Orthodox priests helped protect hundreds of people in Kyrgyzstan – Patriarch Kirill

Gorki, July 1, Interfax – Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia told Russian President Dmitry Medvedev about work of Orthodox parishes in Kyrgyzstan to support the country’s population in the serious situation developed there.

“Orthodox parishes shelter people. At risk of life and limb, priests are rescuing Kirghiz and Uzbeks, Muslims, Orthodox, administering medicine received from Moscow and feeding people,” the Patriarch said at a meeting with Medvedev and members of the National Charitable Foundation Trustees Board.

According to the Primate, there were cases when priests negotiated with thugs and thus managed “to protect hundreds of people”.

“I suppose in the future we should think how to honor these people for their heroic work as nobody knows about it, while it is truly charitable work,” said the Patriarch. This is also true of the activities of Orthodox parishes in South Ossetia, he added.

Commenting on Patriarch Kirill’s words, the President said the examples he cited were true, charity, not just charity for show. “I am sure that representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church and other confessions do the same thing in situations as, for example, in Kyrgyzstan,” said the head of state.

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