SAN FRANCISCO: August 16, 2010
Archbishop Kyrill  Makes an Appeal Concerning the Drought and Forest Fires in Russia

A terrible misfortune has come upon the Russian Land. Many parts of Russia are in a state of disaster due to an unbelievable heat wave, drought and uncontrollable fires. As a result of the drought, smoke in the air and fires many people have died, hundreds left without homes and thousands without any income to live upon. We cannot be simple bystanders and observers in these circumstances. We must not only pray to God for rain in the Russian Land, for all the people who have lost everything in the fires and for those who are fighting the fires and providing emergency help around the clock, but must open our hearts and provide concrete financial help to the suffering ones. I call upon all the parishes in our Western American Diocese throughout all of August to collect money for the homeless and needy victims of the forest fires. The collected sums should be forwarded to the Diocesan Treasurer no later than September 10, 2010.

“Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we have hoped in Thee” (Psalm 32, 22).

+KYRILL,
Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America