Two days after a second earthquake devastated Mexico, the brethren of Holy Trinity Monastery are helping their neghbors survive any way they can. Although the monastery suffered a lot of damage, the monks continue praying and serving the people of the city.

"We have been very busy trying to provide some help to the victims; specially clothes, medicines and our own professional knowledge and skills wherever we can.  Tragedies are devastating.

Today we received this email from Matushka Rose Legoute, widow of Fr Gregoire Legoute, one of the senior priests of the Mission.

 “Thank God, we did not suffer the catastrophe that was predicted to occur in the wake of Hurricane Irma here in Haiti, but there were considerable damages in...

Schema Archimandrite Nektariy wrote to FFA after the 8.4 earthquake in Mexico: "You could only hear the cracking of walls and furniture and things falling down; our bells were ringing... it seemed that our time had come... we just kneel down in the confusion and darkness in deep prayer... after an eternity we realized that God was very merciful...  Slava Bogu !!!  we all are fine, scared but no tragedies, nor pain in our communities, so far."

Concert season in Moscow this fall will include an event which can hardly be expected to pass without the widespread media coverage and publicity.

How much help do we, the faithful children of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, offer to our own brethren, never mind those who are further afield?  Often, we think that our Christian duty consists solely of prayer, church attendance, observance of fasts and the participation in the sacraments.  However, helping our neighbour is also our direct responsibility. The Lord says that this will be asked of us on the Day of Judgement, “for I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed Me” (Matt. 25:35)