MOSCOW, December 5. /TASS/. The Russian Orthodox Church will continue to provide assistance to Syria, with fundraising campaigns being organized in churches, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia said at a meeting with Patriarch John X of Antioch on Tuesday.
"Now that practically the entire Syrian territory has been freed from terrorists, including the areas with the Christian population, the issue of providing assistance to people who need to return to their homes, creating jobs and bringing their lives back to normal comes to the fore," Patriarch Kirill noted.
"Funds are being raised in our churches, and people respond, bring their money," he said. The patriarch noted that the Russian Orthodox Church cooperates closely with the government agencies and non-governmental organizations to deliver and distribute humanitarian aid.
"We plan to render assistance to the Al-Hosn patriarchal hospital in the Homs province. We got in touch with the Defense Ministry and have already received a reply that measures would be taken to ensure the joint support for the hospital within the next six months," the patriarch said. He recalled that two tonnes of medical equipment had been delivered to Al-Hosn in May. The patriarch also noted that the Russian Church had organized the delivery of humanitarian aid to low-income families and Sunday school students in Maaloula, Latakia and other cities.