available. The parishes in Cayes, Cap Haitien, and Maissade were unaffected.

	The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia assists Haiti Voice of America Washington, January 20- A week has passed since the world was horrified to learn of the disaster in Haiti. Today's catastrophic situation in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas was increased by the magnitude 6 aftershock. Various countries have sent in rescue workers, doctors and essential provisions to Haiti. According to some sources, the number of victims of the tragedy may reach two hundred thousand. Read more...

	Haiti Mission Parish in Leogane destroyed January, 21 New York - According to the ROCOR delegation to Haiti the church building of our ROCOR Sts. Peter & Paul parish in Leogane was completely destroyed in the earthquake. The situation in Jacmel, where there is another mission parish, is "not too bad."

	Press Release: FFA reponse to Haiti Earthquakes January, 21 New York - The Fund for Assistance to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) has supported a Russian Orthodox parish in Haiti for some time (see article in our December newsletter). There are about 2,000 Orthodox Christians in Haiti, and the number constantly increases, owing to the tireless missionary efforts of the island’s two Orthodox priests, Fr. Jean Chenier-Dumais, and Fr. Gregoire Legouté. Read more..

	A Message from FFA Executive Director January, 20 New York - Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ, Another 6.0 earthquake struck Haiti today. The situation in that poor country is dire. As of today the Fund for Assistance to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia has collected over $50,000 and disbursed $16,000 of aid to the suffering people of Haiti through trusted clergymen on the ground there. This is an ongoing fundraising effort. We are working towards opening a clinic on the grounds of one of our five parishes in Haiti. Please pray for Fr. Gregoire, Fr. Jean, their long-suffering parishioners and for the members of our delegation, who are doing a magnificent job in Haiti, negotiated with the United Nations, the Red Cross, IOCC and other organizations to get aid to our people. Please support our fundraising effort. I want to emphasize that every single penny donated to this project is spent on this project. None of the money earmarked for Haiti is being used for administrative costs or overhead. When the dust settles and we catch our breath, a full accounting of how our donors money was spent will be published on the FFA's website. In Christ, V.Rev. Victor Potapov FFA Executive Director

	ROCOR priests in Haiti alive, mission school in Port-au-Prince destroyed - Updated January, 17 New York - The Fund for Assistance is happy to inform our supporters that both ROCOR priests in the Haiti mission and their families are alive. "They are staying together and sleeping outdoors - afraid of more tremours," said Matushka Sophia McKenzie who reached Fr. Gregoire Legoute by telephone on Saturday, January 16. The mission's main church of Nativity of the Theotokos in Port-au-Prince suffered some damage, but is still standing with its roof intact; the adjoining school belonging to the mission has been destroyed. There is no news of ROCOR parishioners yet.

	Haiti Tragedy: Statement by the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad January, 17 New York - It was with pain in my heart that I learned of the terrible catastrophe that has befallen the people of Haiti, and wish to express my profound empathy with the anguish felt by all the island’s occupants, and especially our brothers and sisters carrying on their service to God and man within the Orthodox Mission of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. I pray for the repose of the souls of those who died during the earthquake, I pray for those who survived, that the Lord bless them with His consolation and heavenly aid. May the Lord bless the rescuers and all those who are going to that country with the aim of helping its occupants! Read more...

	Fr. Gregoire Legoute, one of two ROCOR priests in Haiti alive January, 15 New York - According to Matushka Sophia McKenzie, Fr. Gregoire Legoute is alive. She spoke with him for a moment before the line dropped. "I only know that he was alive at the moment. He said things are bad and then we were cut off," she said in a telephone interview. Nothing is known about his family or Fr. Jean Chenier-Dumais, the other ROCOR priest in Haiti. Read more...

	Please Assist Our mission in Haiti! January, 13 New York - ...for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; Matthew 25: 35 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, A very powerful earthquake has devastated Haiti, the poorest country in our hemisphere. The media reports that up to 3,000,000 Haitians have been affected by this calamity. Life in Haiti is very difficult under normal circumstances. Now it is on the brink of becoming unbearable. Folks there need our help. We ask you to please pass this information to your friends and families and to urgently help those who are suffering! Read more...

	Fr. Rodion Aragon dies January, 11 New York - Fr. Rodion Aragon, the only ROCOR priest in Costa Rica has died of stomach cancer at 9:20 A.M. today. He was diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer in November 2009. Doctors were unable to operate on him and simply closed the incision. After he awoke, he was in such pain that the doctors put him back to sleep. Fr. Rodion enrolled into the Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville and was planning to continue his education. He became a priest in January 2009. The large Russian population in Costa Rica is in the process of building a church in the Pskov style and looking forward to a bright future with Fr. Rodion at the helm. He is survived by his wife and a son. Donations for the family can be sent through our website or by check (memo: Costa Rica) to Fund for Assistance to ROCOR, 75 E 93 St, New York, NY

	FFA wishes you the blessing of Christmas! January, 5 - Dear friends and donors, we wish you a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year! This holiday season we ask you to remember the needs our Mother Church. Every dollar you give the FFA allows you to make a difference in the lives of needy clergy, our Orthodox youth and our brethren in dire circumstances. The needy cannot wait! Please donate today! Donating through our PayPal system is fast, secure and it goes directly to assist the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. God bless you!

	FFA has published Newsletter Vol. 2 January, 5 - View Newsletter in PDF format

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