On September 30, 2025, the interfaith conference "Mercy in Russia" was held in Moscow with the support of the Department of National Policy and Interregional Relations of Moscow and the Foundation for Interaction of Civilizations.
Archpriest Mikhail Potokin, Chairman of the Synodal Department for Church Charity and Social Service, spoke at the event and spoke about the social service of the Church, about the directions of church assistance to those in need, including refugees and injured civilians in the conflict zone, as well as about the role of the ministry of mercy in the life of society. Father Mikhail noted that the Russian Orthodox Church has an extensive network of social assistance, with a social department operating in each diocese, which helps provide assistance even in small towns where it is needed most.
During the meeting, Archpriest Mikhail Potokin said that one of the most important areas of the Church's social service is to help victims in the conflict zone. In August 2023, the Patriarchal Humanitarian Mission was specially established for systematic humanitarian assistance to civilians in Donbas. There are church centers for refugees and injured civilians in Moscow, Belgorod, Rostov-on-Don, Donetsk, Mariupol, Berdyansk, Skadovsk, Simferopol, Lisichansk and Goloi Pier. They received more than 340,000 requests. More than 5,000 volunteers from all over Russia traveled to the conflict zone to help the injured civilians.
Father Mikhail noted that the Russian Orthodox Church often participates in launching systemic social changes. The first children's hospice in Russia was created by Priest Alexander Tkachenko, today he runs the presidential foundation Circle of Goodness. The church's "Mercy Bus" has become a prototype for government-run mobile services for the homeless. On the initiative of Priest Lev Arshakyan, the organizer of the project "House of the Deafblind", the All-Russian foundation "Connection" was created to help the deafblind.
Archpriest Mikhail Potokin recalled that, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the church's social assistance hotline +7(800) 70-70-222 had been opened. The hotline receives 6,000 calls every month. It's not uncommon to get calls from people who have nowhere else to turn or who have been rejected elsewhere, who don't know how to deal with their troubles alone. Financial resources to support the hotline are collected on the charity platform "Let's Help" on the mirom.help website.
It was noted at the event that today the Russian Orthodox Church is one of the largest organizers of social assistance in Russia with a large number of social projects. The Church helps the most needy, vulnerable, and suffering people. These are people with disabilities, the elderly alone, the seriously ill, the homeless, alcohol and drug addicts, large families, pregnant women and mothers with children in difficult situations. Assistance is provided to everyone, regardless of citizenship, nationality or religion.
The conference was attended by representatives of religious organizations of traditional religions, public associations, experts in the field of social work and charity, as well as students from Moscow educational institutions.