The St. Seraphim of Sarov Charitable Foundation, with the participation of Rosatom State Corporation and ANO Management Committee for the Development of the Sarov-Diveevsky Cluster and the Nizhny Novgorod Region, summed up the results of the St. Seraphim of Sarov Volunteer 2026 contest.
The competition was held from December 2025 to March 2026 and was aimed at developing Orthodox volunteerism, supporting authors and leaders of volunteer projects, as well as spreading the most successful practices of social service, helping people and preserving spiritual and cultural heritage.
This year, 361 participants have registered in the information system of the competition, which is 10% more than last year. 222 applications that meet the requirements of the competition regulations were accepted for consideration by the expert commission. The geography of the participants covered 50 subjects of the Russian Federation from seven federal districts, as well as the Republic of Belarus: Minsk, Brest, Vitebsk, Gomel, Minsk and Mogilev regions.
Among the participants of the competition are representatives of Russian Railways, Rosatom State Corporation, social and cultural institutions, medical workers, engineers, entrepreneurs, heads of non—profit organizations, volunteer project coordinators, students, specialists from educational organizations and structures of the Russian Orthodox Church. About 30% of the applications were received from the regions where Rosatom operates.
The largest number of applications were submitted from Moscow, Voronezh, Nizhny Novgorod, Saratov and Ulyanovsk regions. Representatives of St. Petersburg, the Republics of Khakassia and Bashkortostan, the Trans-Baikal and Krasnodar Territories, the Vladimir, Moscow, Kirov, Samara and Chelyabinsk regions also took an active part. For the sixth year in a row, participants from the Republic of Belarus have joined the competition.
The projects submitted to the competition covered several key areas. Within the framework of the "Revival of Orthodox Shrines" direction, participants talked about assistance in the preservation and restoration of temples, chapels, historical sites, landscaping of temple territories and cleaning of springs.
A large block of applications was devoted to spiritual and moral education: meetings with participants of the SVR and veterans of the Great Patriotic War, the creation of museum exhibitions, Orthodox camps, pilgrimages, ethnographic festivals, charity fairs, holidays for children from orphanages, children with disabilities, low-income families and patients of medical institutions.
The Social Service area has combined targeted assistance projects for the needy, the elderly, large and crisis families, families with disabled children, as well as victims of natural disasters, military conflicts and social crises. A significant part of the initiatives was related to the support of ITS participants: the organization of humanitarian convoys, the manufacture of camouflage nets, trench candles, adapted clothing and bandages, assistance to hospitals, letters to soldiers and psychological support for the wounded.
The experts also highlighted inclusive projects: Liturgies and prayer services for people with hearing impairments, pilgrimage tours for people with visual disabilities, palliative care projects, adaptive sports development, donor initiatives, social dinners, environmental campaigns and animal welfare in shelters.
Following the meeting of the Expert Council, it was decided to award the honorary title of "Volunteer of St. Seraphim of Sarov" to seven participants. 38 people became laureates of the competition. The gratitude of the St. Seraphim of Sarov Foundation was announced to two participants, one participant was awarded a special award, 72 people will receive incentive awards, and 102 more participants will be awarded diplomas.
The award ceremony will take place at the Holy Trinity Serafimo-Diveevsky Convent as part of the forum "The Legacy of St. Seraphim of Sarov as the basis of sacrificial service."
Following the results of the competition, the sixth edition of the Anthology of Good Deeds collection is also being prepared, which will include the best volunteer practices of the participants.