The Ardatov colony is a striking example of successful work with
prisoners, conducted by the Sretenye (Presentation of the Lord) Society, founded by Father
Mikhail (Rezin). I can remember the second half of 1996, when the situation in the Ardatov
colony, as well as in the majority of similar institutions in Russia, became difficult
because of lack of state funding. There was a shortage of the most necessary medicines,
clothes, means of sanitary and hygiene, and food. The colony was threatened with hunger. A
group of volunteers, supported by Russian and Western non-government organizations,
succeeded in raising substantial donations from private sources. Father Mikhail spoke on
Radio Russia. Several hundred listeners of the OBLAKA radio
broadcast for prisoners sent money, food and clothes.
From the report by Valery Abramkin
Since 1993, the dean of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Sign of the Nizhny Novgorod
eparchy, Father Mikhail and church diacon, Yevgeny Panyushkin, have been rendering
spiritual and material aid to the adolescents of the Ardatov colony.
They also conduct daily church services in a small church located on the colony grounds and built by the inmates themselves. The
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Sign, which at one time was essentially raised to the ground,
was also restored with the help of the colony's
adolescents.
«They are not criminals, but victims, victims of disasters like
Chernobyl. At Chernobyl a nuclear reactor exploded, and here a social evil exploded, an
evil that has been festering in society. And this is even more terrible than radiation.»
«During ancient times, lambs were sacrificed to expiate the sins of an entire nation...
Now there is the feeling that our children are being sacrificed in the same way as the
ancient lambs.»
Dean of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Sign, Nizhny Novgorod Eparchy, Father Mikhail
(Rezin)
Aid to the wards of Ardatov colony and Sretenye
Society
may be addressed to:
The Reverend Mikhail Semyonovitch Rezin
Head Priest, Cathedral of Our Lady of the Sign
10 Lenina St. Ardatov, 607300 Russia.
Phon: (83179) 20445
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Father Mikhail insistently asks you to sign your first name. According to an
established tradition, a prayer for all donors is regularly read at the Cathedral of Our
Lady of the Sign.
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