On August 23, 2026, the director of the Patriarchal Humanitarian Mission, Deacon Igor Kulikov, met with volunteers serving in the city at the Epiphany Cathedral in Gorlovka.
Before the start of the event, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the church. The service was led by Archimandrite Agafodor (Polyakov), head of the youth department responsible for volunteer, hospital and hospital services of the Gorlovka Diocese. Deacon Igor Kulikov and the clergy of the church concelebrated with him. Staff and volunteers from the Patriarchal Humanitarian Mission's assistance center in Gorlovka prayed during the Liturgy.
After the tea service, a conversation was held on the main areas of the Mission's work. The participants discussed assistance to single people at home, the reception of refugees from Konstantinovka, as well as the restoration of damaged private homes.
"Gorlovka is a true example of perseverance and courage. The city has been under almost daily shelling for 12 years, but the people here remain open and welcoming, they have not forgotten how to enjoy life. It is very important for us, who come from other cities, to learn the right attitude to life from Gorlovka residents," said Deacon Igor Kulikov. "At the same time, it is important to remember that we are in a frontline city, and when coming to help others, we must not forget about our own safety."
The volunteers who arrived in Gorlovka from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Omsk, Donetsk, Kazan and other cities told about their charges and shared their impressions of the ministry. At the end of the conversation, Archimandrite Agafodor (Polyakov) presented each volunteer with memorable gifts from the Gorlovka diocese.
"There are a lot of abandoned old people and people with disabilities here. Some people live in conditions that we have not seen in either the Kherson or Zaporizhia regions," said Sister of Mercy Irina Khudyakova. — The Gorlovka diocese does a lot for local residents: There are active sisterhoods and many charity projects. The volunteers of the Patriarchal Humanitarian Mission complement the efforts of the diocese, taking upon themselves, first of all, targeted assistance to those in need at home. The more caring people there are, the more lonely residents of the city will be taken care of."
In the afternoon, representatives of the Patriarchal Humanitarian Mission gathered again at the Epiphany Cathedral to pray for the health of Metropolitan Mitrofan of Gorlovka and Slavyansk, who was injured in the Gorlovka attack.
The Patriarchal Humanitarian Mission was established by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church with the aim of coordinating and systematically developing assistance to civilians in the Donetsk People's Republic, Luhansk People's Republic, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions, as well as providing assistance to the wounded.
There are 12 Patriarchal Humanitarian Mission assistance centers in the border areas, Moscow and the conflict zone, where over 415,000 requests have been processed. More than 4,400 tons of humanitarian aid have been transferred to the victims. More than 8000 volunteers participated in helping the victims. As part of the project to restore private housing for those in need in the conflict zone, 830 private homes have been restored. Volunteer priests travel in shifts to 45 hospitals in the conflict zone. Together with the Synodal Department for Charity, a service is working to help veterans of the SVR and their loved ones.