On October 7, 2024, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia arrived in Sergiev Posad near Moscow, where he took part in the opening of the State Budgetary Stationary Social Service Institution of the Moscow region "A.I. Meshcheryakov Family Center" — a center for post-international support for the deaf-blind.
200 people aged 18 to 40 from the Moscow region and other regions of Russia will be able to stay in the institution at the same time. About a hundred wards of the center will live in it permanently, and the same number of patients of the institution will stay in it during the day. In addition, participants with hearing and vision injuries will undergo rehabilitation here.
The opening ceremony was also attended by the Governor of the Moscow Region A.Y. Vorobyov, State Secretary - Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation A.E. Tsivileva.
"The center was created in order to help people who find themselves in a difficult situation, who want to get a profession, be in demand, do good," said the governor of the Moscow Region, A.Y. Vorobyov, quoted by his press service. — Today we have the opportunity to present them with all the necessary infrastructure, and most importantly, teachers who will be able to teach, explain, and take care of. Our task is to do everything so that every square meter of this institution works and benefits. I would like to thank everyone who stood at the origins of the creation of the Center. At the time, we approached our President with this idea and received support."
It is the only such institution in the country. The center was built next to the Sergiev Posad boarding school, where children from 3 to 18 years old with complete or partial loss of vision and hearing are brought up. The boarding school was established in 1962. Special programs have been developed under the leadership of the outstanding scientist Alexander Meshcheryakov, and boarding school teachers receive additional training to work with special children. However, the issue of their further support has not been resolved systematically. After graduation from the boarding school, the students needed socialization, vocational training, adaptation to independent life, and employment. Therefore, it was decided to create a Family center. On October 8, 2017, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill performed the rite of consecration of the foundation stone at the construction site of the future Center.
Its construction was carried out by the Government of the Moscow region. The project was actively supported by the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.
Addressing the staff and students of the Center, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, in particular, said:
"What I saw made a very strong impression on me. The building was built with such care, with such attention, with such love for those who will live, work and be treated here. But first of all, the feat of people who are limited in life is amazing — someone does not see, someone does not hear. And here's the first thought that came to my mind today: everything we say about human capabilities is conditional. You can have excellent eyesight, hearing, and physical strength — and be deeply unhappy. And we know how people end up in prison, commit suicide; We know how families are destroyed. But absolutely healthy people participate in this process — they see, they hear, they feel, they can love. Everything is given to them, and they lose everything themselves…
So the question arises: what does human happiness depend on? What is happiness? If a healthy, all-having person commits suicide, it means that he is absolutely deprived of all happiness. And how often do we see people who are limited in some ways, but who have everything in order inside, in their hearts! It is this factor that determines how happy a person is. If there is peace, peace, and love inside, then a person can be happy, even if he is physically limited. After all, the quality of life is determined not by the development of muscles, not by the strength of arms or legs, but by the inner state of a person.
In a sense, physically limited people are predestined to be heroes. In Christian history, there is such a thing as an ascetic: these are people who refused a comfortable life, went into the desert or forest, and there remained alone with themselves and with God. These people became saints because they overcame every fear, every limitation — being absolutely alone, one on one with a terrible forest where wild animals, without any hope that someone would bring a piece of bread.
One of these saints of God was St. Seraphim of Sarov. His life tells how the priest prayed on the stone every day, and began to come to him — who would you think? — The bear. A scary bear, probably not always well-fed. And Father Seraphim began to share his bread with him, and the bear became his friend. With his faith and love, St. Seraphim endeared himself to the beast. That's what the inner strength of a person means! She really works wonders, helping to overcome ailments, illnesses, sufferings and establish such relationships with others that we would like.
My dear ones, I am not experiencing what you are experiencing and I do not want to give any edification. I just wanted to share with you the story about Seraphim of Sarov and say: when a person lives with God, even wild animals obey him and even the most difficult obstacles, including physical ailments, become surmountable. Not being a doctor, I cannot prescribe any medicine for you, but as a priest I can say: live with God in your heart, pray to Him, and you will hear His answer and understand that He exists, because He will be with you.
There is such a parable. A man died, came into that world, and was greeted by an angel. And man did not live very well on earth, he had some sins, but, nevertheless, he was still worthy to meet an angel. And he says to the angel: "Now you've met me, and I've had such a difficult life! And if you had been with me then, how good it would have been for me!" Then the angel asks: "Have you ever noticed footprints next to you—in the snow or in the sand?" — "I noticed." "So I was with you!"
That's an angel with each of us. It is only important that we do not drive away the angel with our inner state and do not drive God away from ourselves. If we are kind, if we are able to love, if we are able to endure, overcome difficulties, then God is with us; and therefore, the guardian angel will be with us.
I wish you all, my dear ones, strong faith, the power of prayer, and God's help. And so that there will always be an angel next to you, whose traces we do not see, but who invisibly accompanies us. I am very glad to see you all today. May God help you to rise from strength to strength, strengthen physically and spiritually, and calmly walk your life path. God bless you all."
As a gift to the social center, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill handed over a carved tactile icon of St. Kelidonius the Blind, made of wood. Icons of St. Spyridon of Trimifunt with the Patriarchal blessing were distributed to all the pupils.
"In this rehabilitation center, rehabilitation and training will take place, including our heroes — veterans of a special military operation who were seriously injured. It is pleasant that among the staff there are also participants in their own activities," said Deputy Defense Minister A.E. Tsivileva. — It is very important that the guys who will undergo rehabilitation here have a future, the opportunity to get new specialties that will help them live an active social life. And the Russian State Specialized Academy of Arts will provide great support in this, which trains students with disabilities — these are artists, artists, designers, architects and many other areas. I cordially congratulate the staff of the postinternational social rehabilitation center for young deaf-blind people with disabilities on the opening of this unique complex."
"The center turned out to be something that no one expected. We planned that it would be a small institution where children would just be able to study in workshops. And it turned out to be a Center where you can not only acquire a profession, but also undergo rehabilitation, — said the director of the Center G.K. Epifanova. — Today it assumes the possibility of accommodation for 100 people. Plus, about 100 more people will be able to come here every day to study. We have 10 workshops — soap making, weaving, art, ceramics, and others. We have an agreement with big restaurants that will train the guys and then hire them."
According to the adapted programs, the Center's students will receive education, useful practical skills and in-demand professions. The training will be conducted in 12 specialties, including seamstress, weaver, kitchen worker, carpenter, digital information processing master, candle makers, soap makers, ceramic art products. The institution has created special workshops for vocational training.
The total area of the institution is 17.5 thousand square meters. In addition to residential buildings and workshops, there are medical and rehabilitation blocks, a library, a swimming pool, sports and assembly halls. The territory was comprehensively landscaped, a barrier-free environment and public spaces of the courtyard were created, taking into account the characteristics of the wards of the Center.
Patriarch Kirill took part in the opening of the center for post-international support for the deaf-blind in Sergiev Posad near Moscow
08.10.2024, 13:00