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

Haiti Mission Still Struggles for Survival

December, 1
New York, NY - Despite a great response from concerned supporters, the Orthodox mission in Haiti is still without guaranteed means of survival.  There are about 3,000 Russian Orthodox Christians in Haiti, most of them indigenous.  The number constantly increases, owing to the tireless missionary efforts of the island’s two Russian Orthodox priests, Fr. Jean Chenier-Dumais, and Fr. Gregoire Legouté.  The faithful gather in tiny rented buildings for services, the priests share one car to travel for hours across the country on unpaved roads across mountainous areas in order for parishioners in five parishes to lead some form of church life.

There is no social support system in the country, and people have to rely on the Church to provide education and healthcare. The mission is raising money to build a health center and clinic.  The three mission schools provide basic education, as well as the fundamentals of Orthodoxy.  Students pray every day, and teachers of Catechism are always available to teach and guide.

Read More...

Holy Trinity Monastery in Mexico City: the heartbeat of the local Russian diaspora

December, 1
New York, NY - This was a difficult year for the Holy Trinity Monastery in Mexico City. 
First the swine flu quarantine shut down their bakery and coffee shop, leaving the monastery without its main source of income for many weeks; scores of parishioners lost their jobs and turned to the monastery for help; the monastery car broke down, bills and rent on the church buildings had to be paid. The brethren barely made ends meet. 

Then came the worst blow.  Abbot and only ROCOR priest in the country Fr. Nektariy Haji-Petropoulos got very sick. First it was foot surgery, then acute colitis, and then kidney stones.  In October he was hospitalized for severe kidney problems and was in critical condition for 72 hours.

Read More...

Orthodoxy in Uganda: struggles of a ROCOR mission on Bukasa Island

December, 1
New York, NY - Last August the Fund for Assistance received a heart-wrenching letter from a ROCOR missionary priest on Bukasa Island, Uganda. 

“I have almost come to the end of the wall. I sometimes can’t afford to buy the church wine. This means I have to miss the Holy liturgy… I trust in my Lord for everything," wrote Fr. Christopher Walusimbi in an email.

Fr. Christopher is the first Black African priest ordained in ROCOR and is under the omophorion of Metropolitan Hilarion.  

Read More...

"All Orthodox Youth benefit from exposure to the larger Orthodox world..."
an interview with Fr. Andre Sommer, vice chair of the Synodal Youth Committee

December, 1
New York, NY - Over the summer, a youth group representing different ROCOR dioceses participated in a pilgrimage within the framework of the Concord of Orthodox Youth project and under the sponsorship of the Fund for Assistance.  The young people, all of college age, comprised 20 participants from ROCOR and 80 participants from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, visited holy sites in Russia, Ukraine and Germany.  Fr. Andre Sommer, vice chair of the Synodal Youth Committee discussed the pilgrimage and its outcome with the Fund for Assistance.

Read More...

+Metropolitan Hilarion issues in ukaze to all parishes to hold collections for Fr. Rodion Aragon

November, 17
New York, NY - His Eminence +Metropolitan Hilarion issued an ukaze to all parishes, monasteries and missions to hold plate collections for the grievously ill Fr. Rodion Aragon (Costa Rica) and his family.

See Ukaze in PDF (English translation)...

Priest Rodion Aragon seriously ill

November, 13
New York, NY - Fr. Rodion Aragon, only ROCOR priest in Costa Rica was said to be terminally ill with stomach cancer November, 11, wrote Fr. Daniel McKenzie to the Fund for Assistance to ROCOR. 

Read more...

Igumen Nektariy leaves the hospital

October, 21
New York, NY - A week after being hospitalized for kidney problems Igumen Nektariy abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery in Mexico City was well enough to leave the hospital Sunday, October 19, says schema monk Christophor.

Read more...

Abbot of ROCOR monastery in Mexico hospitalized

October, 16
New York, NY - Igumen Nektariy, abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery in Mexico City was hospitalized Monday, October 12 due to kidney problems.

According to schema monk Christophor who is a part of the same monastery Fr. Nektariy was in critical condition for 72 hours:  “Even though he is still hemorrhaging, his overall condition has improved,” he wrote.

Read more...

George Schidlovsky dies peacefully at 82
Executive Director of the Fund for Assistance to the Russian Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR)

New York, NY - George Schidlovsky, a member of the white Russian emigre community in the U.S., died peacefully in his home in Glen Head, NY on Saturday, September 19 after a long 16 year struggle with cancer. His loving wife Sophie, and two sons Dimitry and George were with him at the time of his passing.

Read more...

Summer Youth Program in Jordanville, NY

This summer the Holy Trinity in Jordanville, NY hosted a youth program sponsored by the Fund for Assistance to ROCOR. Six boys ages 6-16 from the Western, Eastern and Midwestern Dioceses took part in the retreat.
The kids actively participated in monastery life, keeping as much as possible to a monastery schedule; attending daily services and completing obediences, such as working in the garden, cooking, cleaning, and even painting icons.

Read more...

Friends and Family share memories of Yuri Schidlovsky
 
“He was one of the pillars of the Russian Diaspora; he was a great patriot, a very church going, and a true believer.  He was an exceptional, cheerful, responsible person, not even to mention his great honesty. When he became head of the Fund for Assistance, he gave over a hundred percent, thanks to him we got more members.  I remember he was always the last one to leave, he would answer every letter.  And it wasn’t just a formulaic letter, it always had heart.  He gave everything he could to the Fund. He put a lot of love into it and he worked constantly.  Everyone loved working with him.  It’s a great loss to the Russian Diaspora.”
                                                              Tatiana Speranskaya

Read more...

Former FFA Executive Director Yuri Schidlovsky Dies

Long-time executive director of the Fund for Assistance to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia Yuri Schidlovsky died Saturday September 19 at the age of 82 after a long struggle with cancer.

In an interview in March 2009 the daughter of FFA founder and the Schidlovskys' long-time friend Maria Jordan said that Schidlovsky “was the one who put the Fund for Assistance on its feet,… he did a tremendous job.  It played a colossal role for the Fund.”

The funeral was held on Thursday, September 24  at the New Diveyevo convent in Nanuet, New York.

FFA offers sincere condolences to his family and friends. Memory Eternal!

The Fund for Assistance has Published its first Newsletter about FFA activities

View Newsletter in PDF format

A Private Donation to FFA Youth Programs

The generosity of a private donor has allowed the Fund for Assistance to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia to finance two summer youth events, organized by the Synodal Youth Committee.  The participants represent all ROCOR dioceses.

Read more...