Russia to Host 100 Syrian Orthodox Children for Two-Week Vacation

Moscow, July 29, 2014

    

One hundred children from Damascus Orthodox shelters in the St Thekla monastery Christian village of Maaloula are expected to arrive in Moscow on Monday for a two-week vacation in one of Russia's recreation camps, the project's organizers told RIA Novosti.

"I am certain that the Syrian children will remember their stay in a Russian recreation camp for their whole lives," said Vladimir Yakunin, the head of the Center of National Glory fund supervisory board.

He said he hoped the children "will be get a distraction from the horrible events that befell upon them."

The children are expected to meet with the Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia, have a tour around Moscow, participate projects and do sports.

The Center, together with the Andrei Pervozvanny fund, has already arranged holidays for children from hot spots in the past--it brought some 540 children from Kosovo and Metohija 10 years ago.

Some 1,600 schools and more than half of all hospitals have been completely or partially destroyed in the three years of conflict in Syria. More than 9 million refugees inside Syria and more than 2 million in the neighboring countries are currently in need of help, according to the UN estimates.

The number of Syrian children living in poverty reached 6.6 million in June 2014, according to United Nations children’s fund UNICEF.

Russia has assisted Syria in the past. In 2013, Russian Emergencies Ministry sent 200 tons of humanitarian aid to Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. In return, Syrian authorities decided to introduce the Russian language into schools starting in the school year of 2014/15.

RIA Novosti

7/30/2014

See also
Syria troops retake Christian town of Maalula Syria troops retake Christian town of Maalula Syria troops retake Christian town of Maalula Syria troops retake Christian town of Maalula
Syrian troops retook the ancient Christian town of Maalula from rebels Monday, a day after President Bashar al-Assad said the three-year old civil war was turning in his favour.
All shrines of Ma'loula either destroyed or desecrated All shrines of Ma'loula either destroyed or desecrated All shrines of Ma'loula either destroyed or desecrated All shrines of Ma'loula either destroyed or desecrated
A radical Jabhat al-Nusra "opposition" group, which occupied the small Christian town of Ma'loula in Syria in the last months of 2013, desecrated absolutely all shrines of the town.
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Christian Decline in the Middle East: A Historical View
Syria Nun Kidnapping: Greek Orthodox Patriarch Urges Release of Maaloula Sisters Syria Nun Kidnapping: Greek Orthodox Patriarch Urges Release of Maaloula Sisters Syria Nun Kidnapping: Greek Orthodox Patriarch Urges Release of Maaloula Sisters Syria Nun Kidnapping: Greek Orthodox Patriarch Urges Release of Maaloula Sisters
Mother Superior Pelagia Sayyaf and 11 nuns were kidnapped from St Tecla Orthodox monastery after it was overrun by rebel forces who had taken control of the city in southwest Syria.
Syria: Islamist Rebels Abduct 12 Nuns from Orthodox Monastery in Maaloula Syria: Islamist Rebels Abduct 12 Nuns from Orthodox Monastery in Maaloula Syria: Islamist Rebels Abduct 12 Nuns from Orthodox Monastery in Maaloula Syria: Islamist Rebels Abduct 12 Nuns from Orthodox Monastery in Maaloula
Mgr Mario Zenari, the Vatican nuncio in Damascus, confirmed the information after speaking with the Greek-Orthodox Patriarchate. Through the Vatican diplomat, the latter “calls on all Catholics to pray for the women religious.”
Maaloula: Aramaic For ‘Don’t Support The Rebels’ Maaloula: Aramaic For ‘Don’t Support The Rebels’
Rod Dreher
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Rod Dreher
I’m grateful to The New York Times for highlighting the Syrian rebel attack on the ancient Christian town of Maaloula. From the NYT’s report:
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