For the second time, the Synodal Department for Church Charity and Social Service organized a summer vacation for large refugee families affected by the conflict zone. On August 14, 2024, five families — 26 people — went to sea. Among them was a family with a disabled child and the family of a priest. The families were received at the House of Mercy at the Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov in Anapa. Leisure, accommodation and three meals a day were provided by the host organization. The Synodal Department of Charity took over the costs of the transfer to and from the destination for all large families.
"I am very glad that this year we managed to take about 80 people, more than ten large families, to the sea," said Svetlana Cherenkova, head of the Family assistance department of the Synodal Department of Charity. — These are refugee families who have endured difficult trials. I wanted not only to arrange a vacation for them, but also to create all the conditions so that they could recover body and soul and find the strength to move on. Judging by the comments and reviews, we managed to do it. As the organizer of the program, I hope that new benefactors will join next year, the geography of the project will expand to places such as Crimea, Krasnodar and Karelia, and we will be able to organize recreation and spiritual support for more large families, not only refugees."
"Our family is very grateful to the organizers for a good rest, a warm welcome, kindness and care," said the Belobrovsky family, who rested in Anapa. — The Seraphim Church in Anapa reminded us of our wooden church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Artemovsk, prayed by the priest and parishioners. Many people with children also came there, after communion everyone participated in a common meal, and the children went to Sunday school. Unfortunately, neither our church nor the city exists anymore, and this is a great pain for all residents and parishioners. After visiting the Church of Seraphim of Sarov in Anapa, we felt at home. We are grateful to the House of Mercy, the Presidential Grants Fund and the Synodal Department for Charity."
The first trip of large families to the sea was organized in June. Then more than 50 people went to Anapa and Gagra.