The XII General Church Congress on Social Service opened in Moscow from November 9 to 11, 2025. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia addressed the audience.
"Today, the implementation of social service in hospitals is of particular importance — providing spiritual support to the wounded, the work of nurses and volunteers. I ask the ruling hierarchs in those dioceses where hospitals operate to pay increased attention to the proper organization of this service," His Holiness Patriarch Kirill noted.
"The Right Reverends should not treat this as something secondary in the archpastor's ministry. The suffering, especially those who suffered in armed conflicts, should be given special consideration, and the attention of archpastors, pastors, and all those who consider themselves servants of the Lord and Savior should be directed to them," His Holiness added.
Since July 2023, priests from various dioceses of Russia have been regularly traveling to hospitals in the conflict zone to provide spiritual assistance to the wounded. During this time, 352 priests from 70 dioceses and 14 monasteries visited.
On November 9, the 12th General Church Congress on Social Service opened in Moscow with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill. It began with the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and a plenary session. The largest charity forum of the Russian Orthodox Church brought together heads of social departments of dioceses, senior sisters of the sisterhoods of mercy, heads of charitable organizations, social workers, and representatives of government authorities. More than 1,000 people from 222 dioceses are taking part in the congress. The plenary session was chaired by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill.