On the day of remembrance of the martyr John the Warrior, August 12, 2016, the Patriarchal Vicar of the Moscow Metropolis, Metropolitan Pavel of Krutitsy and Kolomna, visited the Federal Penitentiary Institution SIZO‑6 of the Main Directorate of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for the Moscow Region in the city of Kolomna.
Metropolitan Pavel and the head of the Main Directorate of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for the Moscow Region, Lieutenant General of Internal Service A.S. Vetrov, unveiled a memorial plaque on the building of the secure complex, where, from 1854 to 1917, a chapel dedicated to the martyr John the Warrior stood next to the buildings of the government offices and the prison.
On the secure territory of the pre‑trial detention facility, Metropolitan Pavel, together with the clergy of the Moscow Metropolis, held a prayer service for all Orthodox Christians who are in prison.
The staff of the isolation unit prayed during the service. The liturgical hymns were performed by a small choir of clergy from the Kolomna Diocese under the direction of Priest Nikolai Glukhov. Upon completion of the prayer service, Bishop Pavel addressed the staff of the penal system with an archpastoral address and presented them with episcopal letters and certificates of gratitude.
Metropolitan Pavel presented A.S. Vetrov with an icon of the Mother of God “All‑Tisaritsa”; in response, A.S. Vetrov gave the bishop an icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Kazanskaya”.
Accompanied by the staff of the isolation unit and the clergy, Vladyka Pavel visited the isolation unit’s premises, familiarized himself with the conditions in which the prisoners were held, and then met with the convicts from the utility unit, with whom he held a spiritual conversation and presented each of them with small icons of the martyr John the Warrior.
In the prayer room located on the territory of the isolation unit, Priest Roman Bragin, the assistant to the head of the institution for work with believers, spoke about the specifics of spiritual care for persons in custody.
In conclusion, Metropolitan Pavel held a meeting with the head of the Main Directorate of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for the Moscow Region, the head of the pre‑trial detention facility, and representatives of the clergy who provide spiritual care to the institutions of the penal system. During the meeting, the prospects for further cooperation were discussed, and the main areas of joint activity in the field of spiritual care and social support were agreed upon.